Narcissus Restoration Update September 24, 2021

View of the 1912 Portland-Lewiston No. 12, Narcissus 

in the Donald G. Curry Restoration Shop at Seashore Trolley

Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine. The number 2 end is seen

on the right. PWM August 21, 2021 

The number 1 end is seen on the left.

PWM August 21, 2021

The Narcissus was built in 1912 in Laconia, NH, and operated on the Portland-Lewiston Interurban (PLI) between the two cities from 1914 to 1933. Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger on the Narcissus from Lewiston to Portland on August 18, 1914. 

     The blog posts include updates on the restoration of the National Register of Historic Places, Narcissus, which is currently taking place at Seashore Trolley Museum's Donald G. Curry Town House Restoration Shop in Kennebunkport, Maine. Posts also include topics; on the connections that Theodore Roosevelt has here in Maine, the PLI and its connections to the communities it served (Portland, Falmouth, Cumberland, Gray, New Gloucester, Auburn, and Lewiston), the builder of the PLI, W. S. Libbey, other electric railway systems in Maine, and people of Maine that had an impact on the electric railway development here in Maine.

This 2021 restoration update includes the work described below:

Passenger Windows - 

One of the twenty-six passenger windows with a mahogany

sash. There were nearly twenty original passenger window

sashes in various conditions. Some could be repaired, and

some sash were beyond repair. A replica sash was made with

mahogany where needed. The glass that was missing from

most sashes has been matched to the original and installed.

PWM 1-6-2021 PWM

Vestibule Sash -

The four large vestibule sashes were individually

 dismantled and segments were examined. It was

determined that all the sash had received major

repairs over many years. Enough original

segments remained and were utilized as patterns

to make four replacement sash. PWM

Making mortise cuts in the vestibule sash.

Seth Reed

Replacement mahogany vestibule sash with

newly cut mortise. Seth Reed

Replacement mahogany vestibule sash

sections showing their tenons. Seth Reed

Matching the tenon with the mortise as 

a replacement vestibule sash is assembled.

Seth Reed

Closeup of the finished product.

Seth Reed

Replacement mahogany sash showing the

craftsmanship of master woodworker,

Seth Reed. Seth Reed Photo

The four replacement mahogany sashes for

the vestibules of the Narcissus. The

extensions at the top are done on purpose to

allow for adjustments while each is being

installed. Each sash will have the extensions

sawn to have each sash fit securely. PWM

Steel Channel/Side Sill Timbers - 

These next three photos were first posted in 2019. I include them here for background to the photos, etc. that follow. These three images were supplied to the Museum by the various vendors that had a hand in locating, milling, and delivering the milled vintage southern yellow pine timbers for use in the Narcissus.

Possible candidates for Narcissus side sills.

Springfield, MA at Armster

Reclaimed Lumber.

In the Springfield, MA area, this 40-foot x 11.5" x 13.5"

timber is about to begin its transformation as two, 37-foot x

5" x 8" timbers are extrapolated during the

cutting/sawing/milling process. The timber milled into

two sills for the Narcissus came from a Brass Foundry that

was built in Connecticut circa 1880.

Once the exterior sides are milled, then the

large timber is sawn in half. This milling

then produces a surprising reaction

from the old-growth timber.

Once the timbers were in the restoration shop for

work to begin to prep for installation, many

of the knots had started to seep sap. 

PWM

One of the many knots

seeping sap from the

milled timber that was

initially installed in a

brass foundry during 

construction circa 1880.

PWM

These two timbers are incredible.

PWM

One of the two vintage side sill timbers is

matched with its steel channel. Following their

preparation, as a joined pair, the set will be

stored until they are retrieved for installation

in the Narcissus. PWM

After participating in

the matching process with its

partner side sill timber, each

of the steel channels were

prepped and primed. Later

both would be stored in the

54-foot storage trailer that

contains Narcissus components.

PWM

Both steel channels and the sills are prepped and awaiting

being joined with their respective matched partner, then

secured together until it is their turn to be installed in the Narcissus.

PWM

No. 2 End Vestibule - 

An October 16, 2017 view of the

number 2 end of the Narcissus. PWM

Beginning early in 2021, the process of dismantling the number 2 end began. Copious photos were taken as the process proceeded. All spaces between components were measured. Each component was measured precisely and all measurements were recorded. The data was uploaded to the files in the Solidworks, 3-D CAD program.

One of the photos taken before starting

the process of dismantling the number 2

end of the Narcissus. Ernie Eaton

Old photographs of the Laconia-built interurbans are helpful when determining the perspective and accuracy of the 3-D CAD model. Below. left, is the number 1 end of No. 12, Gladiolus in the Lewiston carhouse. On the right is a virtual rendering of the number 1 end of the Narcissus generated from the Solidworks program. Ernie has positioned the virtual model of the Narcissus to mimic the position of the Gladiolus. This is not the final rendering and requires additional data along with minor repositioning. As data files of various components are added to the Solidworks program, the virtual model of the Narcissus becomes more complete. This step is but one of many to assist Ernie in determining the accuracy of placement of the thousands of individual component files that make up the Narcissus.

