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Tim O'Connor
Sterling, Massachusetts

I understand that in 1937 power (geared) handbrakes required on all newly-built or newly-rebuilt cars.

Were non-power handbrakes every specifically outlawed or banned?

Bob Chaparro

Hemet, CA

On Fri, Jul 5, 2019 at 11:42 AM, Randy Hees wrote:

The exception being the NCO, which purchased used cars from the F&CC which came with full size (size D) couplers.

That reference to ARA Type D couplers adds more confusion, because the Type D, and all other couplers designed around the ARA No.10 knuckle contour were actually bigger than what would be a "full size" coupler in the context of the turn of the century when the narrow gauge cars were built. The Type D was 12" from the pulling face to the back of the striker horn, whereas the couplers that used the MCB contour were typically 9-1/4", yet in their day these MCB couplers were "full size". The ARA No.10 contour was also shaped different than the older MCB contour, but designed to work with it.

That being said, back in that day the foundries did offer couplers that were proportionally smaller versions of that contour, both 3/4 size and 1/2 size, the later used on mine cars and the like. The 3/4 size found some favor with various narrow gauge lines, and were indeed non-compatible with the "full size" version, as evidenced by this East Broad Top car used around the coal prep plant that is set up to couple with cars of either gauge:

EBT adapter car

Dennis Storzek

One more source: October 24, 1902 Railway Age, p. 428
https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Railway_Age.html?id=n8A6AQAAMAAJ

David Thompson

Not all of Colorado was full size couplers.
The Colorado & Southern, Colorado & North Western, used 3/4 size couplers.
The Florence & Cripple Creek and Uintah Ry did as well I think.

My guess would be that the Rio Grande was either too cheap to order NG-only couplers, or was dealing with large coal trains over Marshall Pass and wanted a stronger knuckle.

Best Regards,
 Nick Gully

Bob wrote:

https://realstmfc.groups.io/g/main/album?id=43505

The photos are of a Soo car, which did not have the lower end panel, but the drawing does have the lower ends. I think it's a match for the M55a.

For the M55c, that looks like a lot like a  Murphy Panel roof to me. Perhaps a plastic roof could be substituted ?

As for the M55a - I think I have seen a drawing for the M55a roof - Dennis Storzek posted it on a group because the Soo had some similar roofs. Maybe this one, maybe the Soo group. 

Steve

The next two boxcars have interesting roof hatches.

Ed

Edward Sutorik

As you suggested, most (all?) California and Nevada narrow gauge lines used 3/4 size knuckle couplers (if they used knuckles).  The exception being the NCO, which purchased used cars from the F&CC which came with full size (size D) couplers.  For a short period of time the NCO converted one end of the "new" cars to 3/4 size and ran them in pairs.  The Pacific Coast Ry used 3/4 size.

Of course, the Carter Brothers, who closed their factory in Newark CA installed link and pin draw heads on the cars they built (passenger cars were mostly equipped with Miller Couplers).  Knuckles were fitted to the cars later by the various railroads.  The SP owned Carson & Colorado used SAM "safety link & pin" couplers during the Tonopah boom, and the F&CC cars were equipped with SAMs when built.

Randy Hees

That image is well worth saving as a point of reference when building models. It is so clear and clean an image.