Dirty Hands Club
A group of Society members/volunteers christened the "Dirty Hands Club" by Helen Tucker, meet every Wednesday and Saturday mornings in the back shop located at 2495 Lancaster Road, Ottawa Ontario, part of the Canada Science and Technology Museum's campus.
These dedicated people work to preserve The Society's Equipment. Painting, sanding, welding, scraping and woodworking are just some of the tasks performed by these members. The work not only serves to preserve but to fully restore our equipment to operating condition, especially for the summer months.
The summary articles below will give you a glimpse into the ongoing work that is being performed by the Dirty Hands Club. The seasonal descriptions below of the work being done are just snapshots of all the work our volunteers do. There is much more that goes on behind the scene by these dedicated members
For more in-depth details about restoration work please visit our Dirty Hands Club Blog. You can also visit our DHC Photo Gallery on Flickr.
If you currently are a Society member with an interest in working to preserve railway heritage equipment, then Contact Us and we can get you started. We're always looking for an extra pair of hands!
Summarized below are equipment work highlights for 2018 extracted from our detailed equipment restoration reports available on our DHC Blog
Pontiac HyRail #26 Work
- In a co-operative agreement with the Railway Museum of Eastern Ontario (RMEO), the car was moved out of it's long-term storage in Ottawa. During the trip to the RMEO, the engine overheated and was towed to a local garage for trouble-shooting.
- Engine was checked for any damage with the overheating. Head gasket was damaged. Head magna-fluxed. Engine block and heads re-machined to spec and compression reduced from 10.1 to 9.1.
- Thermal Imaging test discovered that over 60% of the radiator core was blocked. Radiator (dual-core) was rebuilt with a more efficient rad core.
- Hydraulic system tested and, back Hy- Rail hydraulic lines rerouted according to original specifications.
- Missing original back break light, sourced and installed.
- We are in search of a original Pontiac Chieftain cigarette lighter and a blower motor for the heater. They can be from any model starting from 1955. Please Contact Us if you can help.
Passenger Car #4977 Work
- Finished the "B" end vestibule area including the floor plates, door threshold, trap doors, hand rails and related body work
- Cleaned and painted the seat frame pedestals on the left side of the car
- Cleaned, painted and re-installed the seat frames on the left side of the car
- Completed the restoration of the ceiling including all necessary trimming work, finish painting and speakers for a public address system
- Completed the restoration of the doors for the electrical cabinet, fire extinguisher, and emergency tools
- Restored and re-installed the vestibule doors at both ends of the coach
- Completed the painting of the wall area below the belt rail on the left side
- Restored and re-installed the steam heat pipe covers
- Began the installation of the inside window rails on the left side
- Began the installation of the coat hooks and luggage racks on the left side
CN 6200 Work
2018 saw the completion of all superstructure work to put back parts that would not impede the installation of the boiler sheeting. This included:
- Feed-water heater;
- Front headlight with new machine front lid, numbers board,
- A set of marker lights were bought from a North Bay Railway collector, refurbished with new lenses and lights sockets;
- A number plate was found and graciously given to us by the Northern Ontario Railway Museum
- The cab received all new windows frames, new armrests and deflector windows
- The front boilers side steps were re-installed with anti climbing plates
- The smoke-box was open, cleaned up, treated and sealed for rust.
- Overall front of the engine was completely repainted.
Canadian Pacific Caboose 436436 Work
- Canvas roof removed. Rotten wood replaced on roof.
- Right Siding removed, wall frame inspected/reworked. Insulation installed. New siding installed.
Summarized below are equipment work highlights for 2017 extracted from our detailed equipment restoration reports available on our DHC Blog
Pontiac HyRail #26 Work
- Car continues to be (safely) stored off-site in a climate controlled storage facility. This is still necessary to make room to museum renovations/material stored in shop. No work was done on the vehicle this year.
Passenger Car #4977 Work
- Completed over 90% of metal restoration work in the “B” end vestibule
- Restored/Renewed all of original mahogany and replacement luan panelling and miscellaneous mahogany trim in the car, including staining and lacquering
- Installed all window roller blind covers
- Completed painting of wall surfaces at the “A” and “B” ends
- Restored ventilator cabinet in the “B” end
- Removed, stripped and re-painted steam heat pipe covers
- Milled ceiling trim
- Restored emergency tool cabinet
- Restored fire extinguisher cabinet
TNVR #10 Work
- Engine #1 head rebuilt and whole powerplant painted
- Fuel lines replaced
- Electrical work done on both alternators
CN 6200 Work
- Feed Water Heater installed.
- Cosmetic windows fabricated/installed.
- Smokebox cleaned and sealed.
- Front of smoke-box all repainted.
- Headlight work 85% completed.
- Number-boards installed front and back.
- Rear headlight rebuilt.
Summarized below are equipment work highlights for 2016 extracted from our detailed equipment restoration reports available on our DHC Blog
Pontiac HyRail #26 Work
- Car is currently stored off-site in a climate controlled storage facility. This was necessary to make room to museum renovations/material stored in shop. No work was done on the vehicle this year.
Passenger Car #4977 Work
- B-side exterior metal work completed. A-side exterior metal work started.
- B-side entrance floor replaced.
- Window frames repairs in Snack Bar completed
- EPDM installed on entire roof.
- Interior panelling stripped down to original mahogany.
TNVR #10 Work
- Engine #1 now running properly.
CN 6200 Work
- New Number board installed on head-end.
- Feed Water Heater needle-gunned and primed. Template for sheet metal jacket started.
- Measurements taken for cosmetic windows.
- CP transition era maple leaf monogram installed on both sides of tender.
- Fuel and water data applied to the rear of tender.
Summarized below are equipment work highlights for 2015 extracted from our detailed equipment restoration reports available on our DHC Blog
Pontiac HyRail #26 Work
- Car stored over winter to make room to museum renovations/material stored in shop.
Passenger Car #4977 Work
- Glued down centre strips of anti-squeak canvas as well as installing wooden backing pieces for securing the centre ceiling panels
- Ceiling Panels fabricated, installed.
- B-side exterior wire-wheeled, Body filler applied, prepped for priming.
- Window frames repairs in Snack Bar in-progress.
- EPDM installed on one side of roof.
TNVR #10 Work
- New Alternator installed on Engine #2.
BRS Hand Truck Work
Summarized below are equipment work highlights for 2014 extracted from our detailed equipment restoration reports available on our DHC Blog
Pontiac HyRail #26 Work
- The interior upholstery has all been replaced.
Passenger Car #4977 Work
- Battery boxes repaired/restored.
- Wooden roof completed.
- Windows installed on one side. Window frames repaired on opposite side.
- Metalwork completed on B-end vestibule.
- Metalwork started on A-end vestibule.
TNVR #10 Work
- Engine #2 repaired/operating.
ex-Canadian Pacific Van No. 436436 Work
- Interior tongue and groove panel replacement in the cupola
Car 27 Work
- Minor door adjustments as well as a good cleaning of the carpet on its floor.
ex-CN Baggage Car No. 9246 Work
- Applied second coat of red primer.
Central Vermont Railway (CV) Tender No. 4264 Work
- Pair of former heating oil tanks that have been appropriately cleaned for use as spare water reservoirs for the operation.
