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Here are the mine site pics. A few long lengths of bent rail are sitting there. I wasn't using the camera right so my apologies for some not being in focus.Originally Posted by Peter Roosen
Here are the mine site pics. A few long lengths of bent rail are sitting there. I wasn't using the camera right so my apologies for some not being in focus.
First reconstructed 100 yr old Dunsmuir coal car with full brakes & opening tailgate
Third set of photos - of the first of the series of Dunsmuir coal cars currently under reconstruction from various old parts and newly made parts using prints made from a 1911 original blueprint drawing you can find on the wall at the Cumberland Museum. An electronic version of the blueprint drawings was posted earlier in this forum (about 3 months ago I think).
wooden brakes eh? haha
tough brake
Yes Ace, wood and cast iron were the materials used for railway brakes back then. Asbestos came along later. These ones on the 1911 cars are cut from chunks of oak. I suppose that going down a long steep hill they might catch fire.
Last edited by Peter Roosen; 02-20-2011 at 06:28 PM.
The coal car is looking good! Nice to see one that condition. Are the wheels the original size for a car of that design? They look a little small compared to the ones that I saw in Cumberland a couple of weeks ago. The coal cars are different models but I assume they are similar in overall size.
Good eye! The wheels are a smaller for these first two cars that were scaled back for the earlier 1800s 30 inch gauge (versus 36 inch gauge) railway. Dunsmuir changed over to the broader 36 inch gauge in the late 1800s. The full size 36 inch gauge car for which there are bigger wheels will be the next one through the shop. Looking at the photo you have of this car in the No.6 Cumberland Mine Park, I notice that the tailgate does not open, there are no brakes and the bolts are modern hexagonal head ones rather than the square head ones that were used a century ago. This is typical of the cars restored on the island. I'm re-posting the 1911 blueprint from the Cumberland Museum and Archives here (thanks again Frank Carter, Maynard Atkinson et al for bringing this old blueprint to life!).
Last edited by Peter Roosen; 02-22-2011 at 11:43 PM.
Second Dunsmuir 1911 style car - almost done
Here are a few pics of the second car coming out of the shop. Once we get the last of the brake components installed, it will be ready for service like the first one is now. This second one is heading to Wellington in a few days for operational use while the first and third ones are for the south island (one operating and one for static display). Garry Britt is lined up to build one for his yard in Extension - likely in the summer. This is a neat project with all the blacksmith work involved. Forging and shaping the many pieces of flat iron, round bar, etc. has been a worthwhile challenge.
I can see now that the coal cars in Cumberland are actually quite a bit bigger than the ones you are building in Chemainus. They definitely have a cheaper look to them without the tailgates and brakes. Do you guys plan on putting a stain or finish on the wood once your cars are complete? They look great, nice work.
By the way, welcome back!
Thanks and yes, these 30 inch gauge cars are definitely smaller than the third one which, at 36 inch gauge, is a foot longer plus a few inches taller and wider. That Cumberland car is an exceptionally large one and might be 4 foot gauge or something close to that. My car (bound for Wellington tomorrow if not too much fresh snow lands on the road tonight) will have gray wood, black iron, and be assigned fleet number 1911 - the year shown on the blueprint. Everything in the Wellington Colliery Railroad fleet is numbered with its original build year.
awesome stuff here fellas.....stan the man
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