MOTIVE POWER AND ROLLING STOCK 317 



and if necessary a center bind placed around the entire load, and 

 one or more logs placed on top of the chain to tighten it. 



Flat cars are usually from 24 to 41 feet long. Those 36 feet 

 and over in length will carry a double load if the logs do not 

 exceed 18 feet in length. The average car load, for medium- 

 sized logs, is from 4000 to 6000 feet, with a maximum of about 

 10,000 feet, log scale. 



Skeleton Cars. — This t^-pe of car consists of two pairs of 

 4-wheel trucks joined together by a heavy bolster of oak or pine. 

 A heavy bunk from 8| to 10 feet long is placed directly over each 

 pair of trucks. Bunks are approximately 11 feet apart on a 

 standard length car, but are also built for long logs with bunk 

 centers up to ^^ feet apart. 



Fig. 89. — A Skeleton Log Car. A type common in the southern pine forests. 



Skeleton car bunks are equipped with a variety of stakes and 

 "chocks" for preventing the bottom tier of logs from rolling off. 



One end of each bunk is often provided with bunk spikes, 

 bolted to or driven into the wood while the other end is equipped 

 with a chock or dog, which projects above the bunk when in use, 

 but which may be dropped below the bunk level by means of a 

 rod operated from the opposite side when the car is ready to 

 unload. The load is often fastened with a single ''top bind" 

 chain passed around the center of the load. 



Cars are frequently equipped with patent drop stakes, which 

 project from 18 to 24 inches above the bunk and are held in 

 place by means of chains or bands, which may be loosened by 

 a rod manipulated on the opposite side of the car. Drop stakes 



