2009 Work Session M1/M2

August 18, 2009. The siding has been removed from the NE corner of MS 505 in order to replace the rotten end of the side sill. The car has held together all these years with the steel truss rods that passed through the rotten section of the side sill contributing nothing to the structure, so it was decided to cut off the steel truss rods. It would have been impossible to have the diagonal truss rod pass through the new sill without obtaining access to the top of the top sill, which would have entailed removing the roof and fascia. Since the car will never be moved on track again, and all six sills will be supported in three places when moved onto pier blocks and railroad ties, these truss rods are not needed. Next, the old siding will be cut off along the nailer about halfway up the side of the car, and new siding installed. Photo by Roger Breeding.