08-07-2009, 09:53 AM
I really like the work that was done on your Doodlebug. As they go, yours is a larger one. Supplying passenger service at a reasonably cost to remote branchlines of a railroad is a difficult, not easily solved, problem. This railbuss is a practical answer to this problem.
These early gas powered Whitcome, and Mack powered coaches were low on horsepower and high on down time. Their need for good quality maintenance, and proper operation is what extended they useful life. Their use in areas of high track grades limited there load carrying ability. You can tell by its design that is a light trolley car, or trailing car, modified for use away from its overhead wiring. It is of a early design. A cresatory roof would have been a very early car.
A larger railroad like the New York, New Haven, and Hartford had the ability to make these converted doodlebugs on their own, in house. If you look at early Mack powered trucks of the same era, they would chain drive there drive axels thro a shaft driven gearbox. A very simple mechanical conversion. A package that could be sold separately, for railroad conversions, or factory applied. A small railside business in cities like Hartford, or New Haven, assembling these doodlebugs would add to any layout. Thus giving the NY,NH,&H a valuable line side business to serve.
Imagine a small line side carpentry factory at the turn of the century, out in a remote small town with a good rail connection. Locate it out in a forested area, keeping their main supply, wood, close at hand. There low tech high quality carpentry services are used to building interurban cars for trolley systems and railroads. There product could be loaded onto flat cars, or if of a larger type coupled together and delivered to other locations where the more technical work of installing drive systems, motor or electrical, could be added. Also the interior finishing of quality seating, lighting, and heating systems added to a finished product . All this needs to come from somewhere to this factory, including the people that work there.
Good luck with modeling. frank
These early gas powered Whitcome, and Mack powered coaches were low on horsepower and high on down time. Their need for good quality maintenance, and proper operation is what extended they useful life. Their use in areas of high track grades limited there load carrying ability. You can tell by its design that is a light trolley car, or trailing car, modified for use away from its overhead wiring. It is of a early design. A cresatory roof would have been a very early car.
A larger railroad like the New York, New Haven, and Hartford had the ability to make these converted doodlebugs on their own, in house. If you look at early Mack powered trucks of the same era, they would chain drive there drive axels thro a shaft driven gearbox. A very simple mechanical conversion. A package that could be sold separately, for railroad conversions, or factory applied. A small railside business in cities like Hartford, or New Haven, assembling these doodlebugs would add to any layout. Thus giving the NY,NH,&H a valuable line side business to serve.
Imagine a small line side carpentry factory at the turn of the century, out in a remote small town with a good rail connection. Locate it out in a forested area, keeping their main supply, wood, close at hand. There low tech high quality carpentry services are used to building interurban cars for trolley systems and railroads. There product could be loaded onto flat cars, or if of a larger type coupled together and delivered to other locations where the more technical work of installing drive systems, motor or electrical, could be added. Also the interior finishing of quality seating, lighting, and heating systems added to a finished product . All this needs to come from somewhere to this factory, including the people that work there.
Good luck with modeling. frank
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