Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1871-11-17
The delaware Car works.

The railroad car works of the jackson "
Sharp Company, on the Brandywine Creek,
and The Philadelphia, Wilmington & Balh-
more Railroad is one of the establishments
which gives Wilmington a name all over
our country.
Eight acres Of land arc occupied by the com
pany, on which are erected numerous shops,
most of them being superior buildings, heated
and arranged for the comfort Of workingmen. /
The paint shop is 400 by 20 feet, two stories
high; the erecting shop, 400 by 60 feet; the
two being connected at the east end with
shop 1871 by 20 feet; the machine shop in the
shape of an l. is 100 by Go and 40 by 70 feet.
The lumber yard is well supplied with various
kinds of woods, million object being stock
undergoing seasoning.
The different departments are supervised as
follows -
Car department, Mr.. Samuel Campbell
paint, Mr. G. E. Bradley; upholstery, W. II.
Merrill smith, J. f. Jervis sash, Robert
! MOorhouse.
The most interesting part of the works may
/ be said to be the paint shop. This is large
room which extends back from the railroad,
holding from % to 50 cars, in the various
stages of painting. On Tuesday there were
Q in II passenger and mail baggage and express
c cars for the following railroads.
5 Paris & Decatur Railroad, Illinois; Missouri
n Iowa Il Nebraska r. r. Bridgeton & Port
| NOIIie IL ~ Mi A4oSuhoDoiti OlaM
4 vile & South Western r. r., Ind; Fairburg,
=. Pontiac & South Western r. r., III. Rio
" Grande r. r. Kansas Central II. r.; Ar
= kansas Central r. R.; cambridge, Cuthber
& Columbus r. r., Ca. Kansas City,
IS Memphis q Mobile r. r. gainesville 8
al Youngstown r. r., Ohio; Central Valley r
Ri NY,
of noticed in the work on cars now, over that o
To- year ago. as was seen from an old car beinl
in repainted. The present artistic display com
bines more light colors, more harmoniousl
blended with the deeper hues. The fines
cars now being finished are those for tll
Fairburg, Pontiac s. South Western Railroa
Company, each accommodate % passengers
They are gotten up in the most tasteful an
richest style The frescoing is in ne'
style by one of the best artists. The inside
finished in walnut and ash with cove moult
M, ing of green and gold. Three lamps are
no. the ceiling; two stoves on the floor.
One hundred men are supervised by Nj
ot Bradley, who has system in keeping tin
oJ. giving orders, distributing material and el
au' aamining work. Among the superior wor
men arc H..F--, J. r., r. k
l. and R, all Iof whom are old hand
There are three apprentices, Master I. D.
ill., being the foremost in lettering and ornament
osl, painting. The usual wages range from :
, Of TO SIS week.
o,,t ! OafS cost from NOOO LOT u plallOfm car
o., $4,000 for palace car. They average
'''l use of nine years. To construct car general
occupies about two months. The course is thu
,E The lumber is brought into the planning m
where it is sawed TO the right dimensions al
n. planned. 1t is then carried TO the setting-
iis' room where is performed the processes
ss laying the sills, framing up and covering
, the car then goes to the paint shop where
- receives about six coats of paint and thr
coats of varnsh. Aller the painting is I
upholstering. The seats have been made
ecidl the cabinet shop the cushions prepared, I
nest, in place and screwed Gown. The ffesco
cloth is put on; the trucks, made in n separi
shop, put under, and the car is ready
IT,. moving 10 its owner.
IT,, 1t is said that well made car, careful
e., used, its bolts and iastenings watched a
- ''turned up from lime 10 time and repa
,in,' made when needed, would last twenty
'"s even thirty years. A Pullman car weig
no, 5000 lbs. and costs from 81, 900 To S20,0
w 10 first class passenger car weighs $4,000 pour
dur- and costs from $1,000 TO 81, 900; seconded
cl'y' passenger car weighs 81, 900 pounds and co
from $1,000 TO $4,000. Besides ornamen
the woods, seven varieties of wood are used in
enlh construction of a car Forty-seyen occu
men tons are represented by workmen.
UNI The narrow gauge cars are IS feet long
feet wide, 10l feet high; weight 49,
! tne pounds; capacity, 30 passengers SCI
lhe double on one side, single on the other, W
'spal one alteration in the centre 50 as TO maint
isary a balance of weight. The sis are 81 inc
eliai' from the ground,
In the office of the company are m,
eli 10 objects Of interest 10 railroad men.