Sorry to have to ask, but I'm still such a greenhorn.
Pete
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If you look at the side of the vintage post war truck with the sintered iron sides and stamped steel bolster where the side piece is attached to the bolster. The end of the bolster tab looks like a small bar on a bar end truck. On earlier trucks it looked like a used staple hence a staple end truck.
See http://tandem-associates.com/l...rucksandcouplers.htm for pictures and an explanation.
Pete,
"Bar end" or "staple end" refers to the way the truck sideframes are attached to the truck frame. "Bar end" (newer of the two) has a semi-circular tab visible at the top part of the sideframe. "Staple end" looks like a paperwork staple with the legs spread outward. Side by side comparison makes it easier-- the difference is obvious.
Originally Posted by TheGandyDancer:
If you look at the side of the vintage post war truck with the sintered iron sides and stamped steel bolster where the side piece is attached to the bolster. The end of the bolster tab looks like a small bar on a bar end truck. On earlier trucks it looked like a used staple hence a staple end truck.
So it references how the bolster is attached to the truck side frames. Thank you.
Pete
Yikes, you guys are fast!
Originally Posted by sulafool:
Yikes, you guys are fast!
That's what makes this forum so good!
Pete
All this time, I believed it to be the truck that took the inebriated home at the end of the evening. 
Originally Posted by N.Q.D.Y.:
All this time, I believed it to be the truck that took the inebriated home at the end of the evening.
Actually, its the truck with the little bottles of booze hanging off the ends. My favorite is the Jack Daniels truck. 
Outside of the toy train context it is a pickup with a wet bar on the tailgate. We actually have those in Texas, proof that no matter what America thinks we have a civilized state here. 
Pete
