Before proceeding with the trestle and track we thought the best plan
would be to build our car, and then we could use it as a gauge to
determine how far apart the rails should be set.
The Car.
First we got a 2x4-inch scantling, and cut from it two lengths, each 4
feet 6 inches long. These were laid on edge just 30 inches apart, and then
a number of boards were nailed across from one scantling to the other and
sawed off flush with their edges. The floor thus formed was now turned
over so that the scantlings lay uppermost and the sides of the car were
then nailed on with their edges overlapping the ends of the floor boards.
The sides, which were about 18 inches high, were each made of two boards
firmly battened together. Great care was taken to securely nail both the
flooring and the sides to the scantlings, because these scantlings were to
carry the wheels of the car. The car body was completed by nailing on the
end pieces which overlapped both the flooring and the side walls.
[Illustration: Fig. 297. Putting the Car Body Together.]
The Flanged Wheels.
Next we sawed out the wheels of our car. From a board of hardwood
3/4 of an inch thick four disks, 12 inches in diameter, were sawed out.
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