March 24, 2023 Restoration Update
Now that the weather has finally warmed up, we’ve made some great progress on the caboose interior. Some unplanned time in Port Jervis led to a productive work day yesterday.
Most of the interior seats have been unbolted or removed from the floor to allow for some floor repairs. The original “booth seats” will be retained, and possibly one or two of the original conductor’s seats. A section of wall was removed to assess the condition of the insulation and the walls.
The interior walls are made of a fiberglass material that absorbs and retains moisture - a known issue on Conrail’s N21 class of cabooses. Even if the panels do not directly get wet, they will absorb moisture from the air. Later cabooses built by FGE used metal sheeting or other material, which largely remedied this issue. The moisture is then held against the insulation, which causes mold and mildew issues.
To remedy this problem, we will be completely removing the interior walls of the car. The insulation will eventually be entirely replaced with foam board, and the walls will be replaced with high-grade plywood.
The car is kind of a mess right now, but it’s a sign of progress!
