The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-14

lon they arrive at, see that at the next con-
vention their representatives have definite in
structions as to how they shall vote.
PRESIDENT Tracy Lyon, who presided.
opposed Mr.. Goodyear's arguments and
remarks were also delivered by e A
IhIlilps' the editor of the Railway Car
Journal.
Car truck construction and renair.
was the subject of a paper by ] G.
Barber, formerly master car builder Of
the Northern Pacific railway. He said
in part:
The first cost and maintenance of car
trucks and especially the possible reduction
OF expensive cost If repairs is one of the
econlInlc questions of the day. Hundreds of
thousands have been expended by railroad
companies in acquiring the best trucks
which. though today are regarded as the
latest work Of science, are destined tomor-
row to lose part of their value in consequence
OF some better and fresher discovery in the
same field. 80
:, IN the last five or more years. the strides
IN Improvement III various designs Of trucks
creased capacity and other condifinSs n he
met continue to make the truck question
more pronounced. 1t is frequently said by
railroad officers, that there has never been
tine in the history of American railroado
when the demand has been greater than at
the present time for truck that will meet
the present and coming service with econom-
ldcl results. These statements however arc
only from those who have made a. searching
LVestlgauon of the truck problem which in
dlcates there is something wrong with the
railroad official who saws to us that his
ola style trucks with the ninety and nine Maria
dropping off along the right of way is
satisfactory. He has also been able by using
such truck to tell his directors (but more
often his receivers) that he is able to pur-
chase new equipment from $40 to $50 per car
less than his neighbors paid but the owners
OF his property do not understand that the
neighbor who purchased the more extensive
truck made saving in cost Of maintenance
OF nearly oO Ier cent as compared with a
cheaper truck.
If one carefully reviews many Of the
various designs of trucks and holsters that
have been in service the past even wears he
will be convinced that their record has not
only been poor, but many Of the designs are
pronounced failures, owing to certain condi-
t trUms w9 va CIV we md are more severe on
trucks OF today as compared with the service
OF from eight to ten years ago. These con-
dltlons referred to embody the increased
capacity of cars, increased speed of trains
the employment Of power brakes verti al
plane or M. G. q. standard coup!ers heavier
ana more powerful springs, and the past
tendency to use trucks of rigid construction
Entering into detail as to the effect on rigid
trucks designed to meet tie above service
we md the increased capacity or load on
rigid trucks multiplies the forces on all parts
and especially the friction of the wheel hange
against the rail and center plates and
side bearings, and unless those conditions
are ar PROVIDED for and relieved mechanically,
the truck frames and all vital wearing parts
become over burdened defective and are
sent to the repair track.
The Increased speed of trains has also
necessarily more than doubled the force of
vibrations and blows on truck frames wheels,
axles, ETC., and this together with the en-
ployment of springs of greater power with
increased action, which in turn increases the
vertical movement of the pedestal against the
journal boxes, the column guides against the
columns and the bolster friction plates
against each other, and the whole producing
wear and tear with their combined forces and
each adding their injurious factors that
shorten the life of trucks Power brakes
which have become a necessity furnish an
other destructive element to many designs
of trucks.
The club adjourned to meet next
month in Minneapolis