Summer + Winter 2024 Update

Hi All!

It's been a busy season for all of us here at the CERA Car Shop. Now that all the special events are over, the team is once again beginning the maintenance cycle for the fleet for the upcoming 2025 season.

Here are some of the highlights and projects from 2024

Montreal Tramways Car 2600 is a 1929 Canadian Car & Foundry streetcar acquired by the Connecticut Trolley Museum in 1959. This car ran in regular service until 2018 when there became a need for a new axle for the car. As built, most of the Montreal Tramways cars were built with Cast Iron Wheels. The result of that 89 years later is that one of the axle/wheel sets became brittle and needed to be replaced. Thanks to our friends at the Shoreline Trolley Museum in Branford, CT, we were able to source a new axle for installation under the car. In addition to the axle being installed and a thorough inspection over the whole car, the shop crew gave the car a beautiful new paint job! This car is now back in regular service to our organization. We're proud to have brought this car back after an 6 year hiatus!

2600 after being pulled out of Northern Barn

2600 first test trip after the axle replacement

2600 ready for service with a new paint job

Chicago Aurora & Elgin Car 303 also received a new paint job this season. The shop put the first of two finishing coats onto the exterior of the car to bring it back to the cars original 1906 paint scheme. This car would have come out of the Niles Shops with a Pullman Green body, Black Frame/Trucks, & an Orange Roof. For this round of paint, we focused on the car body. 303 also had adjustments made to the cars air governor and other components. 

303 getting primer

303 with a completed first coat at Dusk

3001 is progressing very well. This summer, our shop team (Lead by Chief Motorman Mike L.) cut, sanded, and installed the floor onto the car as well as completed most of the roof to the car. The West end trolley controller has been cleaned and rebuilt with the East End controller following shortly after. The air brakes on the car function as intended and will be fully connected to the trucks in the coming months. As of now, 3001 has been rolled over the pit where wiring work and connections will now be made. This car is on the home stretch!

3001 Roof Installation

3001 K1 Brake Valve being installed on the new wood floor

Wood Floor nearing completion

Half way point for 3001's floor

The pit in the shop has also been reinforced. For those who don't know, our shop is equipped with a concrete pit where shop personnel can get under a trolley car to do repairs and maintenance. This pit has been "shored up" with steel to ensure its longevity. 

We have many exciting projects coming up in the 2025 season so stay tuned!