Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 January 1912 — Bigger Cars Than Ever [ARTICLE]

Bigger Cars Than Ever

Pennsylvania Railroad Is Planning for For Eighty-ton Gondolas—To Use Heavier Wheels. Chicago.—Plans which provide for a tremendous increase in the capacity of steel freight cars have been formulated by the engineers of toe Pennsylvania railroad. The new gondolas and hoppers are to be 52 feet long over all and 50 feet 2 inches inside The hoppers will have a capacity of carrying 93,000 pounds of coke, against 60,000 pounds, the capacity of the largest cars now in use These cars will have a rated capacity of 140,000 pounds, but will be sufficiently, strong to safely carry 160.000 pounds or 80 tons of material. This great increase In carrying capacity will necessitate the strengthening of all of the material entering into steel car construction, the iron Trade Review says. It will probably mean the entire elimination of the cast iron car wheels for freight service and the substitution therefor of solid steel wheels. Recently the Pittsburg and Lake Erie Railroad company placed in service 46-foot freight cars, which are toe largest now In use>.lja addition to the strengthening of ill car parts, including not only the wheels and axles, but also all forgings and castings entering into ear construction, toe reenforcement. of many bridges to withstand the increased loads of these heavy trains will follow. Anticipating an Increase in steel car carrying capacity. the Pennsylvania railroad has been strengthening all of its bridges

on both its main line and branches. Heavier rails must also be used and the Central Railroad Company of New Jersey has experimented for some months with 125-pound rails, which have been laid on an extensive stretch of track. The wooden tie will of necessity have to be replaced by steel ties and It is believed that a heavier tie than now manufactured will have to be used.