Steam Shovels and Steam Shovel Work

by Edward Adolph Hermann

Fig. 95.
Edson Spreader.

Fig. 96.

In the Harris & Carter spreader, [Figs. 93] and [94], the car body is cut away between the trucks to receive the two wings which level or spread the material. One or both wings can be used, and they can be raised and lowered to adjust them to any height of new embankment wanted. They will spread the material for a distance of 3 ft. from the rail. When shipping the spreader over the road the wings are drawn up by a hand windlass, revolving about hinges fixed to the braces under the floor of the car, as shown in [Fig. 94]. In this position the clearance is the same as that of an ordinary passenger car.

The Edson spreader, [Figs. 95] and [96], has only one wing, attached to an ordinary flat car, and arranged to raise and lower to adjust it to any height of new embankment wanted. The wheel, A, bears against the head of the rail, forming a brace where one is most needed, and greatly assists in preventing a derailment when hard or tenacious materials are suddenly encountered. The wing, braces, windlass, etc., are so constructed that they can be readily removed from the car, thereby restoring it to general service on completion of the work in hand. This spreader is used mostly in connection with the side plow; it will level the material for a distance of 15 ft. from the rail, wide enough to permit laying a side track from which the embankment can be further widened. Only one side at a time can be widened with this spreader. If it is desired to widen the embankment on both sides of the track, one side is completed first; the cars and spreader are then turned around on the nearest turntable or Y-track, and the other side widened by drawing the spreader in the opposite direction. If the cars are not provided with aprons they need not be turned around. This spreader is generally arranged to cut about 6 ins. below the bottom of the ties of the main track, thereby forming the subgrade for the side track, and maintaining proper drainage of the main track. The apron, B, is bolted on the spreader, and serves to remove any loose material which may fall on the track between the rail and the ends of the ties. When shipping the spreader over the road, [Fig. 96], it is drawn up by a hand windlass revolving about hinges on the side sill of the car and folded down on it; in this position it will clear anything that other cars can pass.

The cars of both styles of spreaders are loaded with old rails, frogs, scrap iron, etc., to hold them down and prevent derailments when hard or tenacious materials are suddenly encountered. Loads of five to ten tons are generally sufficient, though loads up to 15 tons are sometimes required.

Spreaders are usually drawn at a speed of six to eight miles per hour; in loose gravel the speed often reaches 10 miles per hour. They will level off a ridge a mile in length in six to ten minutes, doing as much work in that time as 100 men can do in a day.

The spreader is usually stationed in the nearest side track to the unloading place. Frequently it can be hauled between this track and the dump without raising it, or raising it only partially to clear depot platforms, switch stands and other obstructions and thereby avoid the necessity of folding it down on the car while passing between these points.

Ordinarily the spreading is done by the last train before the close of the day. In cold weather or on short dumps it must be done oftener; either to prevent freezing, or to make room for the unloading material which would otherwise pile up too high for easy spreading, or be liable to roll back on the track and obstruct it for the next train. In using the spreader it is coupled to the rear of the car carrying the plow, and after the train has been unloaded it is pulled over the length of the ridge of material unloaded from its own and preceding trains, as shown in [Figs. 97] and [98].