Narcissus Restoration - A Wooden Interurban - February 25, 2016

A CAD drawing of Narcissus. This was designed to

be colored, cut out, and folded so it is a "replica"

of the Narcissus. PWM

This post on restoration work on the Narcissus was released on February 25, 2016. It was one of about 100 posts that got messed up on the morning of May 15, 2021 - Google Blogger removed more than 150 Narcissus blog posts from being available to the public. Evidently, they investigated malware infiltration, and to be safe, removed posts that may have been compromised. There were about fifty posts that remained available at the time. Once the...Google Blogger...approved the other 100 posts to be re-activated,  unfortunately, the contents within many of those posts needed a lot of editing and reformatting before being reposted for public access. Took me a few days...sigh. This post was one, that slipped through the cracks, sorta speak. I found it as a draft, on New Year's Eve Day, while I was going through, editing, updating, etc. all 324 posts, 34 drafts, and 20 pages. And here it is now, re-released, for the first time since May 2021 :)

 Narcissus Project.  Restoration of the National Register of Historic Places member, Narcissus.  

Long vertical truss rods pass through the side of the edge of

the roof (blue circle) all the way through the side sills. PWM

Vertical truss rod. PWM

Many of the threaded ends of

the truss rods had to be cut

off due to being deteriorated

beyond repair. A new section

of a rod with washers attached.

PWM

     To repair the vertical truss rods, the lower end was cut off, then, the remaining length was pulled up through the roof area. Repairs were made, then, the sections were sandblasted, primed, painted, and returned. Tightening up of these vertical trusses assists in holding the wooden body of the interurban together. Adjustments are made where necessary when "squaring" up the car. The need to be sure the car body is square and plumb at the beginning of the restoration process...and throughout the process is critical to having a successful restoration.

     There are also truss rods that run horizontally through the body of the Narcissus from one side sill to the other.

Horizontal truss rod as seen up inside. You can

see the end of the truss rod to the left in this

image, inside the hole drilled in the side sill.

PWM

Volunteer Lary Shaffer cutting a horizontal

truss rod. The rod can then be extracted through

the side sill on each side of the body.

Repairs can then be addressed as necessary.

Parts are then sandblasted, primed, painted,

and returned. DGC Image

     Tightening these horizontal truss rods assists in holding the wooden body of the interurban together. Adjustments are made where necessary when "squaring" up the car. The need to be sure the car body is square and plumb at the beginning of the restoration process...and throughout the process is critical to having a successful restoration.

New sections of I-beams were welded into

place on the Number 1 end of the Narcissus.

PWM

     There are two...I-beams...that run parallel down the center of the 46-foot body of the Narcissus. So, in this regard, the Narcissus, technologically speaking is a transition car. Transitioning from all wood to what would become, all metal/steel construction for electric railway vehicles. Lengths of wood (not added here yet) run along the inside of each side of the I-beams.

The original "bumper" aligned with the various

components on the Number 1 end. PWM

Trusses also run along the bottom of each side sill. These add

strength and stability in connecting the body to the "trucks".

The Narcissus has two "trucks"(the term used to describe

the set of wheels, motors, axles, springs, and other mechanical

components as a set) under its body. PWM

Where the side truss connects to the bolster. PWM

Turnbuckle for the side trusses.

Tightening/loosening, as needed,

 for adjusting the tension. PWM

Side truss bar (left-right) near

as it approaches the center of

the body. See also in image three

pics above. PWM

Truss rod end casing. These are cast.

At least one new one will be made.

PWM

     Hundreds of square-head bolts and nuts need to be replaced throughout the body. Steel flat head screws were also the standard used throughout the car on the exterior and will all be replaced.

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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