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157
40-Foot Refrigerator Car
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| At Chama. Jul 31, 2004. Photo: Curt Bianchi. Click image for larger size. |
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| Number: | 157 |
| Type: | Refrigerator Car |
| Class: | 40-Foot |
| Category: | Freight |
| Year Built: | 1924-26 |
| Manufacturer: | American Car and Foundry |
| How Acquired: | Purchased from D&RGW, 1970. |
| Description: | Restoration completed in 2000. |
Number 157 was one of twelve reefers built by the D&RGW in 1924 at a cost of $2628.20. It was built to a length of 40 feet
to make it large enough to hold a minimum standard gauge car load for ease of transfer. The car weighs 34,000 pounds
light and has a capacity of 50,000 pounds. It remained in service to the end of the narrow gauge and was acquired
by the C&TS when the states purchased the railroad from the Rio Grande.
1996
FOCTS volunteers made considerable progress in restoring this car. The accomplishments included replacement of
roof walk saddles and decking, left-side fascia and non-brake crown fascia, and the left door jamb header. Also,
temporary outer ice hatches were installed to protect against the weather, the rusted metal roof around the ice
hatches was repaired, and new freight doors were built and installed on the left side of the car. In order to maintain
the structural integrity of the car it was determined that both the header and the sill need repairing. (A large piece
of the sill had dry rot.) Through consultation with retired D&RGW carmen John Carson and Hawley Seely, it was
determined that approximately 16 feet of the header, and 12 feet of the sill needed replacement. The right side of
the car, where the siding was removed, was covered with plywood to protect the remaining structure from the weather.
[Dispatch 9-4, Metzler]
1997
Work Session A-B. The ice hatches were repaired and replaced, including the installation
of new canvas gaskets. On the right
side of the car, repairs were made to one outside main sill and one header, and several uprights and diagonal
braces were replaced. Also, on the right side of the car, one door jamb header was replaced, as well as
approximately 25 feet of tongue-and-groove siding. Other items replaced were the right side fascia, brake end
crown fascia, roof end platforms, and right side freight doors. There were minor repairs to the interior
paneling. [Dispatch 10-3, Metzler]
Work Session B. Scraped and painted by FOCTS volunteers. [Dispatch 10-3]
1998
FOCTS volunteers finished repairing the hatches, and painted all metal parts. [Dispatch 11-3, Metzler]
Lettering and trim painted by FOCTS volunteers. [Dispatch 11-3, Metzler]
2000
FOCTS volunteers completed the brake work, and air tested the brake system. [Metzler]
2005
Work Session C. Painted with the following procedure. The car was scraped and wire brushed, and dust removed with 100 psi of air. A Benjamin-Moore oil-based primer was applied and allowed to dry overnight. The following morning two coats of Benjamin-Moore latex were applied. [Dispatch 18-3, TLR RP04 2005]
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