P & W Shops

 

The idea was simple. Build a  four place car so that when the "Bosses" came along,

they would be warm and comfortable. Wooding was the obvious choice because of

shaft drive and suspension. This literally "cut & taped" photo gives some hint of what

 was to come.

 

Start with two doner cars, a very tired CBL and a heavily derailment

damaged CBI. For anyone interested, more extensive photos of this build can

be viewed at the Yahoo "Railroad Motorcar Maintenance" site under "photos",

"P&W Stretch Woodings".

 

New custom length frame components come together as a rolling chassis.

 

 New tunnel components, engine installed, 1979 Honda CX500, shaft drive,

 water cooled, 5 speed transmission, 50 HP. Engine coolant will heat the cab

 via a "hot rod" heater core and 3 speed recirculating fan.

 

Completely rebuilt Woodings series "8" transmission with new shafts, gears,

 and bearings. Input shaft is custom made to mate with Honda CX500 driveline.

 

Chassis trials March 22, 2008, a complete success, no mechanical issues.

 

Hydraulic turntable capable of lifting the car 6" above the rail head from the ties.

 

The initial joining of the two cabs was accomplished with the two bodies  bolted

to the new chassis to assure proper alignment.

 

1/8" thick fiberglas panels harvested from the sides of a junkyard Unicell boxtruck provide

 material necessary to infill the side panels on the modified cab. Operating side windows in

the rear quarter panels will be identical to those in the doors. Back window to have center

sliding section for flowthru ventalation. Much fiberglas work ahead. Hope to be ready for 

the 20th anniversary 2008 Hobo Trackcar Meet in Lincoln, NH.

 

20th Anniversary Hobo, NOT!!  But here we are today, 6/14/08, for the second time out.

 This time for distance and performance, 36 flawless miles. Off to the paint shop next. 

 

12/9/08 FINALLY!!!

 

Control Panel is installed and wired. Work on the interior starts. The box on the dashboard

 is an airbox from which the defrosters will be fed.

 

First photo in the light of a brilliant sunny day. Interior buildout is progressing.

 

Interior is nearing completion.

 

 

Finished except for the graphics, 5/23/09.

 

Music:  "She Caught The Katy" by the Blues Brothers, from the Blues Brothers Movie.