Arch Bar Trucks and Journal Boxes

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

I posted the following several days ago on the Railfan.net forums. It’s gotten a number of reads but no replies yet. Hopefuly some of you can answer my questions.

I have always assumed there was a specific time after which cars having arch bar trucks could no longer be operated in interchange revenue service. If that is correct:

  1. What was the year when this prohibition became effective?
  2. Were arch bar trucks allowed to operate in non-interchange revenue service (not counting MOW, wrecker, etc. train service) until some later date?
  3. Was this mandated by the AAR, the ICC or some other organizarion?

Ditto the same three questions with respect to journal bearings.

Mark
2
  1. 1941

That one I know.

Mark

3

  1. Mark is right.

  2. Roller bearings were require for interchange in 1968.

4

Thanks guys for your prompt replies. Can you or anyone else answer questions 2) and 3)?

Mark

5

I am not aware of any bar on noninterchange use of archbar or journal trucks.

dd

6

I believe that archbar trucks were allowed in non interchange service until a later date but when that was, I do not recall. For some reason, I seem to remember that tidbit of information in a photo caption of TRAINS and, since my collection has few issues before 1972, it might be as late as the 60’s.

7

There was/is no prohibtion on arch bar trucks concerning non revenue- non interchange cars equipped with arch bar trucks. I believe that is is still possible to use them in MOW service and the like .

Today there still is no prohibiton on cars having plain bearing journal boxes as long as they are not used in interchange service… we have several in service at this time and I’m certain that if we had some arch bar trucks we would still be using them until a suitable replacement turned up .

Remember that rules only exist for cars used in interchange with other railroads, excluding safety appliances which are universal to all equipment . I.e. your car that is equipped with arch bar trucks better have all the grab irons in place and in good condition !!

8

The tenders at Golden Spike operate with arch bar trucks with journal bearings to be historically accurate. But I am not aware of any special exemption allowing the practice. It is just another example of non-interchange service.

dd

ps - we rebuilt the arch bar trucks on the 119 last winter - including refinishing the wood bolsters. They should be good for another 10,000 miles.

9

I think the original ICC ruling outlawed archbars for interchanged cars in 1938, but it might have been extended to 1941…maybe RR’s could ask for exemptions etc.?? But as mentioned that was only interchange service, seems to me one industry in the south used archbar trucked cars and link-and-pin couplers into the 1960’s. The Missabe had some 36’ boxcars used for online service only with trussrods and archbar trucks into the 1950’s.

BTW many archbar trucks were converted to Andrews trucks.