21 Re-Wheeling

Ray Stahl and Paul Averdung maneuver the frame of ETER Open Car 21 to remove the front axle in January, 1995.

The original wheels of this truck were of a streetcar pattern, and did not work well on the line's railroad-type track. At the end of the 1994 season, 21 was placed in the rear of Track 3 and the body lifted off to allow the removal of the axles. In this shot, the truck has been set on Track 1 and jacked to let the axle out.

The wheels were cut off the axle at a shop in Menomonee Falls, and then the axles were sent to a specialty shop for the installation of new wheels.

This project was barely completed in time for the September, 1995 Train to Save the Trolleys excursion hosted by the 20th Century Railroad Club, where the car literally ran continuously throughout the event.

In the background is the North Shore Line merchandise dispatch car 228 at an early stage of restoration.