We are just completing a 1880 Carter Bothers SPC boxcar. In the course of the restoration, we replaced the roof, using the original Carter plans as a guide (this style of roof also appears in the 1879 carbuilders dictionary). The roof is composed of 2 layers of 1x4" boards, with groves cut the length. The layers are offset. In theory, any rain which goes between the boards of the top layer is supposed to be channeled into the groves and run out the side.

The problem is the roof leaks... not a lot, but enough to bother us. We are planning to pull the top layer and install some type of membrane between the layers. Any suggestions.

By the way, we have just taken delivery of a pair of reproduction Carter 10 ton swing motion freight trucks for this car

Randy Hees
www.spcrr.org



Boxcar Trucks
hees@ix.netcom.com

> The problem is the roof leaks... not a lot,
> but enough to bother us. We are planning to
> pull the top layer and install some type of
> membrane between the layers. Any
> suggestions.

Randy,

Your problem get me to get out my copy of the OERM reprint of "Railway Car Construction" by William Voss in 1892. Your problem seems not to be all that unusual.

Voss writes: "A satisfactory if not a perfect freight-car roof is one of th problems still to be solved, and considering the conditions of service involved, it is safe to say that it will remain a problem for some time to come. The first requiste of a good roof is an absolute protection against rail; it must also be resonably safe to walk on, and consquently of a low pitch and of a marterial that is not slipperty and not liable to be injured by the feet of trainman; construction must be such that the vibrations and the twisting of the frame will have no effect on it, and lastly, it must be durable and reasonably cheap."

"The double board roof cannot be depended upon as absolutely tight, even when new, but as it meets all the other conditions fairly well, it is still the favorite of many prominent roads, and will probably continue so until the test of time ahs proven another one decidely superior."

I would try to have a tight fit between the boards (side by side) in each layer of the roof. Also I would not paint the wood except for the top surface (and maybe the bottom surface, inside the car). I would want to allow the wood to swell as it gets wet and seal itself.

Brian Norden

bnorden49@earthlink.net

Randy,

And they said that a pair of narrrow gauge arch bar trucks was simple?

Now yo know better! Who did the patterns and foundry work? It is beautiful!

Thanks for showing it to us. I will have to come by for a look soon.

Ted Miles

ted_miles@nps.gov

Sumpter Valley Ry's boxcars had the same style of roofing.
During the restoration of boxcar #1352 the crew removing the old roofing found tar paper between the first and second layers.
We reroofed the car using new material with tar paper between the layers, after ten years we still have a water proof roof.

Sumpter Valley Ry
lmcx@eoni.com