This Last Week

[Fred Schneider]

LOOKING AT THOSE DIMENSIONS REMINDS ME OF SOMETHING THAT CROPPED UP IN AN
ISSUE OF TRAINS MAGAZINE SOME YEARS AGO ... A DISSERTATION ON THE LENGTH OF
A STEAM LOCOMOTIVE.  THE DIMENSIONS WERE SO PRECISE THAT SOMEONE WROTE IN TO
ASK IF IT WAS MEASURED HOT OR COLD!  THAT LETTER WAS A REAL GAS!  For what
it's worth, only one end of a steam locomotive boiler is rigidly bolted to
the frame (in this case through the cylinder saddle) while the other end
rides in a greased track.  When the Strasburg Rail Road first fired up Ex
PRR 7002, there were repeated "explosions" as the rusted boiler slides broke
loose!  

NOW LETS FOLLOW ON THAT THEME.  WHEN THE HEIGHT OF A STREETCAR IS MEASURED
OR CALCULATED, IS IT EMPTY (FOR CLEARANCE PURPOSES) OR LOADED, AND IF
LOADED, WITH HOW MANY PEOPLE?  THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FULL AND EMPTY IS
PROBABLY NEARLY 1/2 INCH.  I REALLY DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER BUT I SUSPECT THE
WORD CLEARANCE TELLS IT ALL.  

I HAD MEASURED THE CONESTOGA TRACTION CO. BIRNEY CAR AT LANDIS VALLEY MUSEUM
IN THE 1950S, BUT THOSE MEASUREMENTS WERE OFTEN AGGREGATES OF SHORTER
DIMENSIONS AND WERE FLAWED.  I EVENTUALLY MEASURED THE OVERALL LENGTH WITH
FAR GREATER ACCURACY USING A SURVEYOR'S TAPE AND A PLUMB BOB HANGING FROM
THE CENTER OF EACH ANTI-CLIMBER.  EVENTUALLY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE SOME "TRUE
HEIGHT" MEASUREMENTS.  THE FLOOR WAS OUT OF CAR ... I WAS ABLE TO LAY AN
ALUMINUM BAR ACROSS THE TRACK AND MEASURE FROM IT UP THROUGH THE CENTER LINE
TO THE TOP OF THE ROOF CARLINES.  BUT I NEVER BOTHERED TO MEASURE SPRING
COMPRESSION SO I WOULD COULD ADJUST THE HEIGHT AFTER THE FLOOR AND SEATS
WERE REINSTALLED.  
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN AN HO GAUGE MODEL!!!!!


		-----Original Message-----
		From:	Charlesebrown at webtv.net
[mailto:Charlesebrown at webtv.net]
		Sent:	Monday, March 06, 2000 1:02 AM
		To:	pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
		Subject:	RE: This Last Week

		 << Message: RE: This Last Week >> Gee, Bob, couldn't you be
a bit more precise in your measurements??? :-)
		Where in the world did you get your information?

		Seriously, were all of the Jones low-floor cars of the same
dimensions?
		I'm especially curious about any differences between the
single-enders
		vs the double-enders.  And the trailers for that matter.  I
assume that
		the trailers were straight trailers with no control
equipment and were
		used with the single ended cars?

		Charlie

		Charlesebrown at webtv.net