Re: Blaine Patented Side Dump Cars

Posted by Todd A Ferguson on
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/Blaine-Patented-Side-Dump-Cars-tp8596p8608.html

Thoughts...
I think the original design would have been likely to roll over and derail when dumping especially when on narrow gauge trucks.  It might do better on standard gauge trucks. But the center of gravity still looks pretty high to me. I have read that the D&RG drop bottom gondolas had to be unloaded carefully and from each side or they would roll over or derail. I guess the small construction type dump cars such as those used on the West Side Lumber must have avoided this problem in part by having a very limited capacity. I believe those type of cars were built by Western Wheeled Scraper Co.

It appears that the redesign was a somewhat complicated attempt to deal with the lack of unloading stability of the original design.  Just because an idea gets a patent doesn't make it a successful design in the marketplace.  Most patents, especially early ones, likely were never widely commercially successful.  Look at all the different rapid dump hopper cars that have been designed in the past 75 years.  And many cars have been built or rebuilt with tub bottoms for extra capacity.

Best,
Todd Ferguson