The 1927 Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe All Steel End Cupola Caboose Eagle Scout Service Project Jordan Cartwright Restoration Project Troop 123 BSA Bay Area Council Galveston, Texas
Jordan Cartwright has been interested in railroad operations and historic train preservation since his early childhood.
The Galveston Railroad Museum is one of the unique destinations important to Galveston Island s tourism economy, attracting thousands of visitors each year.
In 2008 Hurricane Ike devastated Galveston Island and flooded the Railroad Museum and all of its trains, causing millions of dollars in damage to the Museum.
Young Scout Jordan Cartwright visited the Railroad Museum after the hurricane and decided he wanted to lead one of the Museum s recovery effort projects when he was old enough.
In 2013, when Jordan was eligible to complete his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project, he contacted Galveston Railroad Museum Executive Director Morris Gould.
They agreed that restoring the 1927 Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Caboose # 1642 would be the best project. The hurricane damage had accelerated the deterioration of the historic caboose.
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Caboose #1642 This all steel, end cupola caboose was built in 1927, the year A.T.& S.F. switched from wooden to steel cabooses. It was built by the American Car and Foundry Company and was one of 150 in its class. In 1976 it was rebuilt to its present configuration and given number 999913. When the Santa Fe Railroad donated the car to the Galveston Railroad Museum, it was given its original number back.
Mr. Gould advised Jordan on the caboose restoration process. Jordan completed the historical research to ensure the restoration would be completed accurately. The caboose was to be repainted to its original Santa Fe Mineral Brown Color.
The Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook was completed along with a detailed project work plan and material estimate. The project and workbook were approved in May 2013.
Project Planning Met with Railroad Museum and people with experience in construction to determine the restoration process, tools and materials required. Completed caboose historical research for restoration specifications, accuracy. Completed the Eagle Service Project Proposal. Developed detailed project work plan and schedule. Presented the project proposal to Boy Scout Troop. Got Scouts and Leaders commitment to support the project. Got Project Proposal Approved by Troop Leaders, BSA Council and Project Sponsor. Secured materials donated by Railroad Museum. Acquired scaffolding loaned by construction contractor and power tools loaned by contributor.
Caboose Restoration Process Power wash entire caboose Scrape caboose roof down to bare metal and apply OSPHO (rust inhibitor) Caboose Exterior (repeat for two sides, then two ends and roof of caboose) Install scaffolding Use power sanders to strip rust and old paint down to bare metal. Apply Paso metal surface preparation solvent Apply Rustoleum Rusty Metal primer to surface, steps, railings, etc. Caboose Interior: Use hand sanders to strip rust and old paint down to bare metal/wood. Apply Paso metal surface preparation solvent Apply Rustoleum Rusty Metal primer to metal surfaces Apply wood paint primer to wood surfaces
Caboose Restoration Process Exterior Paint Coat #1 Paint all four sides, roof with first coat of Rustoleum rust preventative paint. Exterior Paint Coat #2 Paint all four sides, roof with first coat of Rustoleum rust preventative paint. Interior Paint Coat #1 Paint all metal surfaces with first coat of Rustoleum rust preventative paint. Paint all wood surfaces, floor with first coat of latex paint. Interior Paint Coat #2 Paint all metal surfaces with first coat of Rustoleum rust preventative paint. Paint all wood surfaces, floor with first coat of latex paint. Windows remove all caboose plexiglass windows replace with new plexiglass, caulk all windows Caboose Marking Decals place all A. T.& S. F. #1642 marking on caboose.
Caboose Restoration Typical Daily Schedule * 15 30 minute breaks every 2 hours 6:30 a.m. Project Leader arrives at Railroad Museum to set up for work day set up tents (shade), safety equipment, first aid kits, tools, materials, sunscreen, water, gatorade, breakfast for volunteers 7:30 a.m. Volunteers arrive served breakfast, water, gatorade. 8:00 a.m. Project Leader gives safety instructions for tools, equipment + instructions for the work to be completed that day. 8:30 a.m. Volunteers put on safety gear, sunscreen and begin work 12:30 p.m. Lunch break (lunch prepared by Project Leader) 1:00 p.m. Work continues 6:00 p.m. Volunteer work for day completed / Site Cleanup begins 7:00 p.m. Site clean up complete 7:30 p.m. Tools, equipment, materials placed back in storage 8:00 p.m. Safety, inspection, Rail yard secured
Project Result No Safety Incidents Zero Injuries 1927 Caboose Original Project Estimate Final Plan Estimate Final Report Weeks Required 5-6 weeks 8 weeks 9 weeks* Volunteers 23 54 (some repeat volunteers) Volunteer Hours 42 (repeat volunteers not counted twice) Not estimated 592 538 Project Cost $1855 $2114 $1877 Materials Donated $1655 $1897 $1877 Added Scope * Rain delay caused one weekend extension Interior paint, plexiglass replacement added by Sponsor Project below budget even with additional of plexiglass, interior
What did it take to restore The 1927 Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe # 1642 Caboose?
A Great Railroad Museum Staff!
A Dedicated Boy Scout Troop! Troop 123 Galveston, Texas
42 Enthusiastic Volunteers; 9 Weekends; 538 Hours
42 Enthusiastic Volunteers; 9 Weekends; 538 Hours Thomas Anglin Bryson Bassett Mark Bassett Bowen Beebe Blake Bell Spencer Bell
42 Enthusiastic Volunteers; 9 Weekends; 538 Hours Justin Bossert Craig Cartwright Hannah Cartwright Arnie Craft Michael Dean Jacob Feldman
42 Enthusiastic Volunteers; 9 Weekends; 538 Hours Trip Gaffrey Bill Glenn Jackson Glenn Matt Havard Mack Jobe Shae Jobe
42 Enthusiastic Volunteers; 9 Weekends; 538 Hours Matt Kerr Chase Krumholz Fred Raschke Trent Raschke Scott Ritzmann Sara Roman
42 Enthusiastic Volunteers; 9 Weekends; 538 Hours Donnie Rouse Kyle Sistrunk Natalie Sifuentes Susan Sifuentes Trevor Sifuentes James Sinclair
42 Enthusiastic Volunteers; 9 Weekends; 538 Hours Jamar Soorad James Tetley Jarred Tetley Sandra Tetley Andy Tirpak Justin Tirpak
42 Enthusiastic Volunteers; 9 Weekends; 538 Hours Patrick Unbehagen John Van Dewalli Jim Williams Zach Williams
Lots of Materials & Equipment 1 power washer 1 generator 4 power sanders 11 wire brushes 9 hand sanders 21 gallons of paint / primer 37 paint brushes 117 disposable gloves 16 windows 12 pairs eye protection 38 dust masks
And 27 Gallons of Gatorade 32 Gallons of Water 13 Dozen Homecut Donuts 5668 Miles (Austin to Galveston commute) Zero Injuries
Project Contributors Galveston Railroad Museum Morris Gould, Sandi Cobb, Ramon Coles & Staff Chalmers Hardware Mark Bassett, Michelle Phillips & Staff John Kelso Construction Mike Unbehagen Dan Rouse
The linked image cannot be displayed. The file may have been moved, renamed, or deleted. Verify that the link points to the correct file and location.
The linked image cannot be displayed. The file may have been moved, renamed, or deleted. Verify that the link points to the correct file and location.
The linked image cannot be displayed. The file may have been moved, renamed, or deleted. Verify that the link points to the correct file and location.