Re: West side lumber flat cars

Randy,

Thank you for the information. That car register would be neat to see!

In working on 297, I have really come to appreciate how the West Side built the cars, it is the easiest car to work on that I have ever worked with. It is really apparent that the cars were designed and built by the guys who worked on them, the top mounted center pin and truck hung brake beams make getting a truck out from under the car a snap, the draft gear could be changed out as a unit and is mounted in a way that would seem to minimize damage to the center sills should the car take a hit and the standard bolt size means you only have to keep track of one size wrench.

Jason Midyete