The restoration of the near-century-old Ironton Railroad coach and baggage car, which sits on blocks off the Ironton Rail Trail (IRT) at Whitehall Parkway, is expected to resume in the next several weeks. The project began in 2013.

A 30-foot-long special beam is being prepared by Wassyl Mauser, an Allen Township builder, who has volunteered to restore the historic car with a small crew, including a son.

Ray Bieak, an officer with the IRT Oversight Commission, said the beam will be on the underside of the railroad car, also known as a combine.

Mauser also will concentrate his efforts on installing a new metal roof. Decades ago, there were discussions to have the historic railroad car go to a graveyard for such aging pieces of railroad lore.

“It’s a labor of love,” Bieak said of the restoration project.

While there is no timetable for the restoration project to be completed, Bieak said the first phase should be finished in 2017; the next phase could include the laying of a new floor.

The project for bringing the car back to the 21st century follows the restoration of the Ironton Railroad caboose, which was moved from its deteriorating state at Whitehall Parkway to its location off the IRT trailhead in Stiles.

Located just outside of Egypt, the railroad car will be a showpiece as is the caboose. It will retain its forest green color on the exterior.

There was no work performed in 2015, Bieak mentioned, since Mauser was committed to a major project in Kreidersville.

Mauser approached the IRT Oversight Commission to tackle the huge project, noticing its sad state when walking or biking on the trail. Mauser is no stranger to tackling big projects, such as the gazebo at the wooden Kreidersville Bridge in Allen Township.

The history of the railroad car is traced back to when Atlantic City Railroad owned the car in the early 1900s, providing passenger service from the shore in Camden, N.J. Ironton Railroad bought the coach and baggage car in 1914, offering passenger service between Hokendauqua and Orefield.

Later, it was used by Ironton Railroad at its present locale as a yard office until the mid-1970s.