B&SR boxcar 56

[John McNamara]

Anyone have an idea what the roof platform above the side ladder was for?

Catwalk for the brakemen. The brakewheels were at roof height.

To elaborate slightly, there was a walkway down the center of the cars for brakemen to get from car to car and adjust the aforementioned brake wheels, but first they had to get to the center walkway. By ascending any ladder and traversing the "roof platform above the side ladder" they could do get to the center walkway. Jumping from car to car on a moving train must have been a real thrill.

[Steve Smith]

As track condition worsened, I would imagine that just standing on the walkway was a real thrill, to say nothing of walking.

[Ted Miles]

Jason,
          I am interested to hear that a B&SR flat car still exists. The B&SR had 44 of them starting in 1882 at Laconia Car Company going down to 2 at Portland Company in 1913 according to the roster in Two Feet To The Lakes. I doubt many of them made it down to Edaville RR in 1945 and those were mostly used for parts to built the Edaville excursion cars.

My Edaville Railroad book by Linwood Moody in 1947 only lists 14 flat cars in 1947.

I keep up with everything that was on the Edaville Roster; which small Diesel is going to go to Maine Machine Works next store?

Ted Miles, fan of all things Maine Narrow Gauge

[Carl G. Soderstrom]

Thanks.

It looked a little high to be a corner access walk - and the brake staff is on the
other end. Also the roof hides (if) (that) there is one on the other end.