I have not studied these cars other than photos either. I have over 30 years as a Marine Chief Engineer and worked with thousands of Pneumati and Hydraulic Cylinders. The cylinders would not

I thought the clevis at the top of the non-extended piston rod was the pivot point... and since the cylinder is inboard of the car side (as close to the center sill as possible) it only makes the

That is what I was thinking too. Unfortunately, the photos that I have don't show the rod that well. But if one side of the dump goes up, the other side has to go down and thus it would seem that both

Jack, in the photos I have of air dump cars, the shiny piston rods are only visible when they are extended in order to tip the dump body, not when they are in the normal position with the body

I would say the rod should be shiny. Whether the cylinder is air or hydraulic the seal at that end has to be maintained in good condition to withstand the pressures inside the cylinder. If the rod

Ba-dump-bump! OK wise guy, I meant the AUTOMOBILES!! SGL

I'm in the process of painting a model of a Western air operated side dump car. These cars had an air cylinder on each side of the frame to raise the body for dumping. My question...should the piston

Schuyler Larrabee wrote: They sure look like flat cars to me. Or isn't that the question? Tony Thompson Editor, Signature Press, Berkeley, CA 2906 Forest Ave., Berkeley, CA 94705

Anybody hazard a guess at what kind of cars those are? SGL

Any more photos of this subject. Very intereting. How were the top rwo of cars secured ? thks Charlie Harris

Here is another interesting photo. http://tinyurl.com/6jx22g http://content.lib.washington.edu/cdm-desmo/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/imlsmohai&CISOPTR=2284&CISOBOX=1&REC=5 Paul Seattle, WA

Guyz,             Have to agree that the animal was sedated for the trip. Considering how much one of these critters costs, they could not afford to have it pop up it's head through an

Gary,           Most gonds of this type had folding ends. they folded into the car body for oversize loading. when done, it was placed upright again. Fred Freitas

Circus Stock Cars were taller than normal Automobile Box Cars, but not so much so that giraffes could stand up with their necks stretched at normal posture. I guess they just got a pain in the neck

The lumber 1935 picture shows a Northern Pacific gondola with the end removed to facilitate the extra length wood beams. How would the empty car be routed to regain its end? gary laakso south of

Hello Everyone,     Did they sedate the giraffe ? How did the circus do it?        John Riba

Apparently so.... once in the NP "Round Roof" Automobile Box Car and once in a ACL Automobile Box Car. (two different giraffes and two different crates) ....and it doesn't look like they cut a hatch

water pipe, 1935 http://tinyurl.com/5hlemu full url: http://content.lib.washington.edu/cdm-desmo/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/imlsrailway&CISOPTR=84&CISOBOX=1&REC=26 lumber,

Would they have really loaded a giraffe in a box car? http://tinyurl.com/6h9hgc http://tinyurl.com/58ornm Full

Enjoy... http://tinyurl.com/6jx22g Full url: http://content.lib.washington.edu/cdm-desmo/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/imlsmohai&CISOPTR=2284&CISOBOX=1&REC=5 Paul Seattle, WA