KatysBlog

John finished restoring the first window on WP668, our backyard caboose,
last night. There are four more vertically sliding windows plus the
bay windows that slide side-to-side. This first window told us much about
how WP668’s windows were put together and how we can fix them up while respecting
their history.

Part of our work is research. For example, although most of the glass in WP668
was destroyed by vandals during storage, the few original pieces of window glass
are etched with the brand Duolite. A search found the

Types of Auto Glass Offered by PPG in 1957 web page which says:

“Published to the Trade by PPG in 1957

Pittsburgh Safety Glass is manufactured to meet the exacting requirements of the American Standard Safety Code for Safety Glazing Materials for Glazing Motor Vehicles Operating on Land Highways (A.S.A. Z26.1 – 1950) …

DUOLITE SAFETY SHEET GLASS

Two pieces of Pennvernon Sheet Glass of similar thickness laminated together with an interlayer of Vinyl plastic to provide greatest elasticity and resistance to breakage at all temperatures. Safety Sheet Glass does not have the true vision of Safety Plate Glass, but does have an equal safety factor. Duolite is not recommend for use in windshields as here true vision is necessary for safe driving. Thickness 1/4″.”

WP668 was originally built as a boxcar in 1916 and converted to caboose service
during World War II. Since 1950 is date of the referenced safety standard, this
probably means that all of the glass in WP668 was replaced with the new safety
glazing within ten or twenty years after its 1943 conversion from boxcar to caboose.
The sheets of Duolite glass are heavier and thicker than regular glass and the edges
are lined with bubbles.

In addition to restoring the first window, John has made screen inserts which
keep the air flowing through WP668 (with few bugs). Here are photos of the
window work in progress:

Duolite glass brand (backwards)

Original sash, no trim

Restored window sash

John and new window screen insert

Inside window view

Window with screen

John installing sill

John in WP668 window

WP668 Caboose

Inside WP668

Eleanor Dickinson WP668 Portrait

Before trim install

Window trim install

New trim done

Just needs putty

John back to work

Images Copyright 2008 by Katy Dickinson

I am working from home in WP668 (our backyard caboose) today. WP668 is very
comfortable except when summer’s late afternoon sun hits the roof. John has been
working on restoring the caboose windows for the last week or so. He designed
screened window inserts to let in a cross breeze while keeping out bugs. The original
caboose fittings included wide metal mesh screens to protect windows against rocks
(or vandals?), not bugs. We removed the window trim during painting last year and
have gone back and forth discussing whether to buy new or restore the original
windows we have.

The difficulty is that the windows installed in 1943 have no framework other than
the caboose itself. That is, on five of the windows, the sash holding the glass slides
straight up between the inner and outer wood walls. On the bay window, the two sashes
move horizontally along built-in metal slots. We haven’t found any windows for
sale (standard or semi-custom) anything like what we have. We could go to a custom
historical window manufacturer but that would be a very expensive solution.

Last weekend, John took apart one of the windows to check its condition. It is clear
that the walls of the caboose were painted much more often than the window frames.
However, after much scraping, the wood on the first window is solid and the original
railroad safety glass is intact. So, that window will be reinstalled with new trim and
sill. The rotted original trim and sill are providing the pattern for the replacement
pieces. John said he found over a dozen rusty nails in one piece of trim. Repairs
during active rail service were hasty…

I will post photos when I have more to show…