From The Headlight May-June 2014

Central Pacific 29

Truck Assembly Begins

By Mike Manson

As we mentioned in the last issue, the final fitting of the truck beams continued until each piece fitted properly. Assembly of the frames began in mid-February.
One by one the beams were set in position then clamped. Holes were drilled where needed. Tie rods and bolts were rethreaded and reused when possible. If not, they were replaced. The 3/4-inch rods and bolts salvaged from B&O 20 were inserted into the holes, washers and nuts slipped into position and the nuts tightened. The work session on April 5th saw the corner bolts inserted and tightened, and B&O 20’s brake hangers bolted onto the end pieces. The next session (after the Headlight deadline) will see the brake release springs attached. Soon after that the truck frames will be ready for installation of pedestals. Unfortunately, the pedestals we have are not of the correct style.
When rebuilt by the Central Pacific, CP 29 and its sister cars received new trucks that were equipped with pedestals of the 1873 Master Car Builder standard design. An engineering drawing of the MCB design, scaled 3 inches to the foot, was obtained from the California State Railroad Museum. We are now ready to commission a set of patterns for casting a set of eight of these pedestals. Creating the patterns will cost approximately $4,200. To date the only bid we have received for casting the pedestals is $8,951, F.O.B. at the foundry in Berkeley. That price covers the 180 pounds of steel, energy and materials surcharges, sales tax, and labor for each of eight pedestals. With the cost of the patterns added, the total price is about $13,150. Buy a Pound of Pedestal
To finance the pedestals the Society is starting a new campaign: “Buy a Pound of Pedestal”. Your generous donation of $10 will cover the prorated cost of the patterns, steel, sales tax, energy and labor needed to cast one pound of a pedestal for CP 29 and bring it to the De Carli Trolley Museum. If each member contributes $30 we will have enough to place an order for the castings immediately. Please send a donation today so the Society can continue the restoration of this historic car.

Photo 1: Jeff Millerick with the drill is making a lot of chips while places a bolt in the prepared hole.
Photo 2: The basic truck frame is assembled
Photo 3: Both truck frames with a coat of paint bask in the sunshine.
Photo 4: Archive photo of a truck from a sister car.
Photo 5: Starting to assemble the extra parts of the truck frames.