741 Restoration Updates

 

 

Diner 741 Restoration Update - November 2004

Click on photo for full-size image

 

New roof supports

11/3/04

 

Compare the above photo to this one of the old roof supports

1/29/04

 

New sheet metal for the roof is welded into place

11/3/04

 

New sheet metal for the roof

11/10/04

 

Another shot of the original clerestory at end of car and roof supports.

11/10/04

 

New sheet metal is prepared for installation on roof

11/10/04

New roof supports for turtleback roof

11/3/04

 

Compare the above photo to this one of the old roof supports

1/29/04

 

New sheet metal for the roof!

11/3/04

 

More detail of new turtleback roof supports on end of car. Note original clerestory

11/10/04

 

End of car

11/10/04

 

These photos were taken on November 12th. The new sheet metal for the curved sections of roof on the kitchen end are being installed in these photos.

 

 

These photos were taken on November 23rd and depict what John Boehner described in his equipment update in the Winter 2004-05 Diner Digest.

New sheet metal sections were cut and formed to fit exactly like the original sheet metal panels. At the bottom of the new curved roof panels (top of the side sheets), there have been holes drilled in the metal. The Erie originally riveted this portion of the roof to the car sides. John Suscheck and Dave Winn determined that at the top of the side sheets, the metal was a little thin in some areas. To solve this problem, Midwest has placed horizontal metal strapping between the new roof panels and the side sheets to provide for better support. These are barely noticeable, and help retain the historical integrity of the car. They then welded the new curved sheets to the side sheets through these holes, thus keeping the original "look" of the car in this area.

Where the new roof panels meet the old original Pullman roof at the top of the car, they are being tucked under the lip. Using the original holes the Erie drilled in the roof, the original roof panels, and the new curved roof panes are then screwed together. As with the side sheets, the Erie used rivets when 741 (then Erie 941) was rebuilt in 1949.