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Reference / Car Builders / York Car Works (Billmeyer & Smalls)

Freight Cars by Builder / York Car Works (Billmeyer & Smalls)

Billmeyer & Smalls advertisement from the American Railroad Journal 15 July 1871.

The York Car Works, operated by Billmeyer & Smalls Company, was among the first railroad manufacturers to experiment in narrow gauge rolling stock when it took the first freight car order from the Denver & Rio Grande Railway. Narrow gauge became their specialty, and their catalog cars were distributed worldwide as the standard for narrow gauge through the 1880s. They were the first American car builder to take a contract in Japan and built rolling stock for many Caribbean and Latin American railroads.

The company lasted into the early years of the 20th century, but production had already started petering out by the late 1890s, and a series of catastrophic fires destroyed much of the company's facilities reducing its capacity to almost non-existence. The last advertisement for rail car production appeared in 1907, and upon the death of George Billmeyer in 1917 the company shut down and the remaining lumber buildings were put up for sale.

History

Timeline

1845

Susquehanna Steam Saw Mills, operated by H. Small & Sons, is established in York, Pennsylvania by Henry Small and his sons David and John.

Robson, Charles ed. The Manufactories and Manufacturers of Pennsylvania of the Nineteenth Century. Philadelphia: Galaxy Publishing Co., 1875 p435.

1847

H. Small & Sons begins building railroad equipment.

Gibson, John, ed. History of York County Pennsylvania From the Earliest Time to the Present. Chicago: F.A. Battey Publishing Company: 1886 p364.

1852

Charles Billmeyer joins the Small partnership in the Susquehanna Steam Saw Mills.

The Etna Car Works, Billmeyer & Small, Proprietors is established in York, Pennsylvania.

An advertisement for the company describes their capacity:

We are manufacturing to order and by contract, Baggage, Freight, Express, Stock, "Reading," and other patterns of Coal Cars. Lumber and Gravel Cars, of every variety, at short notice, and on favorable terms.

Our facilities for manufacturing are extensive, and our means for transportation to all parts of the country speedy and economical.

The Wheels we use receive our own personal attention, are made of the 'best Cod Blast Charcoal Iron,' of both spoke and plate patterns, solid and open hubs.

All cars built by us, and now in daily use on the Pennsylvania Central, Baltimore, Susquehanna, York and Cumberland Roads, have been apprned as first class, and carry the largest capacity allowed on any roads. We are prepared to furnish Wheels and Axles separately or fitted, Springs and other parts of Cars at short notice. Orders and Contracts for Railroad companies solicited.

American Railroad Journal 21 May 1853 p332.

1855

Billmeyer & Smalls sends out an advertising letter announcing that they have begun manufacturing sashes, doors, shutters and mouldings for building construction made at their car shops on August 24.

Star and Banner (Gettysburg Pennsylvania) 5 October 1855.

1866

Henry Small passes away at the dinner table on May 26th after visiting the company sawmills in Wrightsville. Full control of the company passes to his sons and Charles Billmeyer.

"Death of Henry Small, The Columbia Spy (Columbia Pennsylvania) 26 May 1866.

The company is caught up in controversy when the Car Shops Watchman David Jameson was observed participating in an act of political violence where Harrisburg Republicans in a chartered train began firing on York citizens milling on the station platform. Other watchmen standing on observation platforms in the car shops testified on the event.

"The Disturbance on Thursday Evening," Gettysburg Compiler 20 August 1866.]

1871

H. Small & Sons is merged with Billmeyer & Smalls.

P.J. Rau, Administrator v. John H. Small et al. Pennsylvania State Reports Volume 144 5 October 1891 p305.

The Denver & Rio Grande Railway requests designs for 3-foot gauge rolling stock and accepts the Billmeyer & Smalls proposal. B&S begins construction of the first narrow gauge freight cars in the United States.

Fleming, Howard: Narrow Gauge Railways in America. Lancaster: Press of the Inquirer P and P Co., 1876 p54.

