Our mechanical team doesn’t just rebuild and restore all aspects of steam locomotives, such as the ones you see when you visit the Strasburg Rail Road. They also work on railcars and freight cars, like the Tidewater Tank Car.
A Brief History
This tank car was built in 1923 by the General American Tank Car Company, now known as GATX. GATX is a significant player in the rail industry, and the company began building railcars in 1907. This car was initially built for the Tidewater Oil Company and used for delivering oil products to customers by rail.
After its mainline service life, the New Jersey Department of Transportation used it as a fuel storage car in Bayhead, N.J. Tidewater 1367 was purchased by the Strasburg Rail Road in 2004 and restored shortly after, adding it to our collection of museum-quality heritage freight cars.
What Work Did We Do?
Our heritage Tidewater tank car is currently undergoing a complete rebuild and repaint in our shop. The process began with our team diligently sanding down the old surface to prepare it for fresh paint.
At the same time, we addressed any important structural work the car needed, including the replacement of the wood bracing that stabilizes the tank on the frame. This step involves cutting frame-to-tank supports, which are then primed and prepared for installation onto the car’s frame. We also removed the running boards that were installed in the initial restoration, about 20 years ago, and prepared new oak running boards that have been sealed with boiled linseed oil.
Once the initial sanding and structural repairs were complete, the Tidewater tank car was primed and sanded again for the next phase of the repaint. At this stage, the new tank supports have been successfully installed. The car is now prepared to receive two coats of a shiny gloss paint before the final lettering can be applied, bringing the historical tank car closer to its finished state.
To finish our restoration, the new tank bracing and running boards have been successfully replaced, contributing to its renewed structural integrity and appearance. The car now boasts a glossy finish, and local artist Hot Rod Jen did the final lettering.
Keeping History Alive
The preservation of rail history is at the heart of what we do. Our mission is to prevent time from damaging these pieces of history and to keep them on track for future generations. Our commitment to quality repairs done right the first time hasn’t changed in all these years, and we don’t plan to change that.
From steam engines to railcars, we’re dedicated to saving as much history as we can.
Looking for an expert team to help with your steam locomotive or railcar restoration project? Contact our team to help get your project back on track.