Ernie Eaton is the restoration shop project manager overseeing

all aspects of the restoration of the Narcissus. He secured the

license for the Museum to use the Solidworks 3-D CAD

software. Ernie enters all data (thousands of individual data

entries) files into the program then becomes

available as a virtual 3-D model.

A virtual rendering of the number 1 end

in color. As additional data from measuring

components are added to the program, the

virtual model rendering becomes more complete.

Ernie Eaton

The dismantling process of the number 2 end of

the Narcissus has begun.

March 2021 - Ernie Eaton

One of the original stained glass windows in its mahogany

sash from the 1912 Arbutus. This window is from the clerestory

on the number 2 end of the Arbutus. I use this window

as a display item when we have a canopy with tables with

displays during a community event and during a Museum event

or a speaking engagement. This image, it is used

as a backdrop in my cottage during Zoom meetings. PWM

Woodwork being done on the No. 2 End - 

Seth Reed is the master finish woodworker in the

Museum's restoration shop. Seth is seen here making cuts to

a block of ash that will become a replacement component

for the Narcissus. Seth and Ernie examine and test each of 

the wood components that were removed from the Narcissus

to determine whether the component can be repaired

and reused or if a new replica component needs to be produced. 

Ernie Eaton

Ash components that have been reproduced or repaired.

PWM

A reproduced component is attached to an original.

PWM

The same components as in the above photo show the

damaged end on the original. PWM

Many of these wood components from the number 2 end have

many complicated cuts. 

PWM

The window post attached to the original is secured together

with green painter's tape. The repaired post is on the top. One

end of the very complicated corner door post is seen in the

foreground. PWM

Repairs are seen on one of the several cross-braces for the

dasher underneath the vestibule windows.

PWM

Closeup of a couple of repairs. The repaired door post seen

on the left is seen nearly complete in the photo below

PWM

Repaired window post.

5-19-2021 Seth Reed 

The reverse side of the repaired window post.

5-19-2021 Seth Reed 

Viewing some of the complicated cuts

of the doorposts. 5-1-2021 Seth Reed 

The opposite end of two of the door posts.

5-1-2021 Seth Reed  

Laura Libbey Conley, great, great-granddaughter

to W. Scott Libbey, builder of the PLI, expressing

her excitement at seeing the quality of

the finished woodwork of the complicated doorpost

from the number 2 end of the Narcissus.

8-7-2021 PWM

A short video clip of one of the replacement ash

door posts for the number 2 end of the Narcissus

Click Here to see the YouTube clip if you are unable to open the embedded link above

Steel I-beams No. 2 End Vestibule - 

The PLI interurban's original construction included two

47-foot-long steel I-beams down the center of the full length

of the coach. Wood was set on the sides of each of the

I-beam for use to secure various components and wood

crossbeams. Ernie Eaton

The ends of the I-beams supporting the vestibules were in

very poor condition. The ends of the I-beams were cut and

the sections were removed from about where the bulkheads

are located in the passenger compartment. New I-beams

were welded into place. Ernie Eaton

Closeup of the original steel I-beams on the

number 2 end of the Narcissus. Ernie Eaton

The top I-beam segment is one of the two

original ends cut from the number two end

I-beams. The I-beam below is one of the two

replacement steel I-beam segments that will be

welded into place. Ernie Eaton

Westinghouse Multi-Unit & HL Controller - The Westinghouse HL control Multi-Unit seen below was one of the many then-declared obsolete items retrieved in the mid-to-late 1960s from the Boston 'T''s Everett shops. One of two HL-15-B Westinghouse Multiple Control System controllers is attached to the Multi-Unit. Also in the late 60s, a trade of components was made with BAERA (Bay Area Electric Railroad Association) in Suisun City, CA for the two controllers.

The Westinghouse Multiple Control System with an HL-15-B

controller is attached temporarily while the system is 

prepped for testing. PWM

Ernie Eaton seen here is about to conduct a test of the 

HL-15-B controller and its connections with the Multi-Unit

as the controller is engaged through the various "notches"

of series and parallel. PWM

Ernie Eaton demonstrates the process of engaging the

HL-15-B controller. The test setup includes an airline feed,

a custom-made resistor grid, and a pair of light bulbs with

special wiring. As the controller is engaged with each "notch"

the brightness of the light emitted from the bulb(s) varies

in brightness as contact with each notch is made in 

series and parallel. 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