This move was discussed on the Steam Era Freight Car list back in 2016. Here is a compilation of the messages from then. Some of the links may provide more information.
Palomar Observatory Mirror Blank Delivery 5/12/1936
Catching up on historical society pubs and came across John Signor's "Santa Fe and the Stars" in the 3rd Quarter 2015 issue of the SFRH&MS Warbonnet documenting the delivery of a 200" mirror blank from Pyrex via Santa Fe Extra 3157 on May 12, 1936. Consist as follows:
ATSF 3157 (2-8-2)
NYC 121195 (Lot 559-B USRA-design steel boxcar)
http://www.canadasouthern.com/caso/images/lot-559.jpg
NYC 499010 (Lot 273-F well flat)
http://www.canadasouthern.com/caso/images/lot-273.jpg
ATSF 1680 (Caboose)
Article includes four photos showing the delivery of the mirror blank.
The mirror blank was made by Corning Incorporated (probably still the Corning Glass Works at that time) in Corning NY or Canton NY, hence the NYC freight cars.
The history of the telescope can be found at: http://www.astro.caltech.edu/palomar/about/history.html
The mirror blank was cast by Corning Glass Works in Pyrex, which was new at the time. The first attempt at pouring the mirror occurred in March 1934, with great fanfare, and it failed. That mirror is apparently on display at Corning. The second attempt, done quietly on December 2, 1934, was successful. The blank was annealed for 10 months and the oven was opened on October 25, 1935. On March 25, 1936, the blank was loaded onto NYC S-499010 and departed for CalTech. There are reports that the train’s speed limit was 25 mph
http://archives-dc.library.caltech.edu/islandora/object/ct1%3A4509
See http://www.journeytopalomar.org/palomar.html for a video showing the loading of the mirror onto the flat car and the train in motion, as well as the impact of the mirror as it traveled across the country. Note that the video is an archaic Quick Time format and so you may need to download or tweak some of your computer’s tools.
The blank arrived at East Pasadena on April 10, 1936. From there it was hauled by truck to CalTech.
The mirror would require 10 years of grinding and preparation before it was ready to be moved and installed at Mount Palomar, in part because of the demands of WWII on manpower. In October 1947, the mirror was moved by truck to Mount Palomar to be installed in the telescope named after it’s creator, George Ellery Hale who had died 10 years previously.
http://www.astro.caltech.edu/palomar/media/images/DiskOnFlatbed.jpg
See: http://www.truckinginfo.com/blog/trailer-talk/story/2015/06/a-fruehauf-lowboy-carried-palomar-s-precision-mirror-back-in-1947.aspx for a description of the move.
From conception to completion, this project took 20 years! So the next time you hear someone complaining about science not producing results instantly, think about the dedication of the folks who saw this project through.
The first blank was flawed and rejected. It’s on display at the Corning Museum.
There is an HO model display of these cars with their load located at the observatory museum.
From the most excellent book by Ronald Florence: "The Perfect Machine":
Loaded at Corning on NYC
(through Rochester)
(routed for short distance on DL&W near Buffalo)
(went through Cleveland, Indianapolis, Charleston, Ill.)
To CB&Q at St. Louis
(routed through Cameron Junction, MO)
To ATSF at Kansas City
(detour near Albuquerque)
(over Cajon Pass)
Deliver at East Pasadena
trip was 14 days, travel only during daylight, max speed 25 mph
load height was almost 18' over rails
railroad cranes were used for loading and unloading at each end--the Santa Fe supplied the 150 ton Barstow crane (load weight 35 tons)
There is a superb photo of a Santa Fe Mike pulling the train here (near the bottom):
Palomar Skies: April 2010
I also found a shot of "most" of the NYC train here:
http://www.kinglyheirs.com/NewYorkStateRailroads/NYStateRailroadIndex.html#.VstSChzxmJk
While wading through the few online photos that I could find, I did find a kupla interesting things. One is that the NYC well flat had archbar trucks without springing. You can see a decent photo of the in an adjacent photo to the Santa Fe train I mentioned above. Imagine. Hauling a giant piece of glass with no supporting springs. They must have thought about that option a LOT.
The other thing is here:
Exhibitions | Corning Museum of Glass
If you look at photo #3 in the album series, you see a shot that appears to be the loading of the well flat in Corning. The problem I'm having is that, while the load appears to be suspended 3' above the car, I don't see anything holding it up. I see no visual connection between the crane and the lifting frame. Maybe I'm just (not) seeing things. But it looks weird to me.
There's a photo of the blank being delivered to Pasadena, in Judith R. Goodstein's book "Millikan's School" (a history of Caltech); the photos are grouped separately from the text, and it's in the second group of photos.
Doug Harding
www.iowacentralrr.org
From: CBQ@groups.io [mailto:CBQ@groups.io] On Behalf Of David
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2019 1:01 PM
To: CBQ@groups.io
Subject: [CBQ] 1936 “Glass Train”
Hello all! Some might be familiar with the Burlington promotional piece, “Stellar Service”, which celebrated the Q’s participation in transporting the 200” glass disc for Mt. Palomar in 1936. The Q took it from the NYC for transport from St. Louis to Kansas City where it was handed off to the Santa Fe. I am trying to learn if the Locomotive changed at St. Louis, which seems reasonable to assume, and if so is the type and number known? Are there photographs out there somewhere?
Also, I turned up in the 4/1/1936 Alton Evening Telegraph a story that describes a four car train. The histories all say three, boxcar, well car, and caboose. The Alton story adds “a passenger car” to that list. With fewer details a story in the Marion County Standard for the same date uses the word “coach” where “boxcar” should be. This could all just be a mistake, as none of the histories mention this. But, the role of the Q in the episode is very much overshadowed by the NYC and Santa Fe in the histories, so... Was there a passenger car added during the Q’s tour of duty, maybe for Chicago dignitaries wanting to celebrate native son George Hale’s impending triumph with the delivery of the mirror disc? Anyone have any idea how to check this out?
Thanks,
David Ross
North Canton, OH
