Dracar Explained

Dracar
Interiorimage:Dracar passenger compartment.png
Interiorcaption:The passenger compartment of a Dracar
Manufacturer:Drake Automotice Railway Company
Capacity:44
Width:9feet
Enginetype:Gasoline-electric
Cylindercount:6
Notes:[1]

The Dracar was a self-propelled gasoline railcar built by the Drake Railway Automotrice Company in the early 20th century.

Design

The Dracar[2] was long and could be operated from either end. The engine compartment occupied the front 7feet, followed by a baggage compartment, and then two passenger sections. As delivered to the Missouri, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway, the Dracar was built with a removable partition to segregate black and white passengers. The white or "first class" section could seat 30; the "colored" section 14. Both sections contained a restroom. The design was based on cars built by the French Westinghouse company for the Arad-Csanad Railway in Hungary.[3] The St Louis Car Company manufactured the car bodies and trucks. The car was designed for operation; its maximum speed was .[4]

Drake also designed a larger type with a maximum capacity of 73 passengers. This car was powered by a engine.

History

The Missouri, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway took delivery of several Dracars and employed them on 30miles50miles runs. Examples included MuskogeeHenryetta, Oklahoma, Durant, OklahomaDenison, Texas, and Muskogee–Wagoner, Oklahoma. By 1913 the MO&G had acquired five cars. Fuel efficiency was . Each Dracar had a crew of three: motorman, flagman, and conductor.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Drake Gasoline-Electric Railway Automotrice in Oklahoma . Electric Traction . November 1912 . VIII . 31 . 1125.
  2. Gas-Electric Cars for the Missouri, Oklahoma & Gulf . Railway Age Gazette . November 15, 1912 . 53 . 20 . 928–929.
  3. The Drake Gasoline-Electric Car in Oklahoma . Electric Railway Journal. November 16, 1912 . XL . 19 . 1035–1036.
  4. Report of the Committee on Equipment . Proceedings of the American Electric Railway Engineering Association . 1913 . 615–616.