Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-11-10

a Detailed Description OF How the Work
Ia Accomplished.


Thirty-fye thousand passenger cars
are DOW In use on the l75, 900 miles OF
railroad In the United States and Ter
ritories and these cars have cost over
two hundred million dollars. A pas
senger car costs IS, 600 to SS, 900. An
outline of the manner In which such
cars are built cannot but be OF in
terest, as this class OF car construc-
tion constitutes an important In
dustry here. When an order Is re-
ceiyed for a given number OF cars 1t
is accompanied by carefully prepared
drawings Of every detail and by speci-
locations which even enumerate the
quantity and quality of screws, nails,
bolts, castings, trimmings, etc.,
which are to be used. Those un-
familiar with this class of work
would be astonished at the elaborate
nature of the drawings, many OF
them Of full size, with all dimensions
marked on them so that no mistakes
may occur The specifications aim
to contain a clelr statement Of all
the materials to be used, their guam
tity, quality and sizes; and the man
ner in which they are to be treated
and built into the proposed cars, Is
also very carefully described; even the
paint and varnishes are specified, as
we'll as the number Of coats Of each,
and the length OF time each coat Is
to be given to dry. Thus it will be
seen that car is first carefully con-
structed in the mind Cf the de-
signer and all details put upon
paper, which serve as guide to those
having the construction in hand.
When an order for cars is placed,
bills Of the materials required are
made in each department and pat
terms for the iron and wood work are
made, to guide the foremen in laying
out their portions of the work. AS
speedily as possible departments are
furnished with the raw or finished
materials called for on their bills
! Of materials with which to make their
portions OF the car. AS an illustra-
tion, the wood machine shop gets out
from the rough lumber the exact
number of pieces of wood OF every
kind and form called for, and the
blacksmith shop gets out the forg-
ings required, the bolt department
makes the exact number Of bolts OF
various kinds needed, and the brass
| foundry fills it's order for the neces-
sary trimmings, which trimmings,
when so specified, are taken in
hand by the electro plating de-
partment and plated with nickel,
silver or gold, as called for. The
glass department cuts the glass,
etches it, and silvers it when re-
quired, and makes and furnishes all
| the mirrors. When everything is
ready the prepared materials are de.
livered as needed at the compart.
ments where the cars are to be erect
ed. First, the bottom materials,
such as stills, floor-joists, flooring,
draft-timbers, and transoms arrive
and are taken in hand by the bottom.
builders. At the completion of the
bottom of a car, which comprises the
work Of the bottom builders, it is
turned over to the body-builders, who
put up the frame work and complete
the body of the car, their work
consisting of applying posts, brac
| ing, filling, belt railing, paneling, car
| lining, etc. The car is now taken by
the roofers, who apply the roof-boards
holdings, ETC., and then the timers
put on the metal covering. After
a careful inspection the car is taker
by the outside painters, and is entered
at the same time by the inside finish
| ers, who put in and finish the nice
| inside woodwork, which is OF the best
| kinds of lumber, such as oak, ash
| cherry, mahogany, or vermilion.
The piping for heating and for light
ing is set in before the seats are
placed in position. The inside finish
too, conceals the electric wires which
may be called for in the specitlca
tions. Cars are lighted by oil. gas OF
electricity. If by gas, it is carried ii
condensed form in tanks underneath
the car, and is conducted to lamps by
suitable piping. Electric lights are
derived from storage batteries, anC
from dynamos run in baggage car
by steam from the engine.
When the inside wood work Is al
in place. and some of this finish COM
prises exquisite carving, the inside
painters go over the entire interior
wood work, making the car ready fo
the trim mers, who place the bronze o.
plated trimmings upon doors, sash
blinds, and walls. The upholstering
draperies, seat-coverings, carpets
etc. which have all been previousl!
prepared, are now put in, and wher
the finishing touches are added b.
the equipment department the car i
ready for delivery to its purchaser, t
whom it is sometimes sent by specia
messenger. Parties for whom car
are building generally keep an in
spectcr at the shops TO sc that al
work and materials are in accordance
with plans and specifications. AL
work in the construction department
is carefully subdivided, many differ
ent gangs of men having their allot
ted tasks, which they perform will
surprising quickness and dexterity
Mostot thispassenger car work Is pait
for by piece wages. These car work
have the capacity for turning on
twelve new passenger cars a week.
Pullman Journal.