Caboose Restoration Started

Ever since our 91-year-old WP668 caboose was lifted by crane into our backyard
a week ago, we have been working on her. John has adjusted the doors
(which now close tight again) and replaced most of the broken window
glass. The door locks work but need some alignment because of the
shifting from WP668 resting on ties in storage to sitting on her own
proper trucks and wheels. We will probably have replacement windows made
but not for some time.

Paul and Jessica have been sweeping and
vacuuming out the cobwebs and dust, picking up nails and screws of every
size and condition in generations of designs, and pounding in nails that
wiggled up out of their holes. We have put down sheets of plywood over much of
the floor since that is in the worst condition but will be the last
thing replaced.

We have a small pile of wood trim and metal pieces that
go somewhere to be determined, plus the ladders, steps, and battery box that were
cut off for transport, and the metal ventilator (smokestack?) from the roof.
All of the trim and little bits will go into a storage box until we need them
during restoration.
The windows are high enough that we get a great view over the fence of the
garden next door so some curtains will go up soon.

The big caboose projects for this summer (before it rains again) are:

• Building new steps and a deck (meeting San Jose Building Department
  requirements)

• Putting the metal skin on the roof (working with our neighbor and roofer,
  Felix Quintero, 408-592-4341, San Jose, CA)

• Painting the exterior (working with Avi Lenchner, who has painted two
  houses for us, of Avi Decorative Painting, 650-329-0770, Menlo Park, CA)

• Filling the wall hole where a prior owner started installing a window,
  and replacing the front of one of the two bay windows where that prior owner
  started to put in a door

• Getting San Jose Building Department permission to hook up the utilities