Rupert, that was what was meant as part of the
sentence:
" The buffing static load ranged from 50,000 to
400,000 pounds depending upon the total weight of empty train (pounds).
"
Basically, the requirement was predicated on the desire for that car (the
mail car of whatever configuration) to be the strongest car in the train
and to avoid telescoping and other (at the time of the first directive in
1913) common (fatal) incidents. On the other hand, waivers
were allowed for trains with lesser weights and strengths) - i.e. lower
static loads.
I should have specifically mentioned the truss rod car in relation to
that, sorry.
At 08:48 PM 6/4/2013, you wrote:
Some information obtained by Philip Weibler
on the RPO truss rod question
Rupert Gamlen
Auckland NZ
The "Steel Car Act" that was part of a 1913 Post Office
Department appropriations bill stated that a steel Railway Post Office
was required in passenger train consists if the majority of other cars
were also steel-bodied. The reason this did not apply to branch
lines is because most of the mixed freight and local passenger trains on
branch lines continued to use wood-body cars that used steel truss-rods
for support.
I hope this helps,
Dr. Frank R. Scheer, Curator
Railway Mail Service Library, Inc.
f_scheer@yahoo.com
(202) 268-4996 - weekday office
(540) 837-9090 - Saturday afternoon
In the 1913 former N&W Railway depot along Clarke County route
723
117 East Main Street
Boyce, VA 22620-9369 USA
Please note: only parcels sent via USPS can be accepted at this
address.
Owney Day" at the National Postal Museum:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2062104465440.2115624.1029546011&l=906bc64b9f&type=1
Visit at
http://www.railwaymailservicelibrary.org
http://www.facebook.com/RailwayMailServiceLibrary
http://www.railwaymailservicelibrary.org/articles/RMSL2008.DOC
http://www.railwaymailservicelibrary.org/ebay/RMSL2009.DOC
http://www.railwaymailservicelibrary.org/articles/RMSL2010.DOC
http://www.railwaymailservicelibrary.org/articles/RMSL2011.doc
http://www.railwaymailservicelibrary.org/articles/RMSL2012.doc
http://blog.stamplibrary.org/index.php/2011/01/21/railway-mail-service-library/
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=353755
If you have an interest in RPOs, please visit the RailwayPO group at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RailwayPO
Bob Webber
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