Clerestory question

MarkInLA Jul 25, 2015

  1. MarkInLA

    MarkInLA Permanently dispatched

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    Is the clerestory on older passenger cars a method of collecting all the odors, human, food, cigar smoke, in the car so as to get vented out as train moves , and especially if end doors and windoes are shut ? This is how I always thought of it but never saw a discussion on clerestory.. Does anyone know the first RR which used this ? I've always liked that look though.
     
  2. Mike VE2TRV

    Mike VE2TRV TrainBoard Member

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  3. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Remember those early cars had multiples of oil lanterns. Those needed to vent, or the car occupants would end up being miserable, or could eventually also suffocate.
     
    MarkInLA likes this.
  4. MarkInLA

    MarkInLA Permanently dispatched

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    Ah, So ! Never thought of that ! Wonder how this worked out in winter. It still is related to my guestimate ...<(Wow ! No red, mistaken-spelling line under it ! ).
    I prefer that architecture to modern cars. Also, the end view of car and caboose steps as they roll away, is such a great design. Could have been ugly. Always amazes me how someone developed that particular shape of the steps and which became as common as standard gauge in the US.. Near every RR used that same step design...Maybe all the RRs ordered them from the same builder instead of welding/bolting them together themselves....
     
  5. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

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    The counter to the venting function of the clerestory. which was absolutely needful, was that the open vent windows also allowed soot, cinders and smoke in at times. Love the look of the heavyweights.

    The steps being fairly standard is a mystery. Maybe just as simple as a good design, so why reinvent the wheel?
     
  6. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Of course they would not have them all open at once. Just enough to circulate air sufficiently. But yes, they certainly could allow what was outside to come inside. I have a feeling they'd crack open a window or two, and air would flow up and out.
     
  7. MarkInLA

    MarkInLA Permanently dispatched

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    My own guess on the steps shape: There were/are only a certain amount of car makers. Perhaps Pullman, say, did supply the steps to the different RRs by communicating with them and offering their pre-made up product. Then word got out and RRs and other car makers had these steps sent to them. Similar to say, Bettendorf trucks, Blunt, Baker, supplied the nation's RRs with this part of the picture, then of course there's Janney couplers and GE light bulbs, on and on.....Stephenson, Walschaerts valve gear, Nathan horns, whistles, Westinghouse brakes with those distinctive air reservoir tanks hanging under the freight cars, Turnbuckles, rear drum heads......All contributing to the US railroad look...
     
  8. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I would also wonder when safety concerns or mandates brought about any standardization.
     

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