Railroad Car Wheels02

Waupaca Republican

November 12, 1880

It may not be generally known that the car wheels for the Pullman palace cars are made of paper, but such is the fact, those made of iron not being strong enough for these heavy cars. The company was recently sued for damages on account of an accident which occurred by the breaking of one of these wheels under the forward truck of the palace car “Woodbine”. During the course of the trial it was proven, to the satisfaction of the Court, (the U.S. Circuit Court of Pennsylvania), that paper wheels were far superior to iron, not being liable to break by contraction or expansion, and were practically indestructible. The plaintiffs were non-suited, and the wheels were practically sanctioned by this high judicial authority.

Note: same page of newspaper has an article describing the manufacture of paper pulp.