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Wooden Passenger Cars and Truss Rods on both Freight and Passenger Cars

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  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: US
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Wooden Passenger Cars and Truss Rods on both Freight and Passenger Cars
Posted by Fritzi on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 12:18 PM
Maybe this question has already been answered in another post, but I suspect there are many who would be interested.

1. In regular passenger service (not commuter operations), how long did wooden passenger cars continue in operation on Class I and Class II railroads? Reviewing some of Beebe's books published in the 40's and early 50's, it seems wooden baggage cars were still in use at that time? What about passenger cars, particularly on name trains? For example, there is a classic shot of the Louisiana & Arkansas' name train, The Shreveporter, in an early morning shot with a truss-rodded observation/parlour/dining car. This was in the mid-30's. The New York, Ontario & Western was apparently still using wooden coaches and parlour cars into the 40's. Were there any rules from the ICC which affected usae (and interchange) of such cars?

2. Truss rods. With a large number of new freight car kits coming out that are wood and truss rodded, when wer truss rod-equipped cars prohibited from interchange? When were railroads forbidden, if ever, from using a truss rod car in revenue service strictly on the trackage of the railroad that owned the truss rod car?
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 12:36 PM
I´m not totally sure, but I heard that the Soo Line still used pre world war 1st wooden heavyweight cars on it´s overnight Laker between Chicago and Duluth in the 50ies. The whole train was made up of wooden re-conditioned heavyweights: baggage cars, diner, cafe-lounge, coaches, and sleepers. And it was pulled by diesels. But as i said, I´m not absolutely sure about those facts, but I could imagine that it could´ve been reality.
  • Member since
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  • From: Culpeper, Va
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Posted by IRONROOSTER on Tuesday, January 17, 2006 3:01 PM
This thread has some information http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=-1&TOPIC_ID=13240&REPLY_ID=102663
It wasn't truss rods but wooden under frames that were outlawed - 1940 (1952 for composites). Wooden cars were used into the 50"s, not sure about on "name" trains though.
Enjoy
Paul
If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.

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