The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-11
RAILROAD NEWS.
Rapid Growth in Use Of Steel
Passenger Equipment.
Progress Has Been Made in Last
Two Years.
IN USE ON 10 LINES.
Increase Is 100 Per Cent in
Short Time.
Other Items of General Interest
in Railroad World.

Rapid progress has been made i'm the
last year or two in the DEVELOPMENT of
all steel railway equipment. In 1908 a
complete report of steel passenger
equipment built previous to that time
showed only 275 all-steel cars then in
service, afr eliminating those for the
strictly electric suburban and CITY sar-
vice. This list showed eleven different
railroad systems with steel passenger
equipment either in use or.lInCer order
without counting the Pullman steel
sleepers or any Of the electric trans
portation systems in the larger cities.
The increase in number of railroads
using steel cars is, therefore, nearly 100
per cent larger than two years ago.
and list compiled from the car Jour
nails shows that approximately $500
steel cars for passenger service have
been purchased or built during the last
twelve months. The list includes
coaches, diners, observation cars. bag
gage cars, buffet smokers, cafe cars.
sleepers and combination cars of al
most every variety. The largest num-
Der has been purchased by the Pennsyi-
vania system for its tunnel service in
New York. The Hartman system is
probably the next largest buyer.
Then Comes the Rock Island.
On many of the western roads there
has been a slight reaction from the ALL
steel car, some preferring a wood in
terror finish, but otherwise complete
steel construction. Headlining is gen.
orally fireproofed artificial board, with
which use aluminium or light steel
sheets.
Some progress has been made in in
sulation, but the ideal material for an
insulated steel coach is not considered
as vet perfected The subject of heat
understood md
severe test of last winters weather
provided little or no complaint on &C
count of cold cars.
In a number of severe accidents to
trains equipped with steel coaches the
results have proved eninently salts
verely injured. and the cars themselves
have stood the test beyond expectation.
The great reduction in the cost OF
maintenance has been fully demon
strated, and steel cars are found to be
very popular with the passengers.
AT the present rate of increase the
next twelve months will bring nearly
every prominent system, 1t is expected,
into the list of steel coach users For
mail cars steel equipment has met
with great favor in the United states
mail service -
whereas two years ago the car build
ing companies, with the exception or
the American Car and Foundry com
pany were not equipped TO turn out
steel coaches in any quantity, all the
larger companies now are ready to
buiId steel passenger equipment in
large numbers. The American Car and
Foundry company has equipped four OF
its plants for this work. The otner
nr;,cineI builders are the Pullman
company. the Barney & Smith Car
company, the Standard Steel Car com
pany and the Pressed Steel Car com
pany. The Pennsylvania Railroad COM
pany builds a few In its Altoona snops.
hnt the greater part Of it's equipment
has been built by the car companies.