Narcissus 1912 Renovation Project

Sunday, February 12, 2023

Narcissus Restoration Update 2-12-2023

Tuesday, January 31, 2023. The left side sill has been

temporarily positioned in place alongside the lower

section of the passenger compartment of the Narcissus.

This has been done to locate the wall tie-bolt hole

placement in the steel channel under the bulkhead. In the

coming weeks/months, other markings on the timber will be

added to determine the placement of additional holes or cuts.

Notice that the entire wooden body of Narcissus has been elevated

nearly nine inches recently. More on that to follow.

Ernie Eaton photo

January 9, 2023

Seth Reed, master woodworker staff member in

the Seashore Trolley Museum restoration shop,

is working on one of the two crown pieces

that will be installed in each vestibule of

the "Elegant Ride" Narcissus. Karie Orlando photo

January 26, 2023

Seth working on making a replacement for

the lateral frame piece on the bench to the right.

This block is one of the supports for the vestibule.

Katie Orlando photo

January 26, 2023

Seth working on making a replacement for

the lateral frame piece. Katie Orlando photo

On the right, you can see one of the lateral frame blocks

supporting the corner underneath the bulkhead

that separates the number one end vestibule and

the smoking compartment. Notice the amount of

space between the floor of the smoking compartment and

the bottom of the bulkhead. The complete body of

the Narcissus was elevated nearly nine inches early in

January (2023). This was to allow space to remove some bolts

that needed to be extracted/replaced. In addition, the added space

will allow the placement of the side sill timbers with their

matching steel channel. Ernie Eaton photo

One of the sixteen, yes 16, hydraulic jacks needed to raise

the whole upper structure of the Narcissus. Ernie Eaton photo

Looking down the length of the vintage southern yellow pine

side sill timber on the left side of the Narcissus from

the number two end to the number one end. Notice the inside

of the sill is cut to receive its match steel channel.

Also, notice the replacement lateral frame block under

the floor where the bulkhead rests. Ernie Eaton photo

Original body truss rods and related components

from the Narcissus will require some attention.

Once the work is completed, it can then be

used to help align the necessary cuts/holes

in the side sills. The opposite ends are threaded

where a body truss rod turnbuckle is attached.

Ernie Eaton photo

At least one of the overhang truss rod anchors

was broken beyond repair. A new replacement

was cast

Separating these is a difficult task

The ends of the body truss rods at the bottom of the image

are called anchor ends. The other ends are threaded. A body truss

rod turnbuckle is threaded onto the ends.

Ernie Eaton photo

One of several square-headed bolts

removed once the body structure was raised

high enough so the bolts were accessible.

Ernie Eaton photo

Another bolt requires replacement.

Ernie Eaton photo

Looking from the number one end towards

the number two end of the Narcissus.

Ernie Eaton photo

Number one end.

Ernie Eaton image (screenshot)

From the number one end.

Ernie Eaton image (screenshot)

Right side from the number one end.

Ernie Eaton image (screenshot)

Right side from the number one end.

Ernie Eaton image (screenshot)

January 31, 2023

The Narcissus in the Donald G. Curry Town House Restoration

Shop at Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Katie Orlando photo

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

Click Here: For the list of links to Theodore Roosevelt Maine Heritage Trail Posts in Easy Order to View

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 first 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

Gold Book Award Winner plaque for

Middle Reader category for The Eric

Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to

award-winning Maine author,

Jean M. Flahive

High School Intern From Baxter Academy (Portland, ME) Uses Solidworks to Create 3-D CAD Files for Narcissus

The above image of the National Register of Historic Places,

Narcissus is the model generated from the digital

files uploaded to SolidWorks. As more files

of components and parts are uploaded, the more

complete the digital model will become. EE

Solidworks 3DS Dassault

Screenshot EE

One of the intro slides from the video that

describes some of the outcomes produced by high

school student-intern Logan Rudolph.

Screenshot EE

Ernie Eaton (left) is the project manager overseeing all

aspects of the restoration of the Narcissus at

Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport (ME).

Logan Rudolph (right) is now (2022-23) a senior at Baxter

Academy for Technology and Science in Portland (ME).

Screenshot EE

I work at Thornton Academy in Saco (ME). One day, back in the fall of 2021, I was working with a new science teacher, Alaina Galvin. While we were chatting about our respective professional backgrounds, I mentioned my volunteer activities at Seashore Trolley Museum relating to the Narcissus project. Including how fascinating it was for me to see the amazing work created by utilizing Solidworks 3-D CAD software. Alaina responded that she was familiar with SolidWorks, as it was used in classes at Baxter Academy in Portland (ME). And that some upper-class students utilize Solidworks while completing semester-long or year-long intern programs [Baxter Academy is a public charter high school (grades 9-12) in Maine that specializes in STEM curriculum].

