Re: The Strange Story of Sumpter Valley Caboose #4 / U.S.A. Caboose #909

Dan Robirds Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Didn't the real early D&RG (2-4-0 and 4 wheel
> cars) start out with Aames vacuum brakes? So did
> they try straight air only before the early
> triples?


"Eames established the Eames Vacuum Brake Company 14 February 1876," per the MidContinent site, so DRG wouldn't have had them as original equipment in 1871. I've always been under the impression that DRG had WABco straight air for a while before they added the automatics. No idea if the 4 wheel cars ever had any brakes other than hand, but they were very light and I doubt they would have done well with air. If I were to guess I'd say the longer survivors might have got a through trainline, but not a valve. Westinghouse straight air was available in 1869 and automatics were designed in 1872, but White's Freight Car book states DRG didn't start applying air brakes until 1878. They had 6806 cars equipped in 1885 but were all of the straight air type.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/02/2022 05:05PM by CR BT Dispr.