Car Shop ExtensionCar Shop ExtensionThe ProjectThe Museum wished to be able to put most of its rolling stock under cover. In 2008, the Museum won the Mass Bay RRE's H. Albert Webb Grant, which gives $10,000 each year to a New England-related railroad project. This, with some additional support from the Museum's members, enabled the Museum to begin building a 30-foot extension to the first 3 bays car shop, thus restoring the original profile of the shop building.
After acquiring the necessary building permits from the Town, work began on the extension around June, 2008. The big doors for Bay 1 and 3 were removed, and the opening boarded up. The wall at the end of Bay 2 was removed and the opening boarded up. Rails were put down at the proper level, conduit was run, and gravel and stone was put down to allow for the proper level of concrete.
In late September, the concrete floor was poured. Wall framing began in October, steel I-beams for the second floor support were placed at the end of the month, and second floor work began in November. The roof was completed and shingled before the first snow fell in mid-December.
Project leader is Zack Wyllie.
Current NewsRoofing is complete. Boarding of the walls is now complete.
Photos taken during the project.
| Boarding of all 3 walls is complete. January 19, 2009, after 15 inches of snow. |
 |
| The east wall was boarded and work is proceding on the south wall. January 3, 2009 |
 |
| The east slope of the roof has been shingled. The west slope was boarded over. November 29, 2008 |
 |
| A view of the south wall of the extension. November 29, 2008 |
 |
| Roof rafters and knee-walls are visible, along with the south wall's staging. November 22, 2008 |
 |
| The second floor stringers are in the process of going up. October 25, 2008 |
 |
The project from another angle. October 25, 2008 |
 |
A close-up of the steel I-beams, which will make the extended shop area a very open place. October 25, 2008 |
 |
| East wall of the extension has been framed. October 13, 2008 |
 |
| West wall of the extension has been framed. Lumber for the wall framing and roof is stacked and ready to be used. October 13, 2008 |
 |
| Concrete has been poured for the foundation, with rails embedded in the concrete. October 5, 2008 |
 |
| The sub-foundation, rails, and rebar is ready for concrete to be poured. September 13, 2008 |
 |
| The shop extension preparation is underway. Rails and the grounds are being prepared for pouring of concrete for the floor. July 15, 2008 |
 |