Update...

[Mookie]

Casey Jens here. I tied a knot in the other thread, since it was getting a little long.

I went "training" yesterday afternoon and watched a coal train leaving town. A lot of them are all the basic turn over and dump cars. This one had a lot of different ones. I am pleased to report that I saw cars with a "porch" on either end to hold what I suspect is the braking equipment but also some where the brakes run under the car. They don't have the "porches", so they are where you can watch them. I saw the double air hoses -
one for the brakes and one to dump the cargo!

What was nice was the train was just about through the crossing where we sit, and they stopped. This particular one had an engine on the head end and a helper - They sat there about 5 min and I got a good look at the last couple of cars and the engine itself.

I even found the bell!!!! It was down by the fuel tank - blending in with it's surroundings.

And I watched the "cylinder" for the brakes under one car - it was "out" while he was sitting still and when he started to rev up to go, the cylinder slipped inside! That was quite an experience. I knew what he was doing (thanx Ed) and since the helper was right there, could here what the head end was doing.

Two questions. Some coal cars have long cylinders along the bottom. Their weight noted on the side is a little heavier than the others. Is this for extra coal storage?

2: Is there a bell on both sides of the engine? We only saw the left side

Thank you to all who have given me information. Sure makes my train watching a lot more exciting.

Jen

[JoeKoh]

hi jen
the answer to question #2 is engines that i have seen have the bells on one side.I double check as I go train hunting this saturday.
stay safe
Joe

[wabash1]

jen there is only one bell on the new engines. the cylinder you are talking about not sure what you are refering to.

[Mookie]

Wabash, that is probably my error in description. They are silver and run almost the entire length of the car, inside the wheels. The are slightly rounded. Can't see them well enough to see under the car and how the other half is shaped.

I am pretty sure these aren't on bottom dump cars. I am trying to picture them in my mind, but in an office setting, it isn't working. I will have to go check this weekend.

Reason I asked about bell, is we saw one outgoing on the left side and possibly one on the right side coming in. There again, will have to check and make notes.

Jen

[CShaveRR]

I think you're describing the bottom bays in Bethgons and similar cars--the rounded areas below the bottom of the ribbed sides. That's typical of the most modern coal gons--using the space between the trucks for more payload, increasing the capacity of the car within its dimensional limitations, and lowering the center of gravity at the same time.

I'm surprised that you found these cars heavier than the old conventional gons, because most Bethgons are made of aluminum and the older ones are mostly steel (unless you caught a DEEX train).
I emphasize the word "most", because there are some steel Bethgons, and aluminum flat-bottom cars.

Anyway, the "cylinders" help the cars to carry more coal, and lower.

[Mookie]

Carl, I think you are right. We do have DEEX going thru here. The OMAX ones and KC ones are aluminum and look a lot different. These were what I would say older ones. I looked at the weight posted on the sides and they were heavier than some of the other coal cars that were just the box type.

Going again this weekend, so will come back Monday and see if I can't give out some more info.

Thanx

Jen

[Mookie]

Carl: Ah - Bethlehem-Johnstown if my binoculars were correct!

Jen