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Great thread, beautiful work, Norm.  I was thinking it couldn't get any better and then 645 posted the picture of 5244 in Camden with two PRSL Baldwin AS16 locomotives in the background (looks like #6009 on the right).  Between the Union Transportation connection (the New Egypt facility was a beaut with a small turntable and engine house on the line beyond Fort Dix) and the Camden shot, it's really good stuff. 

TM Terry posted:

What is the function of the small car trailing the B6, about the size of a truck?

That is a Scale Test car. In order to verify the accuracy of railroad car scales, a known weight is placed on the scale to calibrate/certify the accuracy of the scale. Thus, those Scale Test cars do NOT even have brakes, as the brake shoes would wear and change the weight of the test car. Thus those Scale Test cars were/are normally carried on the rear of a train, since they have no brakes.

Hot Water posted:
TM Terry posted:

What is the function of the small car trailing the B6, about the size of a truck?

That is a Scale Test car. In order to verify the accuracy of railroad car scales, a known weight is placed on the scale to calibrate/certify the accuracy of the scale. Thus, those Scale Test cars do NOT even have brakes, as the brake shoes would wear and change the weight of the test car. Thus those Scale Test cars were/are normally carried on the rear of a train, since they have no brakes.

Scale test cars were not run on a railroad because wheel wear, etc. would affect its mass. They were hauled on a flat car and unloaded at scales. So, you gotta make up a flat car to transport your test car.

rex desilets posted:
Hot Water posted:
TM Terry posted:

What is the function of the small car trailing the B6, about the size of a truck?

That is a Scale Test car. In order to verify the accuracy of railroad car scales, a known weight is placed on the scale to calibrate/certify the accuracy of the scale. Thus, those Scale Test cars do NOT even have brakes, as the brake shoes would wear and change the weight of the test car. Thus those Scale Test cars were/are normally carried on the rear of a train, since they have no brakes.

Scale test cars were not run on a railroad because wheel wear, etc. would affect its mass. They were hauled on a flat car and unloaded at scales. So, you gotta make up a flat car to transport your test car.

Totally NOT TRUE!  Scale test cars were NOT carried on flat cars, as they would have been way to difficult to unload. Over my more that 50 years in the railroad business, I have seen many, many, many Scale Test cars handled on the rear of freight trains, and NEVER transported on a flat car.

Specifically appropriate for Norm's operations, from the Pennsylvania Railroad Book of Rules:

EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 28, 1956



  • Test Weight Cars 
    4155-I. A test weight car is a car used for testing railroad track scales.

    Test weight cars should be handled at rear of train just ahead of cabin car.

    Non-truck, 4-wheel type cars must not be placed between pusher engine and other cars in yard or road movements, and must not be moved at speeds greater than 30 miles per hour. Scale inspectors or other employes issuing shipping instructions for test weight cars of 4-wheel type will indicate in such instructions the correct speed to which the movement is restricted. Agents, yard masters and car inspectors must see that form C.T. 213 is endorsed to show such speed restrictions and that the Superintendent Transportation is notified.

    Test weight cars must be handled carefully to avoid impact at speeds greater than 2 miles per hour. Brakes on cars uncoupled from other equipment in motion must be manned and carefully operated to prevent excessive speeds, and must be firmly set when movement is stopped. When handling such cars, conductors must know that enginemen have been so advised. (Rev. 5-1-60)

 

Tom

 

Last edited by PRR8976

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