D&RGW #6216 truck and frame work

The weekend of Feb. 2 & 3rd saw continued work on the restoration of flat car 6216 at the MCRR shops. The frame was sandblasted and the trucks were tore down cleaned repaired and reasembled. The weekend ended with a coat of primer for everything.

Griffen W. and Dustin B. brave the cold weather to sandblast the steel frame of the car.

While in the shop the trucks are worked on. In the picture the B end truck is disassembled.

Here the B end truck is back together and good for many more miles. The wheels out of the A end are in front.

Some journal boxes required repair. The one in back is finished the one in front waits to be welded. Overall the trucks were found to be in very good condition, mostly just requiring cleaning and new wood backs.

D&RGW Flat car #6216

The Midwest Central Railroad has two 6200 series flat cars that will be restored this year. The railroad has had these cars since the early 80's. Over the years the wood portions of the car have rotted away. The restoration will include all new wood, paint, mechanical, and returning them to service.

Car #6216 after backing into the shop.

The end of the day. All the wood has been removed revieling the steel center sill. Mother nature had already started on the wood removal project so this stage went fairly quickly.

After the clean up.

D&RGW flatcar project

Engine #2 Work

Work continues on the #2 frame.

Pictured is Jesse V. and Dustin B. working on the frame pedistals jaws on the engineers side. The driving box (that the axles turn in) slide up and down in these openings on what are called shoes and wedges. These shoes and wedges need to fit closely to the frame so they can position the driving box correctly. In 75+ years of srvice the shoes and wedges loosened up and wore into the frame. These areas must be built up then ground, filed, and flat sanded true again. In the picture Jesse is rough grinding while Dustin hand finishes the surface square and true. A very time consuming but needed task.

The right front pedistal jaw after welding.

The same location after some grinding.

Mike C. *does* play trains!

Yes, for those who don't believe it actually happened, that IS Mike C. in the fireman's seat of the Shay.

Ice Train

The North Pole Express train loading passengers at the station. The weather is a little icy.


Griffin firing the #9 Shay

Sitting outside the south station


#9 Shay covered in ice








View out the engineer's side of the #9 Shay