| From the Charleston Mercury |
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| February 13, 1861 |
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| Iron Cars |
| We notice another attempt to introduce
iron cars for passenger purposes has been recently made. The side
walls are made of corrugated sheets, and are of two thicknesses with a
space between them. The advantages claimed for the iron cars are
greater lightness, strength, and durability, than are possessed by the
ordinary wooden car. There is a saving in weight of 30 to 35 per cent
in this car over those in common use. This is an advantage which will
be readily appreciated by every railroad man. A saving of one to two
thousand pounds in the weight of the vehicle makes a wonderful
difference both to the power which drags it, and to the rails over
which it is drawn. The next advantage claimed is greater safety than
in wooden cars. In cases of accident the greatest damage is generally
done by the splintering of the timbers. This fruitful cause of injury
is entirely done away with in iron cars. The worst can possibly happen
to an iron car is severe indulations and bruises. We are glad to see a
step made in this direction We regard any saving in weight and safety
in a railroad passenger coach as a great gain. The effort seems to
have been for the past few years to continue adding appendage after
appendage, constantly increasing the weight of the cars, and
consequently the cost of transporting passengers. We trust the
experiment now made will prove as successful in the end as it seems to
be in the outset. |
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