New Ideas for American Boys; The Jack of All TradesBeard, Daniel Carter
General
New Ideas for American Boys; The Jack of All Trades
Beard, Daniel Carter
Amusements; Sports
means more difficult work on the tramway and cars, for the car must
have a movable axle in order to be able to round the curve. But with a
straight track the play of the wheel upon the hub should allow enough
freedom of motion to overcome the little inaccuracy which may occur in
the rails. Experiment will teach you just what is needed. I cannot
give exact rules, because the material and location will differ with
each builder, and I have found that when I give positive rules, the
rules are followed, even when the material and location are entirely
unsuited to the directions given. For this reason it is best for each
boy to experiment for himself.
Erect the Uprights
first, and brace them with the diagonal boards, as shown in the diagram
(Fig. 135). When you are certain the structure is firm and can stand
the strain and weight of a loaded car, lay the two-by-four rails upon
the ground, and fit them to the car-wheels by pushing the car over
them, to see that they are just the right distance apart. If you make
your track too wide the car-wheels will slip off the rails and run
between them, and if you lay your track with too narrow a gauge the
rails will pinch the flanges of the wheels so tightly that the car will
stop, or the rails spread.
When one section of the track is laid and it is found that the car runs
freely upon it, nail cross-ties of ordinary boards across from rail to
rail, like a ladder. Then take the ladder, and turning it over so that
the rails are on top (Fig. 136), adjust it to the tramway (Fig. 135),
and fasten it securely, by nailing the cross-ties to the side-boards of
the tramway.
In Fig. 135
The Cross-ties, or Sleepers,
are put in position, to show how they will look when the track is laid,
but in reality the cross-ties must be nailed to the rails while the
latter are upon the level ground, as I have already stated.
When each section of track is fastened in place, from the top of the
tramway to the ground, and as much farther as your space or lumber will
admit, load your car with stones, or some equally heavy freight, and
start it down the “switchback.”
If the car reaches its journey’s end with no mishap, you can with
safety get in the car for the next trip and coast down yourself and a
jolly good coast it will be.
The plans (Figs. 135 and 136) may be altered so that the car will run
down one hill and mount another not quite so high, and many other
improvements will suggest themselves to the young civil engineers who
build this “switchback,” but the first track you erect should be as
simple as is consistent with strength and safety, and the improvements
left to some future time.
Ticket-Chopper’s Box.
You may then take a square box, with a lock and key attached, and bore
a hole in one end large enough to admit a good-sized marble; use this
as the railroad and ferry-men use a ticket-chopper’s box, let every boy
who wants a ride drop a marble in the box.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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