On Sat, Sep 5, 2020 at 11:44 AM, Eric Hansmann wrote:
I don’t know if the chain connections were a requirement for these loads. In reviewing the Loading of Materials section of the 1919 Car Builder Directory, I do not see the chain connections noted with loads spanning multiple cars.
Someplace in there was a requirement that multiple cars under one load either be chained together or have the uncoupling mechanism made inoperative; the intent being to keep someone from mindlessly uncoupling the cars and dropping the load. I suspect roads that supplied cars for long loads often just figured they'd save time and expense over the long run if they just built the cars with permanent chains.
