N.J. Pull
Until motor coach production ceased in favor of war production, the Edwards Railway Motor Car Company built motor coaches for about 60 different railroads. The company was founded by H. P. Edwards in 1916 or 17. Its first car, using a truck chassis, was built for and in the shops of the Atlantic & Western R.R. A few other cars were built in the A&WRR shops before the E.R.M.C.C. was incorporated and moved to its new factory in Sanford North Carolina in 1922.
The model 10 was developed in 1926. It introduced a swiveling rear truck which was capable of being built to a variety of gauges. This made export sales possible and profitable.
A model 10 HSG coach
The 10-LMG model was specifically design for railroads under 1 meter gauge. The 10-HSG was built for meter and wider gauge railroads. Both models were available with 12'5" or 19' between truck centers and in 7' or 8' widths. The shorter 24'5" body carried 18 passengers while the 32' body was designed for 32 passengers. The narrower body was also about 4" shorter and 5" lower, but carried the same number of (more crowded) passengers.
The truck side frames (all four were the same) were one piece castings. The standard truck carried 24" chilled cast iron solid (non-spoked) wheels and had a 42" wheel base.
The 10 LMG, 'Special fast freight and express model' was built on the shorter chassis. It had a 19'x7' flat storage area. The standard engine for these coaches was a Buda GL-6 (109h.p.). A Buda GF-6 (123h.p.) was also available, and other engines could be had on special request. The engine drove a 4 speed transmission through a multi-plate clutch. A reverse gear attached to transmission allowed the 19,000 to 23,000 pound car to reach maximum speed in either direction. It also drove the air compressor for the standard Westinghouse air brakes. The power was transmitted to the rear truck by a drive shaft.
The 16 gauge all steel body was riveted and fit on a riveted 5" iron channel frame. The birch interior was varnished for a natural finish. The ceiling was an ivory white gloss. If a baggage compartment was installed, it would have buff painted tongue and groove paneling. The seats are fixed and upholstered in rattan. Among the standard equipment items were the dry hopper toilet, a 12 volt lighting system, lace pull down curtains on all side windows, a 30 gallon gas tank and a bell and air horn on the roof. These and other features, as well as the color could be specified by the customer.