Hand Car Sheds

I've scoured the web site looking standard plans for hand car sheds with no results.

Were there such buildings?

Unrelated, but does anyone know when the telephone poles came down along the ROW?

Also, when a line entered a tunnel, were the telephone lines run up and over the mountain?

Thanks in advance.

Larry F.

 

I am certain there were standard plans for handcar sheds, perhaps Karl Brand could post them.

I do not know about telephone poles on the ROW.

The line would be run over the mountain so there would be access to it for maintenance.

 

It depends upon which time frame you speak.

During 1949-1950 the Frisco began using prefabricated, "portable" steel buildings to replace older structures, which were used as tool houses and motorcar houses by the district gangs, et al. I have the standard plans for these.

I have not seen standard plans for a handcar shed, or perhaps more accurately described, a tool house or section car house. Of course, that means nothing, but we can use Beaumont, KS as an example. A Bridge and Building Inventory lists a Section Tool House, which was located at Beaumont on March 14, 1949.

This structure was derived from a "car body" - boxcar. The other building was called the Section Car House, and it was built during 1880. It was 10' x 12' x 8' high. The walls were box board, and it had 2 - 3' x 6' doors.

Here is a shot of both structures. The tool house, built from the car body has 3 stalls for motorcars, and beside it is the single stall "Section Car House". Both would make interesting model projects, and the scene depicted in the photograph would make an interesting vignette.

In addition there was other track material (OTM) stacked about, the switch stand, etc. The photograph was given to me by Jim Rucker.

http://www.frisco.org/shipit/index.php?threads/beaumont-ks.1372/#post-7534

This link is to the standard plans for a section house. The plan also provides the layout of the section house, and its adjunct structures.

http://www.frisco.org/shipit/index.php?threads/standard-plan-section-house-cold-climate-1906.3252/

 

Maybe one could start with this.

http://www.frisco.org/shipit/index.php?threads/steel-signal-maintainer-tool-house-1954.3287/

 

And futz around with this.

http://nphironorerailway.blogspot.com/2012/04/little-speeder-shed-or-thats-what-its.html

 

Any way to make the image from that link bigger for those of us who need a helping hand?

 

From what limited photos that I seen, it would appear that the utility poles would go up and over the mountain and not through it.

Consider the problems with any maintenance or replacing lines in an active railroad tunnel.

As to "came down along the ROW" are referring to when they were installed or removed?

 

I know we discussed this before, some photos were posted, but are there any dimensions for the CTC control, for lack of better words, "block houses" or "switch cabins."

I'm sure someone will help out with the correct name of these little concrete sheds.

Thanks,

Tom

 

A Frisco document, "Poles per Mile" dated October 31, 1963, will only shed a little light on the question.

Even though dated 1963, the document records further retirements through 1970.

By 1963, the pole line was gone from the:

Aurora Branch
Ozark Branch
Lepanto Branch
Marion-Hulbert Branch
Picher Branch
Coal Branch
Greenfield Branch
Carmen to Enid
Bessemer Branch
Empire Branch
AT&N - Pole markers were in place every "15 poles" only. Mile posts converted from AT&N to SLSF mile posts during 1968. The AT&N numbered to the north from Mobile, AL, MP 0.0. SLSF numbered its north-south former "Memphis Road" lines from the north starting at Kansas City, MP o.o.
Armorel Branch
Wilson Branch
Caruthersville Branch - Kennett to Hayti

Retirements after October 31, 1963

The pole line on the Current River Branch was retired from Winona to Birch Tree 1/29/1965. The pole line from 332+36 to Chicopee had been retired prior to Oct 31, 1963.
The pole line on the Parson Sub from C115 to M135 was retired on Nov 30, 1966
The pole line on the Burrton Sub from F507.5 to F537.79 was retired on Oct 26, 1967
The pole line on the Bentonville Branch was retired April 1, 1967
The pole line on the old Mansfield Branch, Jenson to Hackett, was retired April 5, 1966
The pole line on the A-A Subdivision, V559+23 to V611+3, was retired July 27, 1965, and Hugo to Hope was retired Dec 8, 1964
The pole line on the Avard Subdivision, Z547 to Z581+13, was retired November 30, 1966
The pole line on the Columbus and Pensacola Subdivisions was retired on April 20, 1970, and portions sold to Diversified Metals.
The Hoxie Subdivision was abandoned Nash to Pocahontas in April 1965 with the pole line intact.
The pole line on the Leachville Subdivision was retired Nov 30, 1966 except for pole line TE163.51 to TE187.47, which was retired October 1, 1969 and sold to L. B. Foster.
The pole line on the Leachville Subdivision, Clarkton to Malden and Gibson to Campbell was retired November 30, 1966
The pole on the Bytheville Subdivision, TJ260 to TJ289+6, was retired Nov 30, 1966, and TX212+12 to TX220+12 was retired May 8, 1967

 

If you click on the image, it will get larger, and if you left click, it will allow you to save the image.

KLRWHIZKID: Note: If you right click on an image and select Open in New Tab, it will be as large as can be displayed.

 

Thanks to one and all for the info and a thank you to Karl for posting the plans and photo for the "houses".

You're right about the Beaumont area making for an an interesting vignette.

As far as the poles, I am trying to set a timeline so the information was invaluable.

Larry F.

 

Concrete CTC Houses or Instrument Houses came in a couple of sizes, either 6'-6" or 8'-6" x 10'-6" x 8'-9" high.

ARA standards from 1946 list three sizes for metal Instrument Houses, i.e., 6'-0" x 8'-0", 6'-o"x 10'-0" or 6'-0"x 12'-0". Each was 7'-0" high at eaves.

Union Switch and Signal was one supplier of these.

 

I regrettably cannot get the plans to show large enough to read the measurements.

If someone can help me out with getting the image legible, larger, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks!

 

Thanks Karl!

Tom G.

 

Yes, by all means.

Thanks again Karl!

You're a great asset to the board.

 

The Fort Smith Trolley Museum has an actual Frisco motor car shed on site with a Frisco Fairmont car in it.

John Chambers

 

Not the best shot of the shed in Fort Smith but a partial along with M-19 stored inside.

Jeff