Weather? we don't need no stinking weather!

Actually, we don't care about the weather (to a degree).
Last Saturday wash a washout, so what to do?
Have a volunteer jam session on Sunday!!
It's been a long time since that happened and although I missed out at my local Historical Society day, , it proved to be a boon for OBRM.
We had quite a few hardy souls arrive to continue working on the cab of #35 which has seen tremendous strides over the course of 2 weeks. I'm writing this on Monday January 14th 2019 so this is right after this past Saturdays session where we had about 10 volunteers up and ready to move the cab project and the Ping Pong Project forward.
Back to the Cab's progress.
When we began this project , Steve Nappy was working out the steel reinforcements for the frame while John Petsche was going like gangbusters on #398, our GE 25 ton diesel locomotive.
Steve got very sick and needed time off to recuperate which I am very happy to say, he is. It was a long haul, but seeing him this past Saturday was great.
after #398's heavy work was completed, John P took over the cab work and fell in love with the planning and execution for this project. He took the BULL by the horns and ran with it even to the point of busman's holidays at the RR Museum of Pa to gather photographic proof of how the cab was erected.
with these and blueprints , he embarked on the cab restoration.
He planned his work and is working his plan using the talents of Fred Rubin who is our master fabricator and welder. Fred worked for the Staten Island Ferry and is using his many years of experience to create the parts needed to make our repairs.
as of right now, the lower frame for the ca has been created from 3+1/2 in steel angles to which were welded 1+1/2 x 3+1/2 in steel angles to create a 5 inch channel with 3+1/2 inch flanges. Both sides and the rear have been completed and  n extra 5 inch channel was fabricated and welded across the cab from side to side effectively boxing out a portion for the installation of the floor material.
Our volunteers began to needle scale the interior surfaces to remove the many ears of crappy insulation and coal dust/tar. this will allow safer and cleaner welding.
John's plan is now going to focus on the front sheet which goes over the boiler, then I believe the roof will be next..
Both lower walls on the engineers and fireman's sides have been completed with all new steel and the lowere rear wall sections have been drawn out to be fabricated this coming weekend. Assuming that we do not get the predicted 14 or so inches of snow, this is very doable!.
Until next time folks!
Gary