An Example of the Restoration Process
Pennsylvania Railroad Air Brake Instruction Car No. 492445
A Save America's Treasures project, performed using the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Preservation and the Association of Railway Museum's Recommended Practices for Railway Museums. A study in excellence.
Move
Badly rusted, filled with junk and odd parts.
Carefully removing hundreds of feet of piping.
Studying plans every step of the way.
Identifying special components.
Very extensive bodywork required throughout.
Extensive cutting and welding were required.
Body work on roof.
Scraping years of rust and paint.
Fabricating many new parts.
An intricate process of reassembly.
Restoring lighting fixtures.
Installing a new floor.
Westinghouse Air Brake advisors.
Relettering in 23 karat gold leaf.
Reassembled brake instruction equipment.
An American Treasure Saved!
Built in 1910, the car was converted to an air brake instruction car in 1928. Equipment and controls provided hands-on training experience to engineers on the various air brake systems used in different locomotives. A maze of pipes hidden in the walls allowed the controls to mimic the actual feel of air brakes being applied on long trains under varying conditions.
One of two surviving examples of this type of mobile training facility, it was very badly deteriorated, and required extensive skills and work by paid and volunteer staff. The result is an amazing testament to the Museum's commitment to the preservation of American railroad history, as well as to the skills of those who achieved this wonderful result. |
