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20 C O A L A N D T I M B E R January, 1905
NEW STANDARD STEEL MINE CAR
Made For Lehigh Valley Coal Company By
Standard Steel Car Company.
The use of steel in mine car construction,
while not a new subject, is at the present
time, however, interesting those having to
do with the operation and maintenance of
such equipment. We believe we are safe in
making the statement that the steel mine
car has passed out of the experimental
stage in so far as the question of economic
operation is concerned. Steel mine cars
are thus facilitated and presumably they
would cost much less as no special forms
are used in its construction.
The car herewith shown is of two tons
capacity. The sides, floor and end sheets
are of one-quarter inch (%") material; the
end bumpers are of malleable iron. One
commendable feature of this car, while in
itself very small, is noticeable in the arrangement
of the angles on the rear end of
the car; a small steel cap fastens the corners
of the car at this point, which is flanged
down, forming a smooth round surface at
the corner, thereby protecting both men
the impracticability of the extended use of
steel plates in mine car construction. This
argument has been dispelled through the
practical results obtained, and for the information
of those who are interested in this
phase of the subject we would mention the
use of steel plate on locomotive tenders,
where these plates, we believe, are subjected
to the most severe treatment possible
in this directon, being in contact continually
with the coal and in addition to
this that of constant exposure to the chemical
action of the elements. From best information
obtainable as to the life of these
NEW STANDARD STEEL MINE CAR. Made by Standard Steel Car Co.
have now been in service a sufficient length
of time to prove the desirability of the general
adoption of this form of car by many
companies. The above cut is representative
of standard design of mine car adopted by
the Lehigh Valley Coal Company, and a
number of which have just been built and
delivered by the Standard Steel Car Company.
This car is arranged to meet local
conditions, but in a general way is representative
of the designs adhered to in tlie
construction of steel mine cars wherein
structural shapes are used, these being obtainable
in the open markets. The repairs
and animals from serious injury due to
sharp projecting flanges.
This class of car has proved to cost materially
less for repairs than the wooden
car, and the life of the car is approximately
twice that of the wooden car. Another
thing to be considered in connection with
the steel car is the fact that this car has a
scrap value when unfit for use as a mine
car.
The question of the serious deterioration
of steel through the effects of sulphur in a
high sulphur coal is an argument which
has been advanced by the skeptical as to
tank sheets it is materially greater than the
life of the wooden car.
The weight of these cars vary, of course,
in accordance with the thickness of material
used in the sides and the accoutrements
used in the car, such as wheels, boxes,
draw bars, bumpers, etc.; but in most cases
the weight of the steel car designed to
take the place of wooden car is materially
less than that of the wooden car. The general
construction and special features of the
car are clearly shown in the cut, and we
believe that they will need no further detailed
description.
We have printed and distributed 5,000 copies of this issue of COAL AND
TIMBER, and we want every reader to subscribe. We will send the
paper one year for $1.00.
Coal and Timber Publishing Co.