Southern Zephyr Corporation

08/31/2024

Getting the last hallway wall cleaned up and then replacing some nasty looking BEE hinges on my end door. I am reusing the nice fully welded hinges on my end door and replacing the other crappy side.

08/16/2024

Four trains in the moments before the campus was opened for the public. Metra 308 (EMD F7A) couples to the caboose train while Iowa Pacific 515 (EMD E8A) has the Nebraska Zephyr at the East Union depot. Santa Fe 92 (EMD FP45) has the coach train on station track 2 while the Chicago and North Western bilevel set, with C&NW 411 (EMD F7A), is staged on the main line.

Image: August 11, 2024

08/10/2024

The first time I arrived here from Boston I took the escalator up from track level. I could not believe how beautiful this Station was. Pennsylvania’s 30th Street Station.

08/03/2024

This is very nice little mobile work table… easy to make with shelving and a couple casters . I load it up with everything I need and roll it into place. Should have done this years ago.

08/03/2024

This little door closer was a real puzzle to mount. The instructions don’t make sense.. so just measured Silver Palm and repeated the dimensions . I have to admit Silver Treasure doors are looking pretty good for a 70 year old Baggage Car.

08/03/2024

Last section of what will be the new hallway on Silver Treasure

07/20/2024

With lots of help I finally got Silver Treasure Galley refrigerator rigged into the car. It’s been in storage over a year due to our fork lift being broke. So next get the walls up and get this located and bolted down.

07/06/2024

Ok… got the “B” End safety gate installed on Silver Treasure this weekend.

07/01/2024

Ok, it took 8 hours to mount this new safety gate on Silver Treasure. Drilling into collusion posts is not easy. 4 hours and 5 drill bits on the bottom mounting bracket. I have some gate mounting clips if any body wants them. I have a new bracket being fabricated to hold the gate in place at proper height. Paint can is just a place holder.

06/16/2024

New stainless toilet air -water sequence valve access. Before I had to unscrew the 8 screw panel.

05/25/2024

Test fitting first wall in Silver Treasure.

05/12/2024

I know this is not railroad… but it is hardware. Replacing these lag screws on my porch. These are from 1955…. The top is 1/2” on one side and 9/16” on the other. Real bitch to remove unless you have two wrenches.

04/27/2024

Finally got the last stainless cabinet for Silver Treasure Shop installed. Wood top is so I can bolt from the bottom the drill and grinder . I’ll paint next. Didn’t want to drill holes in the stainless cabinets as at some point I might buy a new drill or grinder. Other cabinet is all my electrical stuff.

04/16/2024

04/13/2024

Great day… getting the end doors all adjusted and bottom cut for new floor level with carpet.

03/16/2024

AN IRISH BLESSING FOR YOU May your troubles be less Your blessings be more, And nothing but happiness Come through your door

03/16/2024

Silver Treasure gets another end door window. This one was easier than other end , but took longer for some reason . Full days work.

03/10/2024

Silver Treasure gets her first end door window. Takes a full day to do this… so next weekend door number 2.

03/10/2024

Getting ready for the big door cutting…..

02/29/2024

May 2024 is Your Best Year🥰🥰

02/24/2024

Ok, got two sliding door weather covers installed

02/17/2024

Ok… got more floor trim installed today Both sides… time for carpet.

01/21/2024

This is never a good sign … but got Microphor toilet number 2 replaced and working again today . I will never ever remove my oilers… that move costed me about $1K for parts and new piping . As soon as I removed the oil ….one by one they all had issues and stopped working . Basically all gummed up.

01/15/2024

Well got one Microphor Toilet working again… I will never remove my air oilers again . What an expensive mistake that was. #

01/07/2024

It’s the same door ,but looks like rips in the door… turned out to be dirt. Old picture is at Beech Grove on the departure track getting ready to depart for Miami. End door window next project.

12/30/2023

Well I officially have a shop when you have a shop stool.

12/27/2023

Finally got the corner finished…wall carpet above the stainless this weekend ….boy these baggage cars are beat up.

12/25/2023

Finalized this section of Silver Treasure. A big framed map of the CB&Q will hang above this area .

11/25/2023

Getting Silver Treasure new passageway cleaned up and finished.

10/14/2023

Inside electrical lockers and doors all sprayed with insulation paint . Came from Amtrak without this paint… seemed strange for them to not have done that.