Built in 1890/91 and constructed for the transport of heavy cable reels for streetcar services that were my first informations to the Wabash rr. #20006. By these features can one think of something else than to the cable cars in San Fransisco?
So I thought that a large drive wheel must also exists in order to be able to propel this streetcar system with the cable drive. Sorry, but such a large wheel had to be really large! Therefore this special designed wheel with 10 slots in oder to be able to transfer a large traction power to the rope. Because this large dimension of this wheel shipping will only possible by division. So I had to divide it into two segments. The two middle surfaces of each part are equipped with strong flanges so that the segments can be screwed again together by very strong screws to a whole wheel - in the reality.
Unfortunately I have built only this model. It´s identically again to the Wabash 16 wheel flat car #20006 so that both parts must be loaded on this one car. Because that this model was my first car of my small modeling serie it has got No. 20000 of Wabash rr.
And if you want to know more to the modeling job, then you read on please.
This large wheel was first turned as one part on a late. I divided it exactly in the center and with model construction resin I stuck the middle flanges and ribs between the holes on both sides on. With a small milling cutter and fine grit paper I smoothed all splices and I think through the laquer finish the parts really look like large machined cast parts from a steel foundry. The pictures show that both segments only are fastened with the turn buckles on the car body. These parts like the turn buckles under the car was made also by myself through the usage of cannulaes for medical syringes. And it´s really a simple job in order to manufacture turn buckles in different sizes which look still much finer in addition than the brass cast parts. By this model you can see also other differences. The stake pockets are here handmade and fastened directly with wire by the side beams to the car. Therefore I could use directly the turn buckles for the fastening of the load even if the buckles aren´t equipped with a screw thread.
Absolutely I must to add a further technical detail. When you wind a steel cable 10 times around a cylinder in all cases the cable would move with the rotation of the wheel after the side. On the other hand the same behaviour no slots could prevent that the rope moves sideways. Such a cable drive works only correctly with a second opposite cable pulley whose axle is so bent that the second pulley can shift the cable from a slot to the next slot.
In order to complete my cable drive system I have already this needed second smaller cable wheel under construction. With nine slots it will as a counterpart the large drive wheel perfectly matches. However, today I know that the power plant of San Fransisco cabel cars works with simple pulleys. Did I write yet that these cable wheels for cable car system in San Fransisco were ordered?
I have still a lot of ideas and also drawings of further heavy load flat cars which I would like to model in the future but at present I´m busy at other modelling jobs. You will read more in next threads.
Bernhard
So I thought that a large drive wheel must also exists in order to be able to propel this streetcar system with the cable drive. Sorry, but such a large wheel had to be really large! Therefore this special designed wheel with 10 slots in oder to be able to transfer a large traction power to the rope. Because this large dimension of this wheel shipping will only possible by division. So I had to divide it into two segments. The two middle surfaces of each part are equipped with strong flanges so that the segments can be screwed again together by very strong screws to a whole wheel - in the reality.
Unfortunately I have built only this model. It´s identically again to the Wabash 16 wheel flat car #20006 so that both parts must be loaded on this one car. Because that this model was my first car of my small modeling serie it has got No. 20000 of Wabash rr.
And if you want to know more to the modeling job, then you read on please.
This large wheel was first turned as one part on a late. I divided it exactly in the center and with model construction resin I stuck the middle flanges and ribs between the holes on both sides on. With a small milling cutter and fine grit paper I smoothed all splices and I think through the laquer finish the parts really look like large machined cast parts from a steel foundry. The pictures show that both segments only are fastened with the turn buckles on the car body. These parts like the turn buckles under the car was made also by myself through the usage of cannulaes for medical syringes. And it´s really a simple job in order to manufacture turn buckles in different sizes which look still much finer in addition than the brass cast parts. By this model you can see also other differences. The stake pockets are here handmade and fastened directly with wire by the side beams to the car. Therefore I could use directly the turn buckles for the fastening of the load even if the buckles aren´t equipped with a screw thread.
Absolutely I must to add a further technical detail. When you wind a steel cable 10 times around a cylinder in all cases the cable would move with the rotation of the wheel after the side. On the other hand the same behaviour no slots could prevent that the rope moves sideways. Such a cable drive works only correctly with a second opposite cable pulley whose axle is so bent that the second pulley can shift the cable from a slot to the next slot.
In order to complete my cable drive system I have already this needed second smaller cable wheel under construction. With nine slots it will as a counterpart the large drive wheel perfectly matches. However, today I know that the power plant of San Fransisco cabel cars works with simple pulleys. Did I write yet that these cable wheels for cable car system in San Fransisco were ordered?
I have still a lot of ideas and also drawings of further heavy load flat cars which I would like to model in the future but at present I´m busy at other modelling jobs. You will read more in next threads.
Bernhard
