dknelson Railway Prototype Cyclopedia #16 has a great article on "freight car running boards and brake steps" ny Ed Hawkins. He writes that running boards on freight cars were wood well into the 1930s. Wood was inexpensive but constantly had to be replaced, taking a car out of service (and perhaps being a danger to brakemen until it was). As early as the 1910s some companies started to experiment with steel running boards, and Hawkins does not specify if these were simply planks of steel (so a smooth surface) or textured steel. The other development Hawkins mentions is that in the mid 1930s the ARA established 41" as the width of runnng boards.
Railway Prototype Cyclopedia #16 has a great article on "freight car running boards and brake steps" ny Ed Hawkins. He writes that running boards on freight cars were wood well into the 1930s. Wood was inexpensive but constantly had to be replaced, taking a car out of service (and perhaps being a danger to brakemen until it was). As early as the 1910s some companies started to experiment with steel running boards, and Hawkins does not specify if these were simply planks of steel (so a smooth surface) or textured steel. The other development Hawkins mentions is that in the mid 1930s the ARA established 41" as the width of runnng boards.
That 41" is the "width" (if you are viewing the car from the side) of a roof sheet, according to the article. He doesn't explain it, but it refers to the distance between the "standing seams" on the metal roof.
Roofwalks (running boards) are more like 19".
The RPC's are just incredibly full of neat info. And most of the time, I forget it's there. Like this article.
Ed
lone geep When did steel roofwalks appear on house cars? I know that they would not have appeared on wood cars but I also know that steel cars could have wooden roofwalks as well.
When did steel roofwalks appear on house cars? I know that they would not have appeared on wood cars but I also know that steel cars could have wooden roofwalks as well.
Eventually the AAR mandated metal running boards meeting certain specifications effective January 1 1944 but extended twice due to lack of supply. So the end date for wood running boards on NEWLY BUILT cars 4-1-47 for house cars and 9-1-47 for tank cars. Existing cars with wood running boards could be rebuilt with wood or steel at the railroad's discretion. Eventually of course running boards on house cars were no longer mandatedin 1966 and existing running boards had to be removed by January 1974, but frankly I have many photos taken after that showing running boards still in place.
Interestingly it seems steel brake steps were introduced and accepted before running boards , and in 1927 brake steps with patterns to improve safety and adhesion were introduced with more and more makers coming on board. The ironically named Alan Wood Steel Company introduced steel running boards for tank cars in 1934 - a diamondette pattern in the steel somewhat like you see on fire engine steps and running boards.
Someone with more than a casual interest in the topic should make an effort to track down that issue of the RPC.
Dave Nelson
In Canada all boxcars built up to the end of WW2 seem to have wood roofwalks. Steel was a strategic material needed urgently for various war related purposes. And those with wood roofwalks kept them until roofwalks disappeared completely.
John
I am looking at a photo* taken (roughly) in 1973. There is a Burlington boxcar painted in the Chinese Red scheme with a wood roof walk.
*page 13 of Ed Austin's "Burlington Northern, Washington, in Color--Volume 2"
Many of the 1937 AAR Boxcars had metal roofwalks, to check your prototype for various car types like the 1937, 1937 Mod, 1944, PS1, PS2 etc check the following website all the cars built show the type of door, roofwalk, roof, end style etc.
http://steamerafreightcars.com/prototype/frtcars/protofrtcarsmain.html
Rick Jesionowski
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My 1940 Car Builders Cyclopedia shows several new house cars with metal running boards from several manufacturers installed.
Here's a July, 1942 example:
2515-002 by John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library, on Flickr
I wonder if the War effort had any effect on the continued use of wood running boards "for the duration" as examples I found just after the War were nearly all metal.
Regards, Ed
Lone Geep
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