----- Original Message ----- From: "James Curry" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Multiple recipients of sslivesteam" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, September 29, 2002 4:53 PM Subject: Re: American project?
> I've been asked to design a set of laser cut bar frames for it. > Jim Curry > Jim, Why do folks, particularly the Brits, always refer to American frames as "bar" frames? They aren't for the most part, and haven't been since the 1860's" Most American engines had plate frames! It's just that ther plates were very much thicker than those used in Europe, for the rougher service entailed here. In fact, the most modern American frames were not even plate frames, they were a single cast engine bed! Bar frames were used, before we had the facilities to cut out slabs of steel the length of the engine at full height and thickness. So, the early solution was to assemble the frames from bars and castings or forgings to space the top bar from the bottom. But not long after the Civil War, the American foundries, and forges began making frames of exactly the same type as the British Plate frames, the only difference being those plates were three and four inches thick! This is certainly not of any real importance, it's just always puzzled me! Keith Taylor
