Gents- I’m working on 2 F&C hoppers…Pennsy GLCa and a covered hopper. When I get frustrated with one I work on the other. I have built Tichy cars but F&C are a bit more challenging. Besides filing flash which is the least of it, the lack of clear instructions covering the brake details in F&C instructions is an understatement. The instructions are laughable.,no offense to Mr. Camerlango but at least get a decent camera and take some new photos.
Anyway, I’ve looked everywhere on the net, several books, Penn RRHS diagrams, a visit to Strasburg…there are one or two hoppers on display this year but not the particular hoppers I’m working on now…and the configuration varied not only from the many types of hoppers Pennsy used but even within the same version from year to year.
In the end when prototype images are unavailable I will create the configuration to at least be something that could work in the real world but it is just fantasy. I’m just throwing this out there in case anyone has any knowledge of where images or diagrams could be obtained? I dont care if its a GL, GlCa GLd, H21a…anything resembling a pre/post WWII hopper…Books, archives, etc. I have John T’s book, Steel Hoppers of the PRR and it is great but for the most part they never bothered taking pictures of the B ends of these cars…just broadside, 3/4 builder photos.
Are you asking about the layout of the brake components? The piping for the air will be similar to that on any car for each particular type of brake system, be it KD, KC, or AB, with the only difference being the placement of the components. The brake cylinder is usually in-line with the actuating mechanism for the handbrake, with the reservoir (if there’s a separate one) on the opposite side of the same end of the car. It may be mounted on the end framework or a separate raised platform, and may be oriented longitudinally or transversely. The control valve for AB-type brakes is often mounted atop the centre sill, but sometimes can be to the same side as the reservoir, and, as all the other components, on the same end as the brake wheel/ratchet mechanism.
Cal-Scale’s AB brake detail set contains a diagram showing component placement on a hopper car - I can try scanning it if you’re interested.
I hunted through my HO freight car photos and found one which shows AB-type brakes on a carbon black covered hopper, and I was surprised to note that the layout is contrary to what I’ve described above, although it is to match a specific prototype.
Great link on rail fan…and a good shoot of the H21a…thx. I’ll dig around in there.
I have the cal scale diagram…as well as this Tichy. I guess I’m looking for something like this diagram for a Hopper application. This has almost every detail/ except the bell crank/levers. I realize for the most part configurations differ widely from car to car. I don’t expect my hoppers to be 100% prototypical…close would be nice though. I’ll post pictures of the cars I’m working on later. Maybe someone will be able to fill in the blanks. Thanks guys.
You’ve sorta lost me, Paul. The diagrams are for a hopper without a centre sill, while the Pennsy’s GLa had a centre sill. If you’re speaking of the brake rigging beneath the car, I don’t know where you’d find that information.
When you’ve got a moment, check your Forum messages.
The detailed diagram clearly showing the connections and components…all of it from a-z is what I can use to adapt it to any configuration. This is what I was looking for.
Example…we know all brake rigging had certain components regardless of style, versions…brake cylinder, AB valve, air reservoir…those bits were layed out for the most part on a Pennsy hopper similarly…they had pipes attaching them, I know how that goes, there are sufficient prototype photos where enough detail appears to base the large component layout on…but the clevis attaching to the chain, the brake levers, bell crank…those bits are in the shadows…they are mentioned by Tichy and others but they tend to leave out clear drawings of final assembly. Or it’s just suggested. No solid information…So this fills in the missing detail I want on my hoppers.
The patent drawings, even though its a later patent dating into the 70’s…it’s still basically what Westinghouse designed.
I apologize for entangling you in this discussion…but I sincerely appreciate your indulgence.
I still seem to be wrestling with posting some images…I opened a Flickr account as the forum suggest but I post/insert the HTML and I don’t see the image…like in your posts…it’s in the body of the post…mine, the URL appears.
Anyway, I’ll get it right. I wanted to upload some images of the hoppers I’ve been ranting about,
Paul, I use photobucket, and posting images from there to here is really simple. After you place the images in an album there, you simply click on the image to enlarge it, then click on the line of data which begins with “img…”. Then, in your composition window here, place the cursor where you want the picture to appear, and click “Paste”. The line of data will appear, and once you click on either “Preview” or “Post”, the image itself will be visible. It couldn’t be simpler.
Check your “Messages” under your profile, near the top right-hand side of this page - I’ve sent some info concerning a question which you asked previously.
