By:
Jenny McCampbell
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Students in the Construction Trades classes of Clinton County Regional Education Service Agency (CCRESA) are gaining experience in the art of restoration these days. They are putting a new roof on the 1903 Railroad Post Office and baggage car (RPO) that belongs to the Clinton County Arts Council (CCAC) and sits on the re-laid tracks just east of the former St. Johns Depot. As they take the old roof off the 70-foot-long rail car, they are discovering that many of the ribs need to be replaced before the new roof can be put on. After the ribs are in place, they need to build the sub-roof over them. They plan to have all of that finished by the end of this school year. Then a team of volunteers will install a vinyl otterskin roof over all.
The Clinton Northern Railway Museum (CNR), which is part of CCAC, hopes that this will keep the historic car free from leaks in the future. Then the rest of the restoration can begin. “We really appreciate the efforts of these students and their teachers on behalf of the railway museum and the whole community as they restore a part of our history,” commented Jenny McCampbell, the chair of the CNR committee. This rail car and 2 others are being restored as a way to attract tourists to St. Johns.
The students are working under the direction of their teacher, Ross Pope, with the assistance of Larry Button, retired automotive teacher from St. Johns.
 Front row: Jeremy Miller, Saylor Goulding, Cody Ballard, Ross Pope, Matt Knoy, Ben Weir |