That conversation with Alaina inspired me to speak to Ernie Eaton at the Museum. Ernie is the project manager overseeing all aspects of the restoration of the Narcissus, including all the SolidWorks activity. I asked Ernie if he might consider taking on a high school intern to assist in the SolidWorks projects that were upcoming. He was open to the idea. I then reached out to the Museum's executive director, Katie Orlando, to explain the possible opportunity and seek her permission to learn more about the internship opportunity. I was granted permission.

Alaina contacted Baxter Academy's Mary King for me, on behalf of the Museum, to share my interest in the internship program. Ms. King is the vice-principal and dean of students, and also oversees the "Flex Friday" program (the internship program). Ms. King and I corresponded, and she was very impressed with the SolidWorks rendering that Ernie had drafted at the time. Ms. King thought it was a great opportunity and would connect with the Baxter Academy's community outreach coordinator, as well as a teacher who used Solidworks, as part of the class curriculum.

I did receive an email from the teacher who uses SolidWorks in the classroom. Jonathan Delorme's email included the name of a student, a junior, Logan Rudolph, who was interested in learning more about the internship opportunity. Email addresses for Ernie at the Museum were shared with Mr. Delorme to discuss internship mentoring protocol, schedules, etc. Once those details were confirmed, connections with the new intern, Logan, were made. Correspondence between Ernie, Mr. Delorme, and Logan resulted in Logan beginning his second-semester internship with Ernie later in January 2022.

While working with the Narcissus, Logan learned that he and his family live very close to what was the Portland-Lewiston Interurban (PLI) substation and passenger waiting room in West Falmouth. The Narcissus would stop at that substation several times a day from 1914 until 1933 :)

No. 16, Clematis, at the West Falmouth substation/passenger

waiting room. This photo is one of the more than 200 within

the 88-page Portland-Lewiston Interurban Employees'

Reunion Scrapbook (1938, '39, '40, & '41). The incredible

content of the scrapbook was recently professionally

cleaned, photographed, and conserved by

the Northeast Document Conservation Center in Andover, MA

What a great collaboration!

Below is the video Ernie made with Logan that summarizes Logan's work during his internship. The video includes a demonstration by Logan of how 3-D CAD models are created that readers unfamiliar with the process may find interesting. Logan was working with Ernie during the second semester of Logan's junior year at Baxter Academy (Jan-Jun 2022)

Click Here: to go to YouTube if you have trouble watching the video below.

Video by Ernie Eaton

Several years ago, I cleaned up this collection of original

hinges from the Narcissus. They are unique in that they

have ball bearings. PWM

Close-up of one set of the ball-bearing hinge. PWM

B. F. Foss, Fairfield, Maine, is stamped on each hinge.

The hinges are patented. PWM

The patent description - 1905

Sketch of the hinge that accompanied the patent

application - 1905.

The screenshot above from the video shows Logan (right)

explaining the work he did creating the digital 3-D

CAD version of the Foss hinges using SolidWorks during his

internship. EE

The screenshot above from the video shows Logan with

one of the original Narcissus mahogany doors, while

explaining the work he did creating the digital 3-D

CAD version of the Foss hinges using SolidWorks during his internship. EE

The screenshot above from the video shows Logan with

one of the original Narcissus mahogany doors. Logan is

explaining how the unique hinge works. EE

The screenshot above from the video shows Logan inside

Seashore Trolley Museum's restoration shop with

the Narcissus. He is explaining where the number two end

vestibule, the Foss hinges are used in the "Elegant Ride"

Narcissus. EE

The screenshot above from the video shows Logan inside

Seashore Trolley Museum's restoration shop with

the Narcissus. He is explaining where the number two end

vestibule, the Foss hinges are used in the "Elegant Ride"

Narcissus. EE

The screenshot above from the video shows Logan inside

Seashore Trolley Museum's restoration shop with

the Narcissus. He is explaining where the number two end

vestibule, the Foss hinges are used in the "Elegant Ride"

Narcissus. EE

The screenshot above from the video shows Logan inside

Seashore Trolley Museum's restoration shop with

the Narcissus. He is explaining where the number two end

vestibule, the Foss hinges, are used in the "Elegant Ride"

Narcissus. EE

The screenshot above from the video shows Logan inside

Seashore Trolley Museum's restoration shop while standing

in the public visitors' gallery with the Narcissus in

the background below. Logan holds two long, square-headed

bolts and explains how he created the digital 3-D

CAD files for many versions of this type of bolt, used in

the restoration of the "Elegant Ride" Narcissus. EE

A screenshot from the video shows Ernie Eaton (left) looking

on as Logan explains how he used SolidWorks to create

the 3-D CAD digital files of the Foss hinges. EE