Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 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 car* have been for- , -mutated by the engineers of the Pennsylvania railroad. The new gondolas and hoppers are to he 62 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 he sufficiently strong to-safely carry 160,000 pounds or 80 tons of material. This great increase in carrying capacity- will necessitate the strengthening of an 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 tor 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 the largest now in use. In addition to the strengthening of all car parts, including not only the wheels and axles, hut also an forgings and castings entering into car construction, the 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 ratiroatf has

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