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Loretto Railcar Restoration

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The Loretto 2 Restoration Project

 

Loretto Home Pre-fire Photographs Fire Damage Photographs

 

AM-HEADLINE-1-11-85-A.jpg (19212 bytes)

 

 Headline of Altoona Mirror 1-11-85.   David Seidel Collection AM-GARY-PRICE-1-11-85-C.jpg (89281 bytes) Altoona Mirror 1-11-85 accompanying headline previously sent, involving Gary Price's work on the LORETTO.  David Seidel Collection
AM-GARY-PRICE-1-11-85-E.jpg (126536 bytes)

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Altoona Mirror article on the LORETTO, conclusion, from 1-11-85.

 

 AM-GARY-PRICE-1-11-85-D.jpg (81551 bytes) Altoona Mirror article of 1-11-85 re: Gary Price and the LORETTO.  David Seidel Collection
LOR-FIRE-AM-NOV-83-A.jpg (71213 bytes) F-LOR-FIRE-AM-NOV-83-B.jpg (61390 bytes) "Loretto Fan Kicks off Fund Effort" Part 1 of 2

Altoona Mirror, November 1983.

David Seidel Collection

 
BARRETTS-BRIGADE-2-1-84-A.jpg (80856 bytes) BARRETTS-BRIGADE-2-1-84-B.jpg (80540 bytes) "Loretto Fan Kicks off Fund Effort" Part 2 of 2

Altoona Mirror, November 1983.

David Seidel Collection

 
CEILING-REST-DETAIL-BEDROOM.jpg (20635 bytes) Detail of ceiling restoration, bedroom, LORETTO II.   Photo by David Seidel. CEILING-REST-EFFORTS.jpg (25044 bytes) Restoration efforts to ceiling area of Loretto, damaged by smoke and heat from the fire of October 8, 1983. Restoration work by staff of Albert Michael's Gallery, Altoona, Pa. Photo by David Seidel
CLEANING-HEAT-DAMAGED-AREA.jpg (24837 bytes) Detail of cleaning efforts to heat and smoke damaged ceiling area in the LORETTO. Photo by David Seidel CONSERVING-LOR-FURN.jpg (52352 bytes) Conserving the LORETTO furnishings following the fire of October 8, 1983. Photo by David Seidel
D-SEIDEL-REFIN-WINDOW-PANEL.jpg (41375 bytes) September, 1986, prior to contracting with the professional restoration firm of Albert Michaels Gallery, Altoona, efforts to accomplish some restoration occurred "in-house". Horseshoe Curve Chapter member & Altoona Railroader's Memorial Museum board member, David Seidel, refinishes window headers from the Loretto with furniture refinisher products.  Photo by David Seidel. F-ALBERT-MICHAELS-GALLERY-Staff.jpg (29665 bytes) Albert Michaels Gallery staff, John Rita (center), professional restorers of the LORETTO, work at Altoona Railroader's Memorial Museum.  Photo by David Seidel.
F-ALT-MIRROR-1-10-87.jpg (119978 bytes) Altoona Mirror article on LORETTO of 1-10-87.  David Seidel Collection. F-ALT-MIRROR-12-7-83-F.jpg (50346 bytes) Altoona Mirror coverage of 12-7-83  part 6 of 6
F-ALT-MIRROR-3-11-87.jpg (98578 bytes) F-ALT-MIRROR-3-11-87-B.jpg (106590 bytes)    Altoona Mirror article on LORETTO 3-11-87.  David Seidel Collection. 

Thank you to the Altoona Mirror for allowing the use of their news articles and photographs. 

       
JOHN-RITA-REST-PARLOR-CEILI.jpg (44618 bytes) John Rita of Albert Michaels Gallery, Altoona, PA (professional restorers of the LORETTO II), works on ceiling restoration in the parlor at vestibule end of car.  Photo by David Seidel. JTD-4-5-87-A.jpg (65541 bytes) Coverage of the Loretto by Johnstown Tribune-Democrat 4-5-87, part 1 of 2.  David Seidel Collection.
JTD-4-5-87-B.jpg (97362 bytes) Coverage of the Loretto by Johnstown Tribune-Democrat 4-5-87.  David Seidel Collection. UNFINISHED-CTR-LOUNGE.jpg (39322 bytes) Photograph of unfinished center lounge of LORETTO II - pending reconstruction. This room was central to fire along with center guest berths.  Photo by David Seidel.
LOR-POLISHING-THE-BRASS.jpg (45976 bytes) Restoration of fire-damaged LORETTO including polishing all the interior brasses. Some fixtures were believed to have been gold plated at one time. Photo by David Seidel PANEL-REST-DETAIL-BEDROOM.jpg (30558 bytes) Detail of restored mahogany panel in bedroom.  Photo by David Seidel.
PARLOR-CEILING-REST-DETAIL.jpg (35544 bytes) Detail of restored parlor ceiling, LORETTO II.  Photo by David Seidel. REST-VESTIBULE-BRASS-WINDOW.jpg (48685 bytes) Detail photograph of restored vestibule of LORETTO II. Note polished brass window channels.  Photo by David Seidel.

 

032101_Loretto-16.jpg (50466 bytes) Kitchen area.  3/21/01 032101_Loretto-14.jpg (32432 bytes) Pantry / Kitchen area.  3/21/01
032101_Loretto-15.jpg (56002 bytes) Kitchen area.  3/21/01 032101_Loretto-1.jpg (45227 bytes) This is view of the central berth and lounge, located  in the center of the car.  3/21/01
032101_Loretto-13.jpg (57616 bytes)   3/21/01 032101_Loretto-10.jpg (53471 bytes)   3/21/01
032101_Loretto-12.jpg (47762 bytes)   3/21/01 032101_Loretto-11.jpg (56543 bytes)   3/21/01
032101_Loretto-9.jpg (42796 bytes) A partial view of the "comfort facilities" located off between the two bedrooms on the car.   032101_Loretto-8.jpg (52946 bytes)   3/21/01
032101_Loretto-4.jpg (57798 bytes) View of Parlor  - vestibule end.  3/21/01 032101_Loretto-5.jpg (31491 bytes) View of Parlor corner (detail) - vestibule end.  3/21/01
032101_Loretto-6.jpg (63254 bytes) View of Parlor  - vestibule end.  3/21/01 032101_Loretto-7.jpg (62237 bytes) View of Parlor  - vestibule end.  3/21/01
032101_Loretto-2.jpg (43303 bytes) Detail of hand-carved wood work which had to be reproduced.  3/21/01 032101_Loretto-3.jpg (44550 bytes) Detail of stained glass.  3/21/01

Thank you to the Altoona Mirror for allowing the use of their news articles and photographs.

       
       

 

August 23, 2008 - Work party at ARMM

Click! Click!

Horseshoe Curve Chapter, NRHS members scraping and priming the Loretto  (Joe DeFrancesco)

 

2010 - Work party at ARMM

During the summer of 2010, Horseshoe Curve Chapter members Frank Givler, Bill Temple, David Seidel, Joe Defrancesco, Denny Walls, Chris Behe, Dick Charlesworth, D n Moringiello scraped and primed the Loretto, repainted and sealed the roof, and repainted the exterior to its original Pullman green colors.  Joe Harella also is in the process of completing repairs to the windows and Joe Defrancesco is re-lettering the car.   

     
           
           
           
           
           
       

 

 

 

NRHS and its logo are trademarks of the National Railway Historical Society
Railfest is a trademark of Railroaders Memorial Museum, Inc. 
The logos for the Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museum is a trademark of the Railroaders Memorial Museum, Inc. 
Photographs are by Chris Behe unless otherwise noted.