Charlie Vik inquires about prewar Budd trucks.
Although I cannot be specific as to specifications and numbering,
probably the most interesting and unusual truck that Budd supplied to
the Burlington was the series under the cars for the General Pershing
Zephyr (and the aft end of the SILVER CHARGER itself), and some added
"pool" cars supplied at the same time (1939). These trucks are
distinctive in that they were reputedly the very first to have disc
brakes. They are readily identified by having truncated sideframe ends
(because the trucks needed no brake hangers). To my knowledge, these
trucks were "orphans" that were not supplied on any other cars to any
other railroad. If I am wrong on this, please correct me.
These trucks were very much different than what Budd supplied to
postwar Burlington cars with disc brakes.
BTW, some of these series of Budd built cars were both then and now
some of the very longest passenger cars ever built (89'), one of which
SILVER CHEST/EXPRESS? apparently still exists in Beech Grove, IN. I
last saw it as an Amtrak exhibition car at the 1991 CSRM Railfair.
Another car of this series, the SILVER STAR (diner-obs) reportedly had
its name changed to SUNDOWNER anticipating its sale to Newman Mining,
and subsequent shipment to their heavy-haul ore line in Western
Australia. Does anyone know whether this handsome car still exists?
Denny
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