We’re pleased to debut Phase 1 of our partial interior restoration of our Chicago, South Shore & South Bend commuter car #1 this fall! This car turned 100 years old in August of this year, and we are proud to breathe some new life into it! The initial phase included restoration of the wood wall panels and luggage racks in 3 seat bays in the long end of the car, restoration of many wood window jambs along one side of the long end of the car, replacement of the central carpet runner, and replacement of 3 window shades with authentic replicas. A few dedicated volunteers spent many days since the spring bringing this project together and we are so proud to show off this excellent work through the rest of our season!

The old wood sidewalls were unfortunately too far deteriorated to save; however, we were able to find a comparable match in Red Oak plywood to fabricate replacements. Several studies were done to find a wood stain that will both protect this wood and bring the warm natural tones back into the car.

As the sidewalls were replaced, so was the original horsehair insulation found in the wall cavity. We opted for rigid insulation as a replacement, a substitution that will help keep the car warmer in the winter months during our popular Santa Express trains!

At the windows, the original mahogany trim was restored to it’s original appearance. Students in the Trenton High School wood shop performed the sanding for us with final staining and reinstallation completed by our volunteers. Additionally, a new interior windowsill was fabricated by the students to replace the original wood sill that had been damaged by years of wear and weather.

Some patching and filling work was done to the exterior window sills to prevent water intrusion into the wall cavity. This work will preserve the metal below the windows and prevent rusting of the side sheeting that is somewhat common on cars of this age.

The original header board above the windows was restored after many tedious hours of sanding and preparation for new stain. This task proved quite challenging as the fragile boards are over 8 feet long!

With the header board removed, it also provided a good opportunity to take down the luggage racks and do some proper sanding, priming and painting. This detail really brings the whole project together and makes these seats feel just as they did for commuters 100 years ago!

3 new replicas of the original window shades were commissioned from Adlake out of Elkhart, IN. Adlake manufactured the original shades and we were quite pleased to find out they could still manufacture these pieces 100 years later!

The final component of this project was the replacement of the carpet runner down the center aisle of the car. New, robust carpeting was procured and fixed down to the floor, providing a smooth and durable surface for the thousands of guests who will get to experience this car this season and beyond.

The final assembly is breathtaking and provides a glimpse into the workmanship that went into these cars a century ago. Commuter cars today just do not have these details that could make a ride to work feel so classy. Could you see yourself commuting in these seats on your journey into the Windy City?

We are thrilled with the final product of Phase 1, and we hope to continue this restoration going forward. If you want to see the entire interior of Chicago, South Shore & South Bend #1 look this wonderful, consider helping us out! We are always in need of volunteers who can help us bring these projects to life. No experience necessary, but specialty skills are always appreciated! Projects like this provide opportunities for people of all ages and skill levels, and we are always willing to help you learn something new! Visit our Membership page to learn more about getting involved. If hands-on work is not feasible, consider making a donation! All donations help us keep our equipment rolling and facilitate projects like this that tell the story of American railroading. Visit our Donate page to learn more about ways you can contribute to our work in railroad preservation!