Charlie
I’m not sure that contractors were used. A single column article in
Railway Age Gazette 1912 volume 53 page 615 refers to the Burlington and Illinois
Central oiling their tracks including the statement “The Burlington used
about 1,800 gal. of oil per mile at a total cost for the first 39 miles of
about $50 per mile. The Illinois Central used about 2,200 gal. per mile.”
The phraseology of the article suggests that the companies were doing
their own work and makes no reference to contractors or widespread railroad oiling.
If they had been using contractors, I would have expected a similar oil usage
over both lines.
Rupert Gamlen
Auckland NZ
From:
CBQ@yahoogroups.com [mailto:CBQ@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Charlie Vlk
Sent: Friday, 10 January 2014 7:40
a.m.
To: CBQ@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [CBQ] Oiling track
Going through old
emails and had a chance to look up this item. The article states
the same equipment was being used on the IC Commuter District from Grand Crossing
to Randolph Street so I imagine the cars were owned by a service that was
providing the crew and equipment, similar to Speno in more recent times.
Rupert also found
other articles:
Oiling track B&MR (1900) (R&ER vol. 40 page
443)
Oiling track CB&Q and B&MR (1899) (RA vol. 28
page 752)
Oiling track with tank car (? ex B&MR) (1911)
(RAG vol. 51 page 525)
Oiling track with tank car photo (1911) (RAG vol. 51
page 525)
Charlie Vlk