Original 1912 Right Side Sill Removed from the Narcissus

The thirty-seven-foot long, right side sill

of the 1912 Portland-Lewiston Interurban,

No. 14, Narcissus has been separated from

the channel steel beam that runs the full length of

the passenger compartment. Photo by PWM

     The image above: The southern yellow pine sill and its channel steel beam partner were detached from the passenger compartment as a set and laid down with the exterior of the sill "facedown" on sturdy supporting blocks. The channel steel beam was then separated from the sill, exposing the inner sides of both the sill and the channel steel beam. The heavy channel steel beam was then flipped and its inside was moved toward the passenger compartment of the Narcissus. This image shows the inside face of the side sill facing up and the exposed rusted flat "backside" of the channel steel beam. 

     The Narcissus is currently being restored at the Donald G. Curry Town House Restoration Shop at Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine. The Narcissus, along with nine other historic Maine railway vehicles, has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1980. The Narcissus was built in 1912 at the Laconia Car Company Works in Laconia, NH. The original order was placed in April, the same month the Titanic set sail and sank, and when Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, first opened. Portland-Lewiston Interurban passenger service commenced on July 2, 1914. Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914.

     The Portland-Lewiston Interurban ended electric railway service, eighty-five years ago on June 28, 1933. J. Henri Vallee purchased the body of the Narcissus, minus all the mechanical and electrical components, in the late '30s for use as the family summer camp in Sabattus, Maine. The Narcissus arrived at the Seashore Trolley Museum on October 31, 1969. Forty-nine years later, we are making major progress in the restoration of this historic Maine transportation icon. This blog post shares information about the single most challenging phase of the restoration to date, the replacement of the southern yellow pine side sills and the channel steel beams that the side sills are encased in.

With the right side sill removed, inside facing up, and

separated from the rusted channel steel beam, the magnitude

of the years of wood decay is clearly evident. Many years

ago a repair was attempted at this point in the sill

which proved less than adequate. Notice the "patches" of

layered rust Photo by PWM

Jones & Laughlin, the name of the company that

made the channel steel originally for the Laconia

Car Company Works is clearly visible on the

inside of the channel steel beam. Jones &

Laughlin was also clearly visible in the

steel I-beams that run down the center

of the forty-seven-foot-long interurban,

Narcissus. Photo by PWM

Below is an edited video of the sill & channel removal created by Ernie Eaton

This bucket contains many patches of layered rust

from the steel channel. Photo by PWM

The thickness of the layers of rust attached to or

that fell from the channel steel was remarkable.

Photo by PWM

Water damage took its toll on places along the

thirty-seven-foot southern yellow pine side sill from the right

side of the Narcissus. Photo by PWM 

There are places on the channel steel that rusted

away totally. Photo by PWM

This a classic case where looks can be deceiving. Early in the

assessment processes, there was speculation that the sills/

channel steel beams were in remarkably good condition and

may only require relatively minor repairs. At worst, the

channel steel beams might need to be replaced.

Photo by PWM

As the assessment process advanced, evidence started

building in favor of the need to examine the sills and channel

beam much more closely.

As various metal components were being removed, 

the evidence clearly pointed to the need for a more aggressive

examination of the channel steel beams and sills.

Photo by PWM

Here, volunteer, Tom Hughes is digging deeper into the

buildup of rust along the length of the right side channel

steel beam and the flooring of the smoking compartment.

Photo by DGC

More tell-tail signs that there were "issues" that warranted

further inspection. Only by removing the side sill and

channel steel beam could a truly proper assessment be done.

Photo by PWM

View of the ends of the right sill and the channel

steel beam at the No. 2 end. photo by PWM 

Remarkably, only along a short segment of the

edge of the floorboard base in the smoking

compartment is there any wood damage. And

the damage is minimal. Notice how tight the

growth rings are seen on the end of the side sill

compared to the rings on the 4 x4s below the

sill. Finding old-growth southern yellow pine

to replace the two-side sill of the Narcissus

will be challenging. Photo by PWM 

The deterioration of the right sill in areas such as the one

seen above results in this sill being damaged to the point

where it cannot be repaired for use in the restoration of the

Narcissus. Sections of the sill that are in good condition will

be measured for possible use to replace deteriorated

vestibule crossbeams. Photo by PWM

Damage to the sill

areas has compromised the structural integrity of the sill.

Photo by PWM

The challenges to removing nuts and bolts that

have been in place for as long as one

hundred and six years were many. Various

means of removal were applied. 

Photo by PWM

Hundreds of nuts and bolts were removed.

The removal of most of the bolts securing the

side sills to the underframe required creativity

on the part of Ernie Eaton, the lead restoration

technician. He fabricated a bolt removal

device that would feature a 20-ton hydraulic

jack. This specialty tool proved very effective.

Photo by PWM

.

The layers of rust continued to build upon

the shaft of the body of the bolts, expanding

outward a little more each year, tightening 

its grip on the bolts housed in the sills, making

the bolts nearly impossible to extract by the

more conventional methods. 

If the bolt body twisted and snapped free, that was actually

preferable to most extraction alternatives. Photo EE

A small representation of the hundreds

removed. Photo by PWM

The left side sill seen here has had its bolts removed and is

ready to be detached from the passenger compartment with

its channel steel beam firmly attached.  Photo by PWM

The left sill side has many of the telltale signs

that the right sill had that led to an area with

major sill damage. We expect the same findings

on the left sill once removed and the channel

beam is removed. Photo by PWM

An interesting observation. The damaged areas

in the right sill were located in the area

 below where a double vertical stud was in

place, leading Ernie to surmise a steady water

flow along the inside of the vertical stud.

Further research and assessment to

follow. Photo by PWM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We continue the restoration work on the 1912, Narcissus, the only surviving high-speed, luxury interurban coach of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban. 

Click Here: Narcissus Restoration-Related Posts

Being more than a century old, the stately, "Elegant Ride," Narcissus, is a gem.  This shimmering precious stone of Maine transportation history is brilliantly resplendent as it emanates so many elements of history, including; time, places, people, and events, that it was coupled to, that when just a smattering of its seemingly innumerable stories are shared, the contents captivates, fascinates, then generates, interest to learn more 🙋. The majestic Narcissus is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Please consider joining the epic journey to complete the Narcissus Project by making a donation today!

Click Here: Donation Options

The restoration of this majestic icon of Maine's electric railway history is but one in a series of captivating stories containing an abundance of incredible coalition of narratives.

Click Here: History-Related Posts - Narcissus and Portland-Lewiston Interurban

     The Narcissus is featured in the national Gold Award-winning novel, Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride. The "Elegant Ride" is the Narcissus. Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914, between Lewiston and Portland, Maine, while campaigning for the Progressive Party candidates.

Click Here: Bookstores and Businesses promoting the Narcissus Project

Independent book publisher, Phil Morse, holding

the Gold Book Award Winner plaque for

 the Middle Reader category for The Eric

Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to

award-winning Maine author,

Jean M. Flahive