As we approach the 100th birthday of our CSS&SB #1 this fall, our volunteers have begun some interior restoration work to freshen up the car! Step one has been disassembly, with volunteers working to remove the original mahogany woodwork and trim around the windows in the larger section of the car. Sanding and planing revealed much of the wood is still in great condition, so the goal is to re-use as many pieces as possible. The window sills and interior sideboards will need to be replaced as many have swelled from water.

This project will progress in phases, with 2-4 window sections being addressed at a time. Many of the window sills span 8-12 feet, necessitating larger chunks to be undertaken at once in order to properly reassemble all of the pieces. This project will also feature a refresh of the paint on the luggage racks, which are able to be removed after removing the header board above the windows.

Although the final time frame for the full interior is still a little fuzzy, our volunteers will have the car serviceable by the fall, as this car is a very popular accommodation aboard our Fall Color Tours an Santa Express trains! Projects like this would not be possible without the support of our volunteers and our passengers. Consider making a donation to help us continue this great work!

Are you interested in helping with this project? Do you have woodworking skills? Or are you looking to learn more about railcar restoration? Consider becoming a Member and joining our volunteer force! We are always looking for new faces to continue our restoration and operation efforts. Visit our Membership page and join today!