Steam Inspection Car.
Engineering News—August, 1889

We present herewith plans of a very neat steam inspection car lately designed and built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, for the use of the Susquehanna Coal Co., combining in itself both engine and car. We shall also give next week a general view of the car from a photograph. While especially intended for rather short trips, it will be seen to contain a fair-sized kitchen in which a moderate amount of cooking can be done, and by the sofa and the two upper berths, it furnishes good sleeping accommodations for three men. Two sofas could, of course, be used, if desired. On many roads of thin traffic, therefore, even of considerable length, it would seem to furnish a very suitable style of officer's or inspection car, while admirably well adapted for short inspection trips. There is often a great waste of time in waiting to attach cars to some regular train, and we imagine that many roads would find such a car economical for maintenance-of-way officers at least.

As the drawings herewith show, the length of the car exclusive of platforms is 30 ft., and its width 9 ft. 9 in. A compartment 13 ft. long contains the locomotive with its machinery. The boiler is of the regular locomotive type, 36 ins. diameter with 100 tubes 4 ft. 4 ins. long: The fire-box is 34 ins. long, 31 ins. wide. The cylinders are 8 x 12 ins. The driving wheels are 43 ins. diameter, and the weight on driving-wheels about 20,000 lbs. The total weight of the car ready for running is about 52,000 lbs. The engine is fitted with Westinghouse automatic brake, applying to driving wheels and to the wheels of the truck under the passenger end of the car. It is also fitted with Nathan's sight-feed lubricator, and other latest improvements. The tank, which is of 500 gals. capacity, and sufficient for 125-miles run, is hung under the centre of the car body. A coal-box, large enough to contain a supply of coal to run the same distance, is placed in the engine room. This room is finished in light-colored hardwood; it is roomy and comfortable.

Between the engine-room and the passenger compartment are two small rooms. One is fitted with refrigerators, oil stove, china closet, and sink for the use of the culinary department. The other is a toilet room of good size and fitted with all necessary fixtures. The passenger compartment is 9 ft. wide by 10 ft. long inside, and has two upper berths and one double lower berth convertible during the day time into a sofa. Four movable arm-chairs are also provided. An extension, table is provided, large enough for six persons; this folds against the wall, and is of convenient size to use as a writing-table when desired. All the compartments, except the engine-room are handsomely finished in carved quartered oak, in accordance with the latest designs of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The passenger compartment is lighted by a large central lamp. The central windows, one in kitchen and one in toilet room, are arranged to show the name of the car in illuminated letters, to answer in place of the side numbers of the locomotive headlight, so that the car may be readily recognized when passing telegraph stations at night. Two closets open out of the passage-way, one intended for clothing, the other as a storage place for drawings. This car is not intended to run backward, or with the passenger end ahead. When it is necessary to do this for short distances, the engineer can obtain a view of the track by looking out through the side windows, and in addition he can be communicated with by electric signals from the platform at the passenger end of the car. The furnishings of the car throughout are of the handsomest character. The handrails are nickel-plated. The passenger compartment and passage-way are handsomely carpeted. The doorways and upper sash of all the windows are of engraved glass, and all the hardware throughout is of bronze of handsome pattern.

Steam Inspection Car "Nydia."

We give herewith, in continuation of our detailed drawings of two weeks ago, a general view from a photograph of the steam inspection car "Nydia," built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, for the use of Mr. IRVING A. STEARNS, manager of the coal properties controlled by the Pennsylvania Railroad Co. A description of the car was published in our issue of Aug. 17. The accompanying cut should have appeared last week but was postponed for lack of space.