The Washington herald., 1917-08-19
Men Versus Gravity.

We have made the statement
that grain. coal and ore could be
handled by gravity quicker and
cheaper than the railroads are han
ding them now, and we have
spoken at some length about grain.
Today we will speak about coal.
Coal is generally handled in some
form of hopper-bottom car which
gives gravity a partial chance to
work. but not its full chance be-
cause the slopes of these cars are
hatter than coal will run on.
So apparent has become this fall
-ure TO completely unload coal cars
when the doors are opened, that
it is becoming more and more the
custom to use turnover machines
which grab a car bodily, lift 1t up.
and turn it completely over, thus
emptying the coal into a special
car which is elevated by machinery
on to the stock pile. or dock, where
il in turn is unloaded. Double sets
OF machines are necessary to guard
against tying up the thousands of
coal cars which must be unloaded
daily, and it is self-evident that
this at best is a car-by-car pro-
cess.
Now comes the question why not
make each coal car a full gravity
car which would not have to be
handled by special machines. and
could be unloaded in train lots In
stead of car by car?
All that is necessary to do this
is to steepen the slopes. and this
can be done in any shop whenever
the cars are there for repairs
this change can begin all over the
country. and at once.
The difficult thing to overcome
is a matter of belief. coupled with
the natural reluctance to admit that
anything we are responsible for is
wrong
The belief persists that steepen-
ing car slopes will decrease capac-
ity. and make poorer car construc-
tion, and this belief exists among
the very ones to whom the subject
will be referred. hence anyone can
understand the obstacles to be met
by even the best intentioned lead
er who undertakes to give US the
full benefit OF gravity cars
AS an evidence OF these obstacles we
~ HA -
voIving six hundred old cars where
the gains. as shown on the railroads.
own blue print, were as follows:
Cubic capacity gain 20 Gu. it., end
slope gain 1s IL degrees. door OPEN
ing gain 80 per cent Ql2 50. IT. as
against As 50. ft). center of gravity
improved; maintenance less due to
sleeper slopes minimizing rust. Moth
ing whatever had to be changed on
those cars except the slopes. and
this change automatically increased
the size of the door opening. The
railroad admitted these gains but the
car building concern which was max
ing the repairs was 10th to press
the subject because such good
showing in practice would embarrass
the officials who were responsible
for partial gravity cars.
Admitting error Is a hard job 70.
anybody, and no one cares to press
friends or customers to this poinr,
but our present need for men. for
coal and for cars, emboldens The
Herald to press the subject for the
benefit Of everybody, in the belief that
the railroads themselves will be
thankful for the change after it is in
use.
Fortunately this is not a matter
which need rest upon the belief or
opinion Of anybody. 1t is susceptible
Of quick and easy proof.
In daily operation on one of our
railroads are two thousand full
gravity coal cars. and while it is true
that they are being handled in turn
over machines, and thus not per-
mitted to demonstrate their value,
they are available for test purposes,
and contrast between some of them
and like number OF partial gravity
cars will disclose the truth.
Expressed technically, the partial
gravity cars have slopes of only
thirty Cs6 degrees, while the full
gravity cars have slopes of fifty (5O
degrees.
During the transition period while
this change is being brought about.
the turnover machines will perform
a very useful function. but It is not
the last word in economy or ef-
ficiency to use them exclusively be-
cause they require six or seven
operations. plus power. while full
rasiss esrs ssauEs only taEss opera.