OF PASSENGER CARS
restoration at Heritage Park Calgary - Date/Photographer unknown.
IntroductionMany years ago Canadian Pacific published a series of ten books named the "Foundation Library". One particular book added to this collection, published in 1946, is named "Canadian Pacific Facts and Figures". It contains many short stories and articles dealing with the company during that period. This month's article from that book, "Reconditioning of Passenger Cars", written by H.H. Boyd, Assistant Chief of Motive Power and Rolling Stock, is reprinted here for your enlightenment with the addition of some appropriate images.
The 1946 ArticleQuarterly for Eastern Lines, and annually for Western Lines, a condition report is forwarded for each passenger car in service to the Office of the Chief of Motive Power and Rolling Stock, Montreal. This condition report indicates the condition of (1) platforms and draft gear, (2) roof, (3) upholstery, (4) paint condition, with a general condition summary under the three headings "Good", "Fair" and "Poor". In the Office of the Chief of Motive Power and Rolling Stock, at Montreal, is a detailed record for each passenger car, showing where last shopped, date, cost, and specific repairs made at the previous shopping. On the accumulative evidence of these combined reports, and in collaboration with the General Superintendent of Transportation, the car is ordered to Angus, Weston, or Ogden repair plants for shopping. Arrived at the shop, the car is inspected by the painter foreman as to class of paint job required. Paint repairs are classified as "A", "B", and "C". An "A" repair is a general calling for a heavy outside job, "B" a medium repair, and "C" a light repair. This symbol classification is further defined by the prefix "1" to denote a heavy exterior repair, "2" a medium exterior repair and "3" a light exterior repair. The numerals are again used as a suffix to denote interior repairs required so that "1-A-1" would denote a heavy repair job inside and outside and so on.
All Trimmings Removed
The first operation at the shop is the stripping of all removable trimmings, such as parcel racks, fire extinguishers, berth fronts, headboards, etc. These trimmings are distributed amongst the various ancillary shops, the brass work to the brass finishing shop, the water tanks to the tinsmiths, etc. The electricians remove the batteries, electric fixtures, bells, etc. The batteries are taken to the electrical shop where they are washed out, worn parts removed, refilled with acid, and placed under test. The electrical fixtures go to the bench where wiring is examined and repaired or renewed and the fixtures, if necessary, are sent to the brass finishing shop to be repaired, replaced, etc. The car seats and upholstery go to the upholstery shop to be blown, cleaned, and repaired. The car is washed inside and outside if an "A" paint job and a steel car is sent to the shot blast house to be thoroughly cleaned externally.
The car is then moved to the coach shop, under shop trucks, where the repairs to the body, etc., will be made. Here both the interior and exterior are inspected by the interested shop foremen, and "marked up" for necessary repairs, such as scraping, sanding, patching, removal, and renewal of defective material.
Passenger Equipment
Passenger cars are repaired on a regular schedule basis. If an "A" repair job, the schedule will be as follows:
1st Day: All upholstered seats, electric lighting fixtures, batteries and other movable parts, along with air conditioning equipment and trucks, are removed and sent to the various departments for a complete overhaul and inspection.
2nd Day: The air conditioning ice boxes are tested while the car is being washed inside.
3rd Day: Exterior - Shot blasted and coat of protective paint applied.
4th Day: Interior - Car and air-condition ducts thoroughly blown out with compressed air and sterilized.
5th Day: Interior - Carpenters commence work. Exterior - Steel work prepared for painters.
6th Day: Interior - Carpenters continue repairs. Exterior - First coat of prime paint applied.
7th Day: Interior - Carpenters' work completed and air-conditioning unit applied. Exterior - Primer coat of paint drying.
8th Day: Interior - Painters fill and prepare woodwork for varnish. Exterior - Painters apply surfacer. Water tank and air brake reservoirs are applied and roof is repaired.
9th Day: Interior - First coat of varnish applied and application of air conditioning and plumbing fixtures. Exterior - Glazing of paint started and electric wiring applied.
10th Day: Interior - First varnish drying. Exterior - Glazing of paint completed and water raising system applied and tested.
11th Day: Interior - Second coat of varnish applied and insulation of air-conditioning unit. Exterior - Paint guide coat applied and rubbed smooth.
12th Day: Interior - Second coat of varnish drying. Exterior - Finish rubbing and coat of sealer paint, battery and ice boxes applied.
13th Day: Interior - Third coat of varnish and air-conditioning ceilings applied. Exterior - First coat of paint colour.
14th Day: Interior - Third varnish drying. Exterior - Second coat of paint colour, lettering and trap doors applied.
15th Day: Interior - Fourth coat of varnish applied. Exterior - First coat of varnish applied.
16th Day: Interior - Fourth coat of varnish drying and car heating system tested. Exterior - First coat of varnish drying.
17th Day: Interior - Second day varnish drying preparatory to rubbing. Exterior - Second coat of varnish and pipe lagging applied.
18th Day: Interior - Rubbing and polishing of varnish, and plumbing tested. Exterior - Second coat of varnish drying, trucks applied and car leveled.
19th Day: Interior - Painters finished and application of electric lighting fixtures and other trimmings started. Exterior - Third coat of varnish applied. Brakes tested and tinsmith work completed.
20th Day: Interior - Application of trimmings continued. Exterior - Generator, direct drive, and batteries applied.
21st Day: Interior - Application of trimmings completed. All seat upholstering and berth mattresses applied. Exterior - All safety appliances, roof ventilators, steps, trucks, and other underframe equipment, are tested for clearances with car clearance gauge.
22nd Day: Air conditioning equipment completely tested in special air-conditioning room.
23rd Day: Final inspection and testing of electric lighting, water raising system, air brakes completed, and car is ready for service.
The painter's work is an almost controlling factor in the completion of the repair and the various trades, of which there are some 33 classified under the Company's wage and rules agreement, must take advantage of the drying periods between coats of paint or varnish to complete their work. There is a continuous interlocking of work and all must be complete against a definite schedule date. The shopping of a passenger car takes approximately 23 working days and the bulk of the shopping, under normal conditions, must be scheduled through the shops in the so-called light travel season, October-May of each year.
News ArticlesFall 2018 - Colonist Cars Helped Build the West
27 Sep 2016 - Colonist Car Offers Glimpse Into Early Days of Western Canada
18 May 2017 - Restoring Colonist car 1202
24 Jun 2017 - Colonist Car That Drove Western Migration Gets Makeover
7 Sep 2018 - Restored Colonist Car to be Unveiled at Heritage Park's Railway Days
20 Sep 2018 - Colonist Car is Like New Again
Associated LinksCanadian Pacific Historical Association
Passenger Car Photo Index
