MOTIVE POWER AND ROLLING STOCK 355 
project from 18 to 24 inclR's al)ovc 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 
are useful when small- and medium-sized logs are handled. 
They also obviate the use of binding chains. Some operators 
use round stakes without attachments. 
In handling small- and medium-sized logs the loads are some- 
times built up s(juare and the logs are held by several sets of 
binding chains and often by a top bind chain. Logs are loaded 
Fig. 119. — A Skeleton Log Car. A type common in the southern yellow 
pine forests. 
in this manner by power loaders and a falsework is used on the 
side opposite the skidway, against which the loads can be built 
and held in position until binding chains can be placed. 
Skeleton cars are equipped either with hand or air brakes, 
and usually with pin couplers. They range in weight from 
6900 to 18,500 pounds each and have a rated carrying capacity 
of from 30,000 to 80,000 pounds. They will carry from 1600 to 
10,000 board feet. The heavier weight cars are employed ex- 
clusively for the heavy timber of the Pacific Coast. 
Skeleton cars combine lightness with a maximum carrying 
capacity, are reasonable in initial cost, and are the cheapest 
form of car to maintain. 
Trucks. — These are used on the Pacific Coast and are espe- 
cially adapted to long logs. They have two pairs of wheels on 
which a steel frame is mounted. A steel swivel bunk, 9 or 10 
feet long, is mounted on the frame above and midway between 
the pairs of wheels. The bunk is armed either with steel spikes or 
