Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1910-07-22
GREAT INCREASE
IN STEEL. CARS
FIREpRooF EQUIPMENT NOW
GENERALLY USED ON
NINETEEN LINES.
. GROWTH OF 100 PER CENT.
- DURING THE PAST FEW (
YEARS.

RAND progress has been made IN
tbeslast year or two i'm the develop
ment of all steel railway. equipment.
In 1908 a complete report of steel pas
sengsS Equipment built previous to
that time showed only 275 all'steei
cars then in sefvice, after eliminat-
ing those for, the strictly electric sub
urban and city, service. i+Fhis list
showed eleven different railroad sys-
tens with steel passenger equipment
either in use or under order, without
counting the Pullman steel sleeperS
or any of the Electric transportation
systems in the larger cities. :!
The increase in number OF rall-r
roads using steel cars is, thereIofe'
nearly 100 per cent larger than TWO
wears ago, end list complied from
the car journals shows that approx
mately $500 steel cars for passenger
service have been purchased OF oullt
during the last twelve months. Inc
list includes coaches. diners, ooser-
-yation cars, baggage cars, oulieC
smokers, cafe cars, sleepers ana COM
biration cars of almost every variety
The largest number has been pur-
chased nv the Pennsylvania system
for its tunnel service in New YORK
The Hartman system is probably the
next greatest buyer. ~
On many of the western roads there
has been slight reaction from ths
allsteel car some preferring a WOOD
interior finish, but otherwise compleCe
steel construction. Headlining is gen.
orally fireproofed artificial board
with the exception of one or twol
roads which use ALUMINIUM or lght
steel sheets g
Some progress has been made IN IN
sulation. but the ideal material. for an
insulated steel coach is not consld-
cred as yet perfected. The subject OF
heating is much better understood ana
the severe test of last winters
weather provided little or no com
plant ON account of cold cars.
In a number of severe accidents tot
trains equipped with steel coaches
the results lhaJe proved eminently
satisfactory. No, passengers have been
severely injured, and the cars them
selves have stood the test beyond ex-
pectatiLn. The great reduction in the
cost of maintenance has been fully
demonstrated, 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, it is expect
ed, into the list of steel coach users.
For, mail eaEss steel equipment has
met with great favor in the United
States mail service.
Whereas two years ago the car
building companies, with the eXcep
ton of the American Car and Foun.
dry, company, were not equipped to
turn out steel coaches in any quality
all the larger companies now are
ready to build steel passenger equip
ment in large numbers. The Ameri-l
can Car and Foundry company has
equipped four Of its plants ,. for this
work. The other principal builders |
are the Pullman company, the Barney
G. Smith Car company, the Standard |
Steel Car company and the Pressed
Steel Car COMPANY. The Pennsylva- !
MIA Railroad company builds few in
its Altoona shops. but the greater |
part of its equipment has been built
by the car companies. |