Rockhill Furnace Work Session: May 5-6, 2007

The fifth FEBT Rockhill work session of 2007 was held Saturday and Sunday, May 5-6, 2007.

Those participating included Charlie Wootton, Lee Rainey, Jim Bacon, Tom Diehl, Dave Richards, John Morgan, Barb Morgan, Bill Meltreder, Richard Shell, Dave Dietz, Steve Jacobs, Fred Kuhns, Andy Van Scyoc, Bill Adams, Bob Goldby and Chris Coleman.

Boxcar 168

The seat frames, constructed during previous sessions, were painted in preparation for later installation in the car. Corroded steel continued to be removed. Steel plate was welded into place to cover the door opening on the east side.

Garage

A new sill was installed under the north wall of the building. Jacking was done to bring the north wall closer to level. Additional interior bracing was installed.

Foundry

After the large A-frame was erected last session to bear the load of the overhead gantry, lower cribbing was installed this session to support the gantry room floor. The floor was jacked back into position and the load released from the original rotten beam. The beam, its posts and diagonals were all removed for later replacement.

On the east siding of the building the siding repaired earlier in the year as well as the rest of the siding up to about 6 feet was primed and painted.

Boiler House

The west wall of the Coal bin was painted finish red. The north wall of the Boiler Shop was primed and painted. The reproduction Coal Bin sash was installed in the Coal Bin.

Machine Shop

A new pressure treated sill assembly was installed in the Machine Shop belt enclosure. When the Machine Shop's "Smoking Prohibited" sign was remounted in it's correct position above the door, it was found to have been inadvertently swapped with one for the Electrical Shop. The two signs were swapped and remounted with period brass screws. The Boiler House sign was also remounted with brass screws.

Boiler Shop

The window crew succeeded in priming and finish painting all the upper portions of the Boiler House west wall, including eaves and trim. With this completed, all the siding on the west wall has been primed and painted. Damaged trim sections near the peak of the roof were replaced, but some more will be needed. The missing decorative "drop" trim was replicated and installed. Numerous holes in the southern eave roof were patched.

Hopper 802

Work continued on repairing the car bolster plate.

Next Work Session

The next Rockhill work session will be held Saturday and Sunday, June 2 and 3. See you there!

Lee Rainey,
Rockhill Restoration Coordinator