I'm working at building a (scale, rivet-counter) Class 1 caboose and flat and have come up on several questions for the experts. I've redrawn the 1885 caboose drawings (backdated to 1871 3-window) and started the flat drawings and cannot reconcile the flat with the Sloan info and photos or Bob Hartford's model. Given the dimensions given in the Sloan text, the model, and a measured layout of perspective/vanishing lines of the builder's photos, it doesn't all work for me. From that work I get the following.
Questions:
1. Was coupler height lower in 1871 for DRG? A flat with 20" wheels and 8" sills (from the measured photos) gives a 23" coupler height. Has that ever been noted/proved/etc.?
2. Does anyone know where Sloan's C+10 text dimensions came from or if they are verifiable? The book is a great reference but the perspective measurements indicate a 9 foot wheel base, not the 10 foot in the text or the Hartford model, and while the model is a good starting point, it looks too different from the builder's photo.
3. Has anyone come across better info on the B&S car end construction details? The builder's pics suggest the springboards are flush or nearly flush to the side sill ends (longit.), but the model has them recessed an inch and photo measurements combined with the text suggest it was recessed 1.5" (if the rods are centered in the end sills longit.).
4. Are there any measurements/drawings made of the B&S spring-board mounted coupler in C+10 fig.1-4 available?
5. The mounting position (laterally) of the flat brake staff on the Hartford model seems suspect to me. I've never come across any decent pics/info that would give a better indication for it. Any one have any ideas?
6. The 1885 caboose drawings have the 26" wheels and coupler height but the strap stirrups look relatively high ATR in the decent photo of 72 (1880ish), so does anyone know if the cabeese originally had 20" wheels/lower couplers and the shorter suspension to match the flats/boxes? I seem to recall several pics of early locos with double pockets on the tenders, which would seem to verify this. There is also a pic in MHF's The Early Years book (p.232) that clearly shows a
drop link in a
lower pocket reaching down to a very old eight wheel baggage car coupler.
7. Is there anyone in Silverton who has taken measurements/detail photos of the cupola framing and mounting on 1005 and willing to share?
8. Is there anyone associated with Ridgway Roundhouse Products or their line still making 2.5" stuff?
Noted from my studies for those interested:
1. The flat's truss rods are
outside the wheels, between the tread and pedestals, not inboard as on the model, and the needle beam is larger - 3.5x7.5 (sill to bottom) and 3.5x4 at ends.
2. The brake beams on the Class 1 cars all appear to have the thinner safety links as well as the main hanger links, same as the later 30 foot cars except the hanger links look to be a single rectangle instead of the later 'dog-bone'.
3. The couplers on Caboose 72 (and apparently most 4-wheel cabeese) were originally the open frame type, not solid body.
Any help would be appreciated as I'm not able to travel for research anymore, pandemic aside. Thanks, Greg.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 04/03/2020 11:44PM by CR BT Dispr.
