03-05-2013, 05:30 PM
I forgot to mention sources to study...
Car Builder Dictionaries are the best source for truck information. You could use calipers to measure dimensions from commercial trucks, but that is definitely better as a complementary source of information to the Dictionaries. The 1879, 1888, and 1906 have been reprinted. Others can be found on the internet (I believe that I have electronic version of the 1909 and 1895 dictionaries).
Also, John H. White Jr.'s American Railroad Freight Car, American Railroad Passenger Car (1 vol in hardback, 2 in softback), and his American Steam Locomotive 1830-1880 (or such) are the best references for rolling stock in general.
There have been hundreds of different truck types and variations. The details have varied greatly. Many model railroad terms are almost ludicrously generic. While most modelers would find any generic archbar truck to be acceptable, designing based off of a specific truck is usually the best approach. For example, the DSP&P had at least 4, but probably 6 or more, 4' WB, swing-motion truck designs between 1874 and 1884.
Birth of California Narrow Gauge is also a great source to study as Curtis Ferrington has produced many gorgeous graphics illustrating some Carter Bros trucks (I tend to recall a 10t swing motion truck in particular as well as a passenger car truck).
Car Builder Dictionaries are the best source for truck information. You could use calipers to measure dimensions from commercial trucks, but that is definitely better as a complementary source of information to the Dictionaries. The 1879, 1888, and 1906 have been reprinted. Others can be found on the internet (I believe that I have electronic version of the 1909 and 1895 dictionaries).
Also, John H. White Jr.'s American Railroad Freight Car, American Railroad Passenger Car (1 vol in hardback, 2 in softback), and his American Steam Locomotive 1830-1880 (or such) are the best references for rolling stock in general.
There have been hundreds of different truck types and variations. The details have varied greatly. Many model railroad terms are almost ludicrously generic. While most modelers would find any generic archbar truck to be acceptable, designing based off of a specific truck is usually the best approach. For example, the DSP&P had at least 4, but probably 6 or more, 4' WB, swing-motion truck designs between 1874 and 1884.
Birth of California Narrow Gauge is also a great source to study as Curtis Ferrington has produced many gorgeous graphics illustrating some Carter Bros trucks (I tend to recall a 10t swing motion truck in particular as well as a passenger car truck).
Michael
My primary goal is a large Oahu Railway layout in On3
My secondary interests are modeling the Denver, South Park, & Pacific in On3 and NKP in HO
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://thesouthparkline.blogspot.com/">http://thesouthparkline.blogspot.com/</a><!-- m -->
My primary goal is a large Oahu Railway layout in On3
My secondary interests are modeling the Denver, South Park, & Pacific in On3 and NKP in HO
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://thesouthparkline.blogspot.com/">http://thesouthparkline.blogspot.com/</a><!-- m -->