From Whitney Haist member of the Niles Canyon Railway - The Pickering Lumber Co. caboose 04 reached a milestone in its restoration during the last week in April. After 320 days on the property of the Pacific Locomotive Association's Niles Canyon Railway, the cupola was returned to its perch atop the car. After several months of preparation at its former home, the cupola was removed on 6/6/2011 and the car was trucked to the Niles Canyon Railway on 6/9/2011. During the next ten months, the wood framed and sided car on a steel undercarriage, has undergone extensive rot damage repair and renewal. Much of the wood framing, and all the plywood siding on one side of the car has removed and replaced with tongue and grove siding as the car was originally built in the late 1930s. The cupola has been completely rebuilt and reroofed before being lifted by crane to its place on top of the car. The windows of the car are being built through the volunteer efforts of the Diablo Woodworkers Club http:/www.diablowoodworkers.com/. This is a unique joint effort of two different hobby groups working together to recreate a wooden artifact for the enjoyment of the enthusiasts now and in the future. To date, most all the work has been done by Henry Chandler and Whitney Haist with occasional assistance by Russell Smith and the Tuesday shop and yard crew. If you have interest in logging railroads of yesteryear, don't be bashful. Come on down to the car shop on any Tuesday. Financial donations are also needed and always appreciated.
DVC Agriculture Department Chicken Coop
DVC Agriculture Department Chicken Coop. Jack Giolitti and several others built a Chicken Coop for a new chicken population at DVC. The first chicken to enjoy the new quarters is named Annabel. Annabel hopes to have many friends join her.
New Planting Shelves for Ruth Bancroft Gardens in Walnut Creek
Alan Coyle put together a team of want-to-be carpenters from the club and in a couple of June mornings put in post holes, learned how to hold on to a power post hole digger, mixed concrete and put up the near 40 feet of shelves. Thanks to the hard working members, Alan Coyle, Bennett Berke, Allen Fernandez, Stan Caldwell, Bill Tarleton, Richard Rex.
The photo to the right is one of the Veterans at the Martinez VA using a Mallet that George Lucido made.
Clayton Museum Cabinets and Taylor Foundation Signs
Gordon Fry put together these display cabinets for the Clayton Museum.
George Lucido's group made these sign stands for the Taylor Foundation at Camp Arroyo in Livermore.
Boxes for the hospice programs at Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Care at Home
We met at Kaiser, Martinez, December 17 to present the boxes.
A team of Diablo Woodworkers built more than a dozen boxes for the hospice programs at Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Care at Home. Peggy Gipps, Joe Abel and Jim Hale spent many hours constructing the poplar boxes to be used in the bereavement programs of the two organizations.
Presentation of the community service effort was shared by (left to right) Joe Abel, Julia Ellis of Sutter Care at Home, Peggy Gipps, Edie McLeod of Kaiser, and Jim Hale.
The Community Project Committee is looking for worthwhile projects where our woodworking skill can be of use. If you have suggestions contact George Lucido by e-mail -
From Whitney Haist member of the Niles Canyon Railway - The Pickering Lumber Co. caboose 04 reached a milestone in its restoration during the last week in April. After 320 days on the property of the Pacific Locomotive Association's Niles Canyon Railway, the cupola was returned to its perch atop the car. After several months of preparation at its former home, the cupola was removed on 6/6/2011 and the car was trucked to the Niles Canyon Railway on 6/9/2011. During the next ten months, the wood framed and sided car on a steel undercarriage, has undergone extensive rot damage repair and renewal. Much of the wood framing, and all the plywood siding on one side of the car has removed and replaced with tongue and grove siding as the car was originally built in the late 1930s. The cupola has been completely rebuilt and reroofed before being lifted by crane to its place on top of the car. The windows of the car are being built through the volunteer efforts of the Diablo Woodworkers Club
