Dear Friends of the B&O Railroad Museum:

Almost immediately after the collapse, the Museum was faced with the challenge of flaking paint on the interior brick walls and metal structure. After testing, it was determined that the paint was lead based and needed to be abated. Several methods for removal and abatement were explored to establish the least invasive option for the metal, brick, and mortar. The process segmented the Roundhouse into small areas which were quarantined so that hazardous materials could be contained. The residue, paint, and wash off, etc. was collected and disposed of properly. Specialized teams for this process only worked after the construction team and Museum staff had left for the day.

In addition, a paint color analysis was conducted to determine how many coats of paint have been applied to the building in the last 120 years, when the layers of paint might have been applied, and what the original colors were. The final results of the paint analysis concluded that the original colors were black and white. The first five feet of wall was painted black, and from that point upward to the roof was white. Evidently, black was the most logical choice for the ground level because of contact with workers' dirty hands and boots, and the white best reflected sunlight. The trusses were originally red (as has been typically seen in the Museum), and it was cost effective to leave the roof natural. The Museum will return the Roundhouse to its original paint scheme of black, white, and red. Paint samples have been applied to small sections on the walls and metal to determine an exact match to the original historic colors. Painting the interior of the Roundhouse will not commence until the clerestory roof and lantern have been replaced (see Restoration Report September 12, 2003), which is currently scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2004.