Can anyone explain to me the the differences in PASSENGER car
trucks between the “Pullman Standard” design and what I have seen
refered to as “Commonwealth” trucks? I have seen references to
PULLMAN STANDARD, COMMONWEALTH STANDARD, PULLMAN COMMONWEALTH,
GSC COMMONWEALTH (General Steel Castings, I think - see MR, June
'04, Walther’s Add., Pg. 41), C.S. PEDISTAL,(Commonwealth Stand-
ard Pedistal -I think - from The engineering drawing of a large
passenger car of a Class I RR.) I can identify wood frame, bolted
frame, and cast steel frame; inside and outside bearing, bolted
and intergal pedistals, straight and bottom equalizers, journal
boxes and roller bearings, and outside swing hangers. I have
checked a number of resources including model parts catalogs,
(PSC, Walthers, etc.), and a number of references, including the
May '56 M.R. “Bluebook” page. But what makes it a COMMONWEALTH
truck?[:(][?][?]
Randy
Commonwealth refers to the General Steel Casting Company of Granite City Illinois, that is because they manufactured the castings for the majority of the different passenger car trucks manufactured in the forties and fifties. All it would really maen to an automobile owner is I own a Ford. Its really a generic term doesthat ford owner have a Lincoln, Fairlane, T-Bird etc. The three major passenger car manufacturers AC&F, Budd and Pullman Standard all received castings or complete trucks from General Steel casting. Each individual railroad ordered the trucks they wanted for theier own cars and these were installed as the cars were constructed. The railroads and manufacturers adopted a Pullman code for the postwar trucks particularly several of the most common were 41-R, 41-ER, 41-N-11,41-CN-11, and 41-ND-11. Many railroads had their own preference and were variations of specific designs especially true of the UP. Each railroad ordered passenger cars much as an individual orders a new automobile with extras. In the case of passenger cars trucks they were the railroads choice and only weight or specific uses dictated six wheel or four wheel trucks. If you have a specific railroad in mind maybe can help you with type of trucks under those cars. But keep in mind their are not to many truck choices available in the different scales. I hope this information is helpful to you.
So “Commonwealth” refers to the manufacturer General Steel Castings - almost as a “line”. I think I understand.
Thank you very much!!
Randy[:)][:)]
This is resurrecting a subject long since laid to rest, possibly. I think this subject is pretty well handled in an article in the February 2005 MR, page 66. Especially interesting is the listing of model truck suppliers that match the various types of prototype trucks used for light weight passenger cars, and which RR may have used them.
And then you had the PRR that had more different home made variations then diesels nearly none of which are available.