I was wondering what you call the rib like protrusions on the ends of boxcars and other cars like that? I’m scratchbuilding them and I’m looking for to see if there’s a detail part for models like that, or if I have to make them myself, and it might help if I knew the correct name for them.
Thanks in advance for any help,
Noah
Those were called “Dreadnaught Ends” Steel made and designed to prevent “Telescoping” which is a very lethal and gruesome way to break railroad cars and kill people.
I am betting that is what you are referring to. I think Wooden cars first got steel ends then progressed to all metal construction once laws were written for safety and strength.
Lee
The corrugated ends were in several different patterns, one of which was the dreadnaught end.
Murphy is like the Accurail single sheathed. Dreadnaught is like the Athearn end. Improved Dreadnaught has different pattern, where the smaller ribs go almost all the way across the car. “Dartnaught” ends are like a dreadnaught by without the minor ribs. PS1 ends were uniform corrugations. The ends were typically made of two or three pieces and the minor ribs are counted. So and “IDE 4-3-1” is an Impreoved Dreadnaught End with 4 major ribs on the bottom and 3 major ribs and square rib on the top panel. Look at the Westerfield sight for different door and end patterns. Also you can subscribe to the RPI site and they have lots of car info.
The corrugations were not to prevent “telescoping” but were to reinforce the ends of the car against shifting loads. They were less than a 1/4 in thick steel and a coupler would go right through it, seen it happen.
Dave H.
I think what you both are talking about is it. If it helps here’s a picture:
The end of the main body of the car is what I’m looking at.
Thanks to both of you alot, it really helped.
Noah