Stripping the Caboose Roof

Over the 3 day weekend, John and the kids and I started to strip the
remaining original wood roof off WP668 and to put in the ceiling lighting. We
are working on the caboose in its storage area using a gas-powered
generator to drive the power tools. It is dirty heavy work but fun. We
came home filthy with splinters and bug bites and a sense of achievement.

WP668 is basically two wooden boxes in a steel frame. The ceiling boards
of the inner box are in very good shape, which is good because we want to
use them as is. The windows need replacement and the walls need patching and
repair. The floor is unsalvageable and needs replacement entirely. There
are now ten can lights inset down the center of the ceiling with two smaller
can lights inset over each bay window.

We were surprised to find that the original window rise into a space between
the inner and outer box – we had thought that the boxes’ surfaces touched in the walls.
Once the electrical ceiling work is done, we can insulate the space above, then put on
the new roof. Because there is space between the box walls, we may be able to
insulate the sides as well.

All of this work is being driven by the soon-to-start rainy season. It took
many months for the caboose to dry out after being soaked last year. We want at
least to get the roof in place before the rains start again.