B&SR Box Car 56 - Official Work Thread

[Mike Fox]

Here is a couple of shots of Box Car 56 while in service. Notice the hinges for the livestock doors.

Images are property of Gary Kohler, and used with his permission. He has recently done a Power Point presentation, and until it becomes book for can be found for purchase here. http://www.portlandlocomotiveworks.com/product/bridgton-saco-river-railroad-a-presentation/

[Wayne Laepple]

No worries about interior visibility with the size of those windows! 

[John Kokas]

I personally wouldn't worry about additional windows.  If we have a small generator (eg. Honda) on board with LED lighting inside we'll be just fine.  I forgot to add - (1) a workbench with an outlet so we have a place to repair hand tools, (like broken handles), and other small jobs. (2) shelving space for mag-phone line reels, spare phones, and test/repair equipment.  I'm sure John M. would appreciate it.

[John McNamara]

(2) shelving space for mag-phone line reels, spare phones, and test/repair equipment.  I'm sure John M. would appreciate it.

Thank you for your mag-phone thoughts.    Certainly a field-phone should be kept aboard so that calls could be made from anywhere along the line that a phone post is nearby. I guess this brings up a question of where we would likely use the tool car. Additions to the TOM and EOT sites would be likely spots.

[Bob Holmes]

I've been in love with this car since it reappeared at the WW&F.  The idea that it carried livestock is totally intriguing.  The idea that it can become THE Tool Car for the WW&F is equally engaging. 

A well-equipped Tool Car can be used anywhere it's needed.  That's the beauty.

Next to my commitment to the Electrical Building and putting power into the Carbarn/Museum, this becomes my next passion!

[Mike Arnold]

What the difference between a mag phone and sound powered phones?
Mike

[John McNamara]

What the difference between a mag phone and sound powered phones?
Mike

To be honest, I'm not really sure. I know that magneto phones use a local battery (a couple of D-cells) to power the microphone, and they signal each other by sending a 20 Hertz 90-volt signal to ring the bells, said 90 volts being generated by a hand-powered magneto in the phone (hence the name). With minor modification, magneto telephones are fully compatible with conventional telephones but rarely used that way; I doubt that's true with sound-powered phones. Now you've sent me on an internet search on sound-powered phones...

[Bill Reidy]

Here's the current state of B&SR boxcar 56, as seen last Saturday, October 24th.

[John Kokas]

I certainly hope that #56 will get proper tarp coverage if its not going into the shop for rebuild this winter.  BTW - do we have ownership of this car now or is it on loan from MNG

[Jeff Schumaker]

Interesting hodge-podge of material holding(?) it together. is any of the interior bracing salvageable?

Jeff S.

[Mike Fox]

Yes, the car is ours.

[Bob Holmes]

Great! for some totally unknown non-rational reason, I'm still in love with it.  Let's get it under cover quickly.

[Eric Larsen]

Any trucks for this car or are we making them from scratch? 

[John McNamara]

See "The Bridgton and Saco River: A Technical and Pictorial Review" by Peter S. Barney for details and photos of this 28' x 6' 8.25" car built by the Portland Company in 1898. There are some great pictures of it and its brothers (57 & 58) with shutter-equipped windows added for livestock service.

[James Patten]

See "The Bridgton and Saco River: A Technical and Pictorial Review" by Peter S. Barney for details and photos ...

Available in our gift shop!