THE MAIN FRAME, WHEELS AND HOOKUP ASSEMBLY WAS FROM A 7 BY 32 FOOT GONDOLA CAR FROM COLORADO. THE FLOOR AND SIDES WERE REMOVED AND THE CAR WAS MADE 8 FEET LONGER HERE IN MAQUOKETA. NOTE THE 6 LONG
(YELLOW) WOOD BEAMS THAT WERE SPECIALLY CUT FOR THE NEW FLOOR.
BY RICHARD ROCKROHR. HAROLD LUBBEN HEADS UP THE TEAM REBUILDING
THE CAR AND RICHARD IS ONE HIS KEY WORKERS.
THIS PHOTO SHOWS THE HITCH ASSEMBLY AT FRONT OF CAR WHERE IT WOULD
HOOK UP TO ANOTHER CAR OR THE ENGINE.
THIS VIEW OF THE OTHER SIDE OF CAR, WHERE NEW WINDOWS WILL BE PUT.
WHEN FINISHED THE CAR WILL LOOK SOMEWHAT LIKE THE ONE ABOVE.
THE INTERIOR WILL LOOK SOMEWHAT LIKE THE ABOVE. VIRL AND KATHY BANOWETZ HAVE DONATED BRASS PIECES AND WARREN LONGWELL IS
CONSTRUCTING TWO GAS LIGHT FIXTURES.
THIS CAR IS GOING TO BE WHAT THE RAILROAD CALLED A COMBINATION
CAR. PART OF THE CAR WAS USED FOR SEATING FOR THE PASSENGERS AND
ANOTHER PART OF THE POST OFFICE AND ANOTHER PART FOR ITEMS BEING
SHIPPED SOMEWHERE. WORK WILL CONTINUE AT BOYER HALL UNTIL MID-MAY
AND THEN IT WILL BE MOVED NEXT DOOR INSIDE THE MACHINERY SHED WHERE
IT WILL BE FINISHED. THEN MOVED TO THE TRACKS RUNNING ALONG SIDE
THE DEPOT LOCATED OVER BY THE CLINTON ENGINES MUSEUM. THERE
THE FINISHING TOUCHES WILL BE DONE AND IT WILL BE OPENED FOR THE
PUBLIC TO GO INISIDE FOR A CLOSE LOOK. THE LATE GERALDINE LAMBERT,
A LONG TIME TEACHER FROM SPRAGUEVILLE, LEFT FUNDING TO THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY FOR A PERMANENT EXHIBIT AND THE RAILROAD CAR IS IT.
WHEN WILL WORK ON THE CAR BE FINISHED? WHEN I ASKED HAROLD OR RICHARD, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT COULD BE MONTHS FROM NOW. BUT, IT WILL BE
WORTH THE WAIT. STOP IN AT BOYER HALL SOMETIME AND WATCH THE
VOLUNTEERS WORK ON THE CAR. AND LATER, I'LL TAKE SOME MORE
PHOTOS AND UPDATE YOU ON THIS DAILY REPORT ON THE PROGRESS BEING
MADE. EXCITING! YES INDEED, EXCITING!
DENNIS VOY