April 27, 2023 Restoration Update
We were back at it today! The last new window coverings were installed, and we did some “spring cleaning” inside the car to ready it for additional work. With the car now watertight, we can start fixing the water-damaged floors and replacing the interior walls.
When the car was built in 1978, the builder (Fruit Growers Express in Alexandria, VA) used wide floorboards made by gluing/laminating together smaller boards. Over the years that this car had broken windows, the wood floor got wet as rainwater entered the car, causing it to swell and contract as it got wet and dried out. Eventually, the glue joints failed, causing the floor to de-laminate. There are two locations (near one bay window and at the booth/table) where this has become a major issue and will require replacement of parts of the floor. The photo included below shows the extent of the damage - this is why the booth was removed in March. While most of the other furniture is not being retained, the original booth will be reinstalled once the floor is repaired. The damage by the bay window is not as severe and will only require the replacement of one floorboard.
