An interesting photo I stumbled upon

[Stephen Piwowarski]

I found this photo when I was looking for some information on Kathadin Iron Works and thought it might be fun to share, especially considering the recent attention the railcar has been given.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Now that is COOL!  Looks like a converted Model TT (ton truck).  I've always thought that a C cab TT rail truck would look great in two foot gauge.   This one gives you an idea what it would look like. 

Thanks for posting Steve.

[Steve Smith]

Interesting shot! Those disk wheels must have had quite some rotational inertia. Bringing her to a stop probably took some serious braking effort.

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Looks like the truck was used as a crew car with the portable steps and seats in back.  Note the train order board on the station at the left edge of the photo.  I wonder if the truck was turned or they ran backwards in one direction.  

Steve, I wonder about those wheels too.  What type of car (or boat launch?) did they come from.  The truck should have tracked well with heavy cast wheels but I don't see any brake shoes.  They must have relied on the foot brake which on a Model T is in the transmission.   On RC4 we use both the foot and hand brakes.

[Bill Sample]

Are those stone structures in the background former iron furnaces?  We have a few similar structures in northwest CT.
Very interesting photo!

[Rick Rowlands]

That certainly is an iron furnace.  its probably been out of blast for fifty years by the time this photo was taken. 

[John McNamara]

That certainly is an iron furnace.  its probably been out of blast for fifty years by the time this photo was taken. 

See http://www.maine.gov/dacf/parksearch/PropertyGuides/PDF_GUIDE/KatahdinIronWorks.pdf

and

http://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/doc/parksearch/index.pl?search_radio=1&state_park=&historic_site=36&public_reserved_land=&shared_use_trails=&town=&distance=&submit=Go+%BB

-John

[Mike Fox]

Is that big enough to be a TT? Looking at the rearend, and it does not appear to have the springs found on the TT

[Stewart "Start" Rhine]

Well, it has the worm drive rear axle which only came on the TT trucks.  The same rear was used on the 1928 and '29 AA trucks, my '29 Express has that rear.  It's tough but it's s-l-o-w.

[Mike Fox]

Ok. Guess I need to study up more on them. I must be seeing something else.

[Jeff Schumaker]

That is an interesting photo.

Jeff S.

[Josh Botting]

The Bill Sawtell book, 'Katahdin Iron Works and Gulf Hagas Before and Beyond'  has a lengthy discussion of this rail car.  I believe it was referred to as the 1 Man Railroad.