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Russ Garner (SDRT 9457F)  Is anyone able to identify the fitting (offset and in front of the oil lamp housing) on the end of the vintage carriage roof?Sited on a level base it appears to be a hollow 'T' shaped fitting that allows a looped cord to pass in and probably down into the guard's compartment. Note that the cord is knotted (or has a round object attached) so as to arrest its return into the fitting. It is possible that the fitting might swivel 180°. The full view depicts a vintage train in the early 1880s and the carriage is probably fitted with a chain brake, but there are no external eyelets along the roof cornice for the emergency communication cord. Of the four carriages only the carriage in question has this fitting. Two possibilities: (1) A communication cord between the driver and the guard (or vice versa), in which the cord is connected to a gong, or (2) An external link for the chain brake that enabled the driver to apply the brake in the case of emergency to the van and all carriages so linked/fitted; the cord releasing a trigger in the van that enables the brake to apply instantaneously: Based on other known drawings the brake wheel was usually positioned on an internal partition as the underframe mechanism was situated above the inner side of an axle - so either the roof fitting favours possibility (1) or has a ceiling pulley or rod for possibility (2), which adds parts, something engineers resisted as it was something else that could go wrong or break. Russ Garner (SDRT 9457F) POBox 656, Bendigo, Vic 3550, Australia SDJR79RUSS@bigpond.com
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