Re: Non-Revenue Service Cars
Posted by Jim Courtney on May 09, 2022; 5:13am
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/Non-Revenue-Service-Cars-tp14179p17731.html
Hey Chris,
Needle beams without truss rods is just one of the many mysteries of the C&S narrow gauge.
As we discussed in the other thread, none of the 27 foot house cars had truss rods, all had "needle" beams. This feature was consistent between the St Charles built 27 foot Tiffany reefers and all the UP built 27 foot boxcars, as built for the DSP&P, Utah Northern and Kansas Central.
. . . spacer blocks(crosswise) would be used between the Stringers, for horizontal tension rods.
None of the published plans or existing car bodies were known to have spacer blocks to keep the longitudinal stringers / sills separated. The stringers were attached and separated at the end beams; the bolsters were trussed plate bolsters that kept the stringers separated at those two points. But no one has ever demonstrated spacer blocks at the center of the car. On the later 30' cars, there were "brake beam hanger blocks", about 3 feet inward from the center of the bolster, that separated the center and intermediate sills. The only explanation that I can come up with for the "needle beams" is that they served that function at the center of the car, on either side of the side doors. They were generally 8 inches tall, notched about 2 inches to fit snugly between the side and center sills, with a 6" reveal when viewed from the side. Both beams were bolted to each of the 6 longitudinal stringers / sills.
If you can come up with a another good explanation, let us know!
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/Non-Revenue-Service-Cars-tp14179p17731.html
Hey Chris,
Needle beams without truss rods is just one of the many mysteries of the C&S narrow gauge.
As we discussed in the other thread, none of the 27 foot house cars had truss rods, all had "needle" beams. This feature was consistent between the St Charles built 27 foot Tiffany reefers and all the UP built 27 foot boxcars, as built for the DSP&P, Utah Northern and Kansas Central.
. . . spacer blocks(crosswise) would be used between the Stringers, for horizontal tension rods.
None of the published plans or existing car bodies were known to have spacer blocks to keep the longitudinal stringers / sills separated. The stringers were attached and separated at the end beams; the bolsters were trussed plate bolsters that kept the stringers separated at those two points. But no one has ever demonstrated spacer blocks at the center of the car. On the later 30' cars, there were "brake beam hanger blocks", about 3 feet inward from the center of the bolster, that separated the center and intermediate sills. The only explanation that I can come up with for the "needle beams" is that they served that function at the center of the car, on either side of the side doors. They were generally 8 inches tall, notched about 2 inches to fit snugly between the side and center sills, with a 6" reveal when viewed from the side. Both beams were bolted to each of the 6 longitudinal stringers / sills.
If you can come up with a another good explanation, let us know!
Jim Courtney
Poulsbo, WA
Poulsbo, WA
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