Ramsey Car Transfer Apparatus

Researched & Submitted by Richard F. Palmer

Ramsey Car Transfer Apparatus

The Ramsey Car Transfer Apparatus (Ramsey Transfer), used to
transfer standard gauge cars of the New York, Lake Erie & Western
Railroad to the Tonawanda Valley & Cuba Railroad, was a device which
permitted railroad cars to operate over different gauges of track by
transferring railroad trucks on the cars. The Ramsey Transfer existed
in a number of variations covered by several different patents. It
was typically used to transfer cars between standard gauge and narrow
gauge (usually three feet in width) track.

Two parallel tracks of 18 inches were set approximately nine
feet apart. Between these two tracks, the standard and narrow gauge
tracks descended into a pit, one from each end of the pit,
overlapping in the center and having a common center line. Beams
resting on trucks riding on the 18 inch gauge tracks were inserted
under the car to have its trucks changed. The car was then pushed
over pit, resting on the beams. This allowed the old trucks to slip
off of the center pins. The old trucks were pulled out of the pit and
new trucks were shoved in from the opposite side. As the car passed
over the opposite side of the pit, the new trucks were guided to fit
on the center pins. The car now continued on its way, its load
undisturbed. It was claimed that the entire procedure could be
performed in less than eight minutes.