The standard Edwards Rail Car is designed and recommended for branch line service where traffic requirements are within its capacity, for high speed operation, on roadbeds where the grades are not too severe. The standard rail car is ideally suited for passenger runs where the schedule speed does not exceed 45 miles per hour and have seating requirements for 30 to 50 passengers, express and sack mail where mail requirements do not demand a regulation mail compartment.

Although the standard model was primarily designed to operate as a single unit, it will successfully handle an especially built trailer over roadbeds where the grade conditions are not too severe (2 ½%), and where high speed is not an important factor.

Each and every newly constructed Edwards Rail Car is designed and built especially for the service for which they are recommended. Each and every component and the smallest detail pertaining to its operation have been worked out and time proven. Using surviving blue prints, mechanical specifications and employing modern technology where ever possible, each unit is designed and constructed upon ideas and decisions gained by over 25 years of building successful, economical and dependable rail cars.

Our cars are not only constructed with perfectly balanced and matched components, but the whole line of drive is arranged so as to produce the best possible results, both in performance and efficiency, by utilizing the maximum percentage of the gross horse power produced. The horse power of a motor car, regardless of whether it is straight mechanical drive, gasoline-electric, or diesel-electric can very well be classed in two parts, i.e.

Therefore, the horse power produced in the CAB is of little importance to the car's performance, but if it is transmitted inefficiently to the rails, it reflects most unfavorably in the cost of operation. Now, it must be agreed that to produce power costs money; therefore, to waste power is a waste of money. A motor car so designed that a considerable amount of the gross power produced in the cab is absorbed or lost in the transmission of the power from the engine to the rails, or is out of balance in weight with its horse power and passenger capacity is inefficient and expensive equipment to operate. Actual tests made in comparison with other designs has proven beyond all doubt, that our standard car is one of the most efficient, economical and dependable means of transportation for passengers, express and mail.

We offer three types of propulsion systems, mechanically, electrically or hydrostatic driven. The mechanically driven car employs the use of engine, transmission, final drive gear box with sprockets and chains to deliver power to the driving wheels. Cars equipped with electric propulsion have an engine which turns a generator for providing electricity for the traction motors. Hydrostatic propulsion employs the use of diesel engine to power a hydraulic pump which supplies pressurized fluid to two 100 H.P. hydraulic motors on the front truck, in place of the final drive gear box as per the mechanical set-up for the standard Model-20.

MECHANICAL SYSTEM:

The power plant consists of a gasoline or diesel engine, a semi-automatic transmission, and final drive. An outstanding feature in this car's construction, which puts it in a class to itself, is the mounting of the complete power plant in the front truck. The engine, transmission, final drive, air compressor and all propelling machinery are mounted in perfect alignment on a sub-frame forming the complete power-propelling unit. The connection from the power plant to the drive axle is made with two double roller chains which are enclosed in oil tight housings and run in a bath of oil.

Model-20 Power truck

This method of mounting permits the frame, containing the power plant, to move vertically or horizontally as there is no ridged connection between the driven axle and power plant. It has been time proven that in order to obtain long life and low maintenance cost in a direct mechanically driven car, it is absolutely essential that there be considerable flexibility in the drive mechanism to absorb the rail shock and in starting. This is perfectly accomplished with the Edwards Patented Power Truck for motor car service.

Inner Sub-frame

ELECTRIC PROPULSION:

SRA-MCB Medium Duty Truck

Edwards Rail Cars equipped for electric propulsion will employ the use of newly built trucks and traction motors. This truck is based on established Master Car Builder (MCB) design standards. MCB truck designs have been in service for over 80 years, providing passengers with superior comfort and ride quality. MCB trucks are capable of speed in excess of 60 mph (depending on gearing and motor specifications) and are regularly operated on tracks with centerline radii of 50 feet. The materials used in the manufacture of the truck are of the highest quality and fabricated new.

NO RECYCLED OR SALVAGED parts are employed in the construction of the SRA-MCB Medium Duty Truck. Teflon inserts, precision welding and roller bearings are just a few of the modern features adopted to improve truck performance while maintaining the classic appearance and ride quality associated with the MCB design.

Each truck is equipped with two 50 hp traction motors operating on 600 volts DC electricity provided by a gasoline or diesel driven generator of ample proportion for service to be provided. Traction motors, pinion gears, and electric, solid-state control system provide by Clayton Equipment, Ltd.

Trucks, wheel sets and bolsters are fabricated new and provide by Irwin Car & Equipment, an established company with over 80 years experience.

Master Car Builder Truck
The many distinctive mechanical features and unusual efficiency transmission of power between the engine and rails insures that these rail cars will carry-

First: The same tonnage the same mileage at less cost.

Second: The same tonnage more miles for the same cost.

Third: More tonnage the same miles for the same cost.

These cars are unquestionably the world's most economical means of transportation with the exception of the sailing vessel.