As a new member, I hope I don’t include any gaffs in this message.
My questions are:
Where would I find detailed information on the different types of trucks used on rail equipment from about 1850 to 1950? Measured/scaled drawings would certainly be the most helpful but any info will be appreciated.
Is there a labeled drawing that would indicate what the different parts and hardware are called that are present in the underpinnings of cars of the same period. Braking systems, bracing rods, etc
Thanks
Railway Prototype Cycyclopedia Vol 4 published in 2000, has an article on Freight Car Trucks. Vol 6 published in 2001 has an aryticle on Liightweight Passenger Car Trucks
RP CYC Publishing Co.
P.O. Box 451
Chesterfield, Mo 63006-0451
[uModel Railroader][/u] did an article on a guide to freight car trucks in ther December 2003, good article. And I’m not sure but there is that John White -Guide to Freight Cars which has general drawings I’m told, I myself want that book.
According to the website, volume 4 is sold out, and will not be reprinted. Bummer that. Thanks for the link, though. I’ll have to check out their other offerings!
The John White book Matt refers to is The American Railroad Freight Car, which covers freight car construction from the beginning of railroading to the coming of the steel era. It’s got drawings and photos of a variety of freight trucks from the earliest 2-axle trucks all the way up to the most modern archbar trucks. It does not have Bettendorf, Vulcan, or any other cast-sideframe trucks, nor any information on roller bearing trucks.
The drawings are a mixture of engineering drawings and artist’s renderings, the lion’s share without measurments. You can scale them fairly easily, since the gauge is going to be 4’ 8.5". You can also possibly key off of the wheel diameter, but you’d have to make an educated guess on the wheed diameter on the particular truck. There’s no gaurantee that it’s 33", which became standard around the turn of the century.
As for brake rigging, the book has drawings for that as well, for a variety of brake equipment (air, vacuum, or simple mechanical brakes.) You may also want to do a search for the old [i]Narrow Gauge and Shortline Gazette[i] series called “Straight Talk about Bent Pipes.” This was an ongoing series in the late 70s that published excerpts from various railroad engineering manuals about things like brake rigging, handrails, and other safety appliances and the like.
You’ll find a tremendous amount of variation in technology up until around 1910, when things began to become somewhat standardized. From then on, there’s very little change. Once cast sideframes came onto the scene, the only real changes came in terms of the bearings–going from friction bearings to roller bearings. I’m not exactly sure when this occured, though I believe it was some time in the 40s.