Parts is parts in "Balmo"

     So last Wednesday myself and 3 cohorts flew to Baltimore (Balmo) to strip metal components and trucks from an 1868 railroad coach made by the same manufacturer as our 1869 coach. We had help from three east coast member/volunteers who were invaluable.

This (B&O car 20) coach was crushed by the 2003 collapse (due to snow) of the roof of the B&O railroad museum leaving almost exactly the parts we need. It had a sister, so the need to repair it was very low priority compared to all the other damage.
     We got a miraculous break in the weather. Rain was predicted Thurs, our first work day... no rain. Heavy rain/thundershowers predicted for Friday. Shortly after we went for breakfast all hell broke loose. "Thunderbolts and lightning, very very frightening" and we drove to the work site through torrential downpours, but as we arrived it stopped and that was the end of it. It was however very cold all three of the works days, and the two days we spent sight seeing afterwards.

The "floor" assembly (upside down)

 Cutting in half to get it on the truck

 Two trucks, one badly damaged

 Almost ready to go.