SP 109 Restoration Process 2018 - 2020

In May, 2018 we began our next phase of work on the Shasta Car by re-siding the car's exterior below the windows. We recreated the look of the original siding, which had been removed at the California State Railroad Museum in preparation for the car's demolition, by milling our own tongue and groove pine boards in our shop. This was a tedious process involving over 150 boards for each side of the car. Thankfully, many volunteers helped milling, installing, caulking, priming, and painting the siding.

Prepping for the car's repainting.

With help from some Southern Pacific historians, we tracked down the original dark olive green paint color the car would have worn during its business car days. We then proceeded with rebuilding and repainting the tool boxes and starting to paint the black trim on the car's exterior metal surfaces.

Shortly before we closed out the 2018 season, Heidi Tullman, a friend and neighbor who runs Handsome Handmade Signs in Siskiyou County, repainted the original "SP109" above the car's doorway. This is likely the first time since the late 1930s that the car had worn its number for its days as the Shasta car.

In April, 2019 a group of signpainters had a convergence at BBCRC. Among other projects, they managed to letter both sides of the Shasta Car. While much work remains on the car, it is inspiring to be able to start to get a sense of what it looked like 100 years ago.

Since 2017 BBCRC board member Brody Hunt and musician friends of the BBCRC have been organizing a Merle Haggard tribute as a fundraiser for the SP 109 Shasta car. This involves all the musicians playing Merle Haggard songs on his birthday anniversary. This annual event, held at the Grey Eagle Nightclub, which also donates its standard event fee to the fundraiser, raised $2000 in 2019! Unfortunately, the 2020 fundraiser had to be cancelled due to the pandemic but the organizers are already planning on an event next year, April 6, 2021. Thanks to all the musicians, many who've played at BBCRC over the years, for donating their time and fees to this project!