Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 88.djvu/760

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��Popular Science Monthly

��How a Second -Hand Automobile Made a Railroad Pay

THE Kansas, Southern and Gulf Railroad, a dream of the early 80's, was projected to traverse the

���A second-hand automobile which made it possible to operate a bankrupt railroad profitably

wheat belt, connecting the Dakotas with the Gulf Coast. Work started at Blaine, Kans., and after twelve miles had been completed to Westmoreland, the county seat, the promoters could find no further sale for their bonds and had to abandon construction. For equipment they had two engines and two cars.

��Lifting Made Easy

AN electric trailer-truck employed for shop and factory transporta- tion has been equipped with a powerful and compact crane operated by the same energy that sends the truck on its way. The crane revolves on ball-bear- ings, and the hoist is motor-operated. The steel barrels loaded, have a weight of seven hun- dred pounds and the electric lifting arm will pick them up easily and lift them over the side of the truck. The platform of the truck itself accommodates three barrels. It is very hard to attempt to hand-truck barrels of such weight over perfectly smooth floors and over floors of uneven surface it is almost impossible.

The truck itself is also used for drawing trailers from one location in the fac-

��The road never paid dividends, and even had to borrow money to pay in- terest on its bonds. About five years ago the engines wore out, and there was no money for repairs. The State took charge and appointed C. E. Morris as receiver. Morris traded the two loco- motives for a reasonably good one and kept the trains going with some regularity. He also got a court order that let him raise the freight rates, and charge five cents a mile for passenger fares. But even this would not make the road pay expenses. About two years ago Morris disposed of the old engines and purchased a second-hand automobile. For the front wheels he substituted the trucks of a hand- car, and for the rear wheels two locomo- tive front wheels. The body had room for six passengers, besides the driver, and Morris built some miniature freight cars, by putting bodies on hand-cars. The road now has three freight cars, each with a ca- pacity of two tons, and is not only giving satisfactory service, but is making money.

tory to another, and with the addition of the new crane and lifting arm the trailers are easily loaded and emptied.

���This truck runs around the shop and picks up and transports barrels and castings

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