September, 2002:  My boys and I started work on the restoration of NP 642. The first thing we had to do was to clean it up a bit. We removed all the wood blocks and scrap that was in the storage area under the cab and laying about the deck. Once it was cleaned we had a better idea of what needed to be done. Over all it is in pretty good shape. Structurally it appears sound. Most of the work looks like it will involve replacing wood and some sheet metal work.

October 19, 2002:   We were able to get back to Toppenish and work on the spreader.  We finished removing all the scrap from the tool box, located on the forward area of the deck. Most of this stuff will get sorted, cleaned up and replaced when restoration is completed. With that done we started on the front window area of the cab. After removing the wiper motors and some of the plumbing we finally got one of the window frames out. When we get back we will continue with removing the wood from the interior. This will allow us to do the sheet metal work with less of a fire hazard.

Tristan and Derrick are working at removing the bolts that are holding the windows shut. The lights will be removed as well.

Dec 2002:  We were able to get over for one weekend with the spreader. Derrick worked primarily on removing the electrical cables. This had to be done so that we could get the windows out. It also gets us ready to redo the rest of the wood work. Tristan worked on the stove. The oil stove had to go. It's ugly and just doesn't fit with the time period that we are going for. There was a lot of flashing on both sides of the cab that had to be removed.

 

Derrick is removing some cabling so that we can get the window frame out.	Tristan is working to remove the stove and flashing. This will be replaced with a pot belly stove.

 

Jan 18th, 2003:  Work continued on getting the cables out. Derrick did finish this task so next time he will get to start something else. He also finished removing some of the sheet steel that had covered a couple of the walls. Tristan finished removing the flashing around the stove and the ceiling. There is still some flashing around the opening in the roof where the stack is. We found some nice wood behind the flashing. We also discovered that there are two different styles of wood siding. The red boards which cover the lower portion of this wall and the entire wall on the other side looks like the typical NP tongue and groove while the upper portion is wainscoting.

Troyce Brooks

Northern Pacific Railway Museum                NP 642            NP 642 Photo Pg 1            NP 642 Photo Pg 2