I have recently purchased some MicroTrains 40 and 50 foot box cars with the draft gear boxes extending past the end of the cars to represent extended draft gear boxes. These are models of prototype cars built in the '50's and '60's. I thought only long, modern cars had the longer draft gear boxes. I assume so they can negotiate tight curves and not bump corners. That is just a guess on my part. When did the longer DGB's come into use and why?
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Those are part of the cushioned under frame type draft gear pockets, which provide "shock control" to the contents within the car.
That's part of a cushion underframe. It's purpose is to help prevent damage to the load and has nothing to do with increasing clearance for sharp curves.
Cushion underframes go back to 1942, but didn't have the extended draft gear. The extended draft gear cushion underframes began appearing around 1973. (Quickie Google search...)
Rusty
Thanks for the info guys. I tried searching last night for some info, but all I found was coupler info., which was actually very interesting. I had no idea the draft gear was integral to the cushion underframe. I always thought the cushioning was in the way trucks were sprung. I thought all draft gear was designed to compress and expand. I guess the extended pocket allows for more give.
Very interesting critters; I rebuilt draft gear pockets and assemblies for SD 40's and 45's, including building up the inside surfaces with a series of welds, and then grinding to meet size specifications.
We used a high pressure press, I think 300 tons, to compress the rubber cushions on the draft gear assembly, and installed wood blocks to keep the plates in compression until the assembly was installed into the pocket. After the first hookup, the blocks would pop out, and the rubber plates would expand in the pocket.
We also used the press to push out the pivot bearing sleeve at the rear of the draft gear, using the new sleeve to push the worn sleeve out. I remember one guy using CO2 fire extinguishers to try and shrink the sleeve to press it out. I never had to do that, so the foreman gave him a different job. As an aside, if anyone doesn't realize how loud a diesel air horn is, I was working inside a pocket, with ear plugs, head phones, a full leather hood, and grinding some welds when some joker decided to blow the horn. I jumped up, and hit my head on the top of the pocket! Wow!
Don
RAIL,
Thje draft gear assemblies in diesel locomotives, since 1962, are completely different than what is in a freight or passenger car.
Hot Water posted:RAIL,
Thje draft gear assemblies in diesel locomotives, since 1962, are completely different than what is in a freight or passenger car.
Hot Water, I realize that, as we did get an occasional piece of rolling stock in the shop.
Don
I don't know why, but it seems the SRR boxcars which came through Houston had many boxcars with very long draft gear. Was that something SRR did, or was it that I was seeing a particular class of Boxcar?
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