Here’s one from Narrow Minded D&RGW, ca 1904,
Here is a more clear image of a model by P-B-L.
The D&RGW one is pretty cool, Id like to see that up close.
We (DRHS) made one. We didn’t start out to, but by the time we finished, it had 100% new wood, and the drop mech. actually works.
Heres a link.
http://www.drhs315.org/blog/drhs-railcars/drop-bottom-gondola/restore-db-gon/
Dave
Steve Featherkile said:
Here are two pics of East Broad Top 802. Just how old it is, I don’t know, but this should give some idea of how of was done back in the day. Which day, I dunno.
Photo by Darryl Rule
Photo by Bob Vogel
The EBT dumped a lot of slag from the coal cleaning plant in Mt. Union. They also filled in a lot of trestles with slag, creating berms that stand to this day. So I guess these ballast cars did a lot of abnormal ballast dumping. All ballast on the EBT was slag or boney. The EBT is always interesting.
Ahhh yes Mt Union … Still need to show Hollywood some territory up that way.
Dave thanks for that link. I was wondering just how it worked. That would be a fun car to copy.
Devon, the article is almost a step by step how to. So, off on your next Devoning there, Devon. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-smile.gif)
David Maynard said:
Devon, the article is almost a step by step how to. So, off on your next Devoning there, Devon. (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-smile.gif)
Well, yes it is isn’t it. And it is appropriately bookmarked. I will resist the temptation for now, but I admit I am tempted. I have a Bachmann gon that would work nicely. It would make as nice an unfinished project as any other.(http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-surprised.gif)
Ric Golding said:
Steve Featherkile said:
Here are two pics of East Broad Top 802. Just how old it is, I don’t know, but this should give some idea of how of was done back in the day. Which day, I dunno.
Photo by Darryl Rule
Photo by Bob Vogel
The EBT dumped a lot of slag from the coal cleaning plant in Mt. Union. They also filled in a lot of trestles with slag, creating berms that stand to this day. So I guess these ballast cars did a lot of abnormal ballast dumping. All ballast on the EBT was slag or boney. The EBT is always interesting.
#802 Started life as a center dump car purchased from Pressed Steel Car Company in 1913. This was a group of 10 bought as the railroads first steel hoppers. After these 10, the railroad built hundreds of their own in the shops at Rockhill. See the PSCC photo below courtesy of Pete Thorton. It started out on archbar trucks as well. A number of the 2 bays were converted to side dump but I’m not sure quite when.
Before 1913 the job would have been done the the wooden equivalents. These were center dump as well so I’m assuming they’d have been dragging the old tie along before the first truck too. Here is another photo from Pete’s online collection I found. Thanks Pete!(http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
" Rooster " said:
Ahhh yes Mt Union … Still need to show Hollywood some territory up that way.
Let me know when you do!
Dave Taylor said:
We (DRHS) made one. We didn’t start out to, but by the time we finished, it had 100% new wood, and the drop mech. actually works.
Heres a link.
http://www.drhs315.org/blog/drhs-railcars/drop-bottom-gondola/restore-db-gon/
Dave
There is a derelict drop-bottom gon at the Orange Empire Museum near LA (well, there was when I visited in 2012 - pic attached.)
Don Winter made a kit with Phil Dippel with all the fancy door hardware. Phil updated it and sold some until he retired.
Re: EBT #802 side dump.
I believe it was converted fairly recently - after the RR closed down. So probably not a good example of an old ballast car!
Dave/Pete/anyone else,
It would appear that on the D&RGW drop bottom that there are 6 doors to a side. If I am looking at it right there is a ratchet handle on each side at each end. Each of those four ratchet handles are tied to a rod that spans half the distance of the side. If I am seeing this right then there are two chains per door attached to that rod. If I am right then three doors are operated at one time by each handle. That mean the amount of ballast dropped is regulated by three doors at a time and those three doors are opened in ratchet increments. Do I see this correctly.
If so this would be a very fun MOW car to model and could be made in all sorts of sizes and door configurations. Add this to the bucket for sure.
You got it correct. Three drop doors, chained to a ratcheting rod, all released at the same time. Four total per car. These were used for anything that they wanted to drop unload. At the Durango and Chama coal towers ( plus others ) they would unload coal into a pit, for the hoists to lift to the top to fill the bins. Also used for slag, gravel, coal, fill dirt, and etc.
Devon Sinsley said:
…Add this to the bucket for sure.
Devon, that “bucket” is getting pretty full, dontcha think?
Its more like a trash can. . .maybe even a small dumpster
Devon, if I were to actually write down my “Someday” project list, it would probably either scare me or depress me.
What I need to do (wink wink) is just finish all of the project I have in progress., That should keep me busy for years.
I tell my wife I would make a great opening pitcher, I just need a bull pen of closers.
??? Batter up !!!
John
Devon, I have the same affliction. I can start projects, and get them so far along, and then I loose the spark. I have solved all the assembly problems, and now its just doing the job. With the project that far along, the challenge is gone, and so is my spark to do the final steps.