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Re: Modeling Reading HT class 2 bay hoppers

Tony Thompson
 

Ben Hom wrote:

 
We've discussed this ad nauseum, and this seems to come up as often as old and equally unfunny "helium cars weigh lighter loaded" joke.  The value of the Duryea cushion underframe for hoppers wasn't to prevent damage to cargo, but to improve train handling.  Roads that invested heavily in Duryea cushion underframes for hoppers included the RDG, B&O, and WM.

   Well said about the Duryea, Ben. On a side issue, I want to point out that the helium joke is not only old and unfunny, but inaccurate. Helium was shipped at 3000 psi pressure or more, at which pressure the tank contents are considerably heavier than the same volume of ambient air.

Tony Thompson             Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA
2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705         www.signaturepress.com
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