Fowler boxcar project now completed!

Our second major restoration project in 2015, after the CN caboose, is the Fowler Boxcar, a unique Canadian invention. We applied a new membrane roof as we have done with our other rolling stock. Restoration work was also done to the rest of the box car including the doors.

Painting greasy old car trucks while they are on the car looks like a daunting job - and it is - but taking the trucks off for a full strip and re-finish is not something we are presently able to do at the Toronto Railway Museum. The next best choice was to clean up the side frames and wheels and paint what we could see and get at. This meant pressure-washing and some hand scraping and wire brushing followed by painting with a low-pressure paint gun. We think the results are quite acceptable for public display outdoors.

An interesting question is why this CPR boxcar had trucks painted in "mineral red", a colour more usually seen on CNR equipment. The original colour was quite apparent after we washed off the grunge. If anyone has the answer, please let us know.

The boxcar is now located on patio track 6. Painting the trucks completes our present work on this boxcar except for adding the proper lettering which will take place in the spring of 2016.

We congratulate our volunteer restoration crew on the great job they have done. 

Posting and images by Michael Guy

Click on each image for a closer look!