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Outer Harbor No. 2
Cab Restoration Updates

Southern California Chapter
Railway and Locomotive Historical Society

HARBOR BELT CAB RESTORATION COMMENCES

1-12-11 - Restoration Begins
2-5-11 - Restoration Continues

1-12-11 - Restoration Begins
At the December and January work parties, Chapter members began work to restore the wooden cab of the Harbor Belt Locomotive. The locomotive was built in 1893, and the wooden cab has significantly deteriorated over the years from exposure to the elements.

The initial task was to remove the cab from the locomotive so that it could be used as a pattern for the rebuild, since no drawings exist with sufficient detail. Many photographs were taken to document the location of parts and the methods of construction. Then the Chapter’s gantry crane was used to lift the cab from the locomotive and set it down on the ground where it could be used for reference as a new cab is built in place on the locomotive. Paul Guercio and Carolyn Carothers executed the initial lift, placing the cab adjacent to the locomotive.  Paul and Rick Brown later lifted the cab again and moved it to a better location between the Big Boy and the Harbor Belt locomotive (see accompanying photos).

After removing the cab, Chapter members John Mastrobuoni, Steve , and Johnathan Shatsnider  worked on removing deteriorated steel cab supports that will be replaced, and needle-scaled the remaining  cab metal parts to remove rust and scale prior to painting with primer. The locomotive was also separated from the tender to facilitate the work. Accompanying photos show John and Steve hard at work with the needle scalers, and Johnathan grinding off rivet heads on angle iron supports that need to be replaced.

Plans are to rebuild the cab with new white oak wood over the next few months, duplicating the original as closely as possible.

(click on thumbnails for enhanced images)
 Lifting the Cab Off of the Engine

Lowering the Cab

Aligning the Cab to be Lowered

Positioning the Fork Lift to Aid in Lowering the Cab

Steve and John hard at work needle scaling

John grinding the rough edges to clean up a bracket to be used on the restored cab.

2-5-11 - Restoration Contiues

The early efforts of the restoration continue during the period of 2-4-11 through 2-15-11.

Many hours are being spent to clean and prepare the original angle iron supports and brackets that were used as part of the original cab construction.  Our goal is to use as much of the original hardware as possible in order to keep the cab and locomotive in its original configuration.  Photos below show John Brown sandblasting some of the angle iron supports and brackets while Paul Guercio was off to the side spraying a coat of primer that will seal and protect the angle iron supports and brackets prior to being painted.  Once primed and painted, these pieces of hardware will be reinstalled onto the cab.

John sand blasting one of many brackets in prepartion of priming

Paul is applying a fresh coat of primer

More information and pictures will be posted as progress is made.