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[CBQ] More on Pendulum Car

To: "CBQ@yahoogroups.com" <CBQ@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: [CBQ] More on Pendulum Car
From: Bob Webber <no17@comcast.net>
Date: Wed, 20 Dec 2006 19:24:09 -0600
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The PRECO files show that the first two experimental cars were wood 
framed and wood (plywood) skinned.  Which might explain why they 
weren't sold to any railroad.

There is a rather extensive test file on the CB&Q using the three 
"production" cars with varying other cars, both Budd LW (SILVER 
BROOK) and conventional HW (COLUMBIAN).  They tested varying sway 
forces, acceleration tests and what not, to compute how the G forces 
were felt in the car, etc.  They also did studies where they test 
rode the car with and without "real" passengers, in full, partially 
full and empty configurations.

The results and the test data are quite complete and interesting - 
over 54 pages are dedicated to how the three cars rode, perceived to 
have ridden and how easy they were to maintain.   The cars were used 
between Chicago & Omaha and Chicago and Savanah.

Without exception, the Pendulum cars rode better, provided the 
passengers a smoother ride and imparted less -sometimes far less - G 
forces on the passengers on turns and banks, accelerations and 
decelerations.  The suspension could be - and was - tuned for better 
ride or better "handling".  And, from what I read between the lines, 
this is where the problems come in.  While the cars were in many ways 
superior, the maintenance on the trucks would have been just too 
much.  Could that have been reduced over time with study and 
experience?  Perhaps, but as with a lot of new technologies in the 
transitional era, the railroads had no patience (money or time) to 
find out.  It is interesting to note that the cars did survive fairly 
long as orphans with orphaned technology.  I have heard anecdotal 
reports of them being like any shot shocks, wallowing down the 
tracks.  Because the shocks were an important aspect of the 
suspension system.

They also had a design for a highway coach.  There were at least 5 
truck designs, and 10 car designs.  They would have made an interesting train.

Bob Webber  



 
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