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  • #1

    Gas Electric Passenger Cars

    Question: Could Gas Electric Passenger Cars (aka: Doddlebugs)be operated from either end by the driver? If not, were they ever used to service branchline terminals without turn-a-round facilities? The photos I've seen seem to indicate that they could only be operated from on end and some of the photos show the locomotive coupled to an unpowered passenger car.

    Ray
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  • #2
    I think the answer to that is most could only be operated from one end but i'm pretty certain I have seen some that had drivers positions at the rear too.

    A lot were built to individual specifications so they could have been ordered like that for branchlines that did not have loco turning facilities.
    Built a waterfront HO layout in Ireland http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=22161 but now making a start in On30 in Australia http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=52273

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    • #3
      quote:

      Originally posted by Ray46

      Question: Could Gas Electric Passenger Cars (aka: Doddlebugs)be operated from either end by the driver? If not, were they ever used to service branchline terminals without turn-a-round facilities? The photos I've seen seem to indicate that they could only be operated from on end and some of the photos show the locomotive coupled to an unpowered passenger car.

      As you can see in this picture, this Rail Car was operated from both ends of the car. Made by the Electro-Motive Company. This is the floor plan of a gas-electric Motor Car showing double-end control. "They say a picture is worth a a thousand words"!



      Louis L&R Western Railroad
      Pacific Northwest Logging in the East Coast

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      • #4
        Thanks for the replies. I guess the answer is yes and no, it just depends on the particular railcar.

        Ray

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        • #5
          Having just gone through the Boston & Maine/Maine Central Motor Car Diagram Book, I can say that the B&M ordered both single-ended and double-ended gas-electrics in 1925 and '26. They ordered from both Brill and EMC, in at least 9 different body configurations. Most of the 9 types came in pairs, leading me to think they were ordered for specific branchlines. Double-ended cars presumably were bought for services with no wye or too short a turntable at the remote end.
          James

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