1872

David Small presents in committee to the Narrow Gauge Railroad Convention in St. Louis on June 19th in favor of expanding the national narrow gauge network.

"Narrow Gauge Railroads," Daily Kennebec Journal (Augusta Maine) 9 October 1872.

1873

The factory is enlarged and additional machinery installed. At this point Billmeyer & Smalls employs 118 men.

Wiley's American Iron Trade Manual, New York: J. Wiley and Son 1874 p247.

The Iron Age 15 May 1873 p9.

David Small tours the Denver & Rio Grande system with General William Palmer to observe how his products have served in the Rocky Mountains.

"General Palmer's Return," The Rocky Mountain News (Denver Colorado) 4 July 1873.

1875

Charles Billmeyer dies on November 25.

1876

With the death of Charles Billmeyer, the partnership is dissolved and the company reorganized as a joint stock venture named "Billmeyer & Small". Other family members join the business.

Billmeyer & Smalls takes a contract for 260 freight cars and four coaches for the Denver & Rio Grande Railway.

The Railroad Gazette 7 April 1876 p155.

1878

Billmeyer & Smalls takes a contract for 250 twelve-ton freight cars, three passenger cars and three parlor cars for the Denver & Rio Grande Railway.

The Daily Gazette (Wilmington Delaware), 30 April 1878.

1880

Billmeyer & Smalls takes a contract for 450 boxcars, 60 stockcars, 100 coal cars and 250 flat cars for the Denver & Rio Grande Railway.

The Railroad Gazette 16 January 1880 p37.

1881

Billmeyer & Smalls takes a contract for 1,000 freight cars for the Mexico National Construction Company. The wheels were provided by Whitney & Sons of Philadelphia.

The Railroad Gazette 4 February 1881 p74.

1887

Billmeyer & Small takes a contract for 1,000 flat cars at $341 each for the Texas and Pacific Railroad.

Fort Worth Daily Gazette 4 March 1887

1896

A tornado destroys the company's blacksmith shops in York and blows "a large amount" of Billmeyer & Small's lumber stores at Wrightsville into the Susquehanna River.

"Vast Damage at York," The Jersey City News 1 October 1896.

"Furnaces Destroyed," The Scranton Tribune 29 May 1896.

1903

The company's planing mill catches fire, causing $15,000 in damages.

Middleburgh Post 12 March 1903.

1909

A stray firework from an Independence Day celebration burns the car shop to the ground on the night of July 4th.

“Fires,” The Iron Trade Review 15 July 1909 p138.

1917

George S. Billmeyer dies of heart complications on January 13.

Hardwood Record 25 January p404.

Painters Magazine and Paint and Wall Paper Dealer January 1917 p37.

The Billmeyer & Small sawmills in Wrightsville Pennsylvania are sold.

Harrisburg Telegraph 27 December 1917.

The car shops at York are purchased by the York Hardware & Brass Works in December and refitted as an aluminum and bronze foundry.

Iron Age 20 December 1917 p1517.

Notable Individuals

Henry Small

Born August 29 1800, died May 18 1866. Founded H. Small & Sons, the predecessor company to Billmeyer & Smalls which operated the Susquehanna Steam Saw Mills. Henry's ancestry consisted almost entirely of carpenters and builders; his family name is associated with a number of historically significant structures in York including a German Lutheran church on South George Street.

Small, Samuel. Genealogical Records of George Small p61.

David Etter Small, President

Born December 3 1824. Died March 25 1883. Son of Henry Small. Partnered with his father and brother in the Susquehanna Steam Saw Mills in 1845, forming H. Small & Sons. Lost his right arm in the car factory when his coat sleeve caught in the machinery in 1853.

He was an influential stockholder of the Pennsylvania railroad, leading an inspection committee on the railroad's condition in 1874. He was elected President of the First National Bank of York from 1867 to 1876. Other notable positions that he held include president of York Gas Company, director of York Water Company, director of the Lochiel & Wrightsville Iron Works, president of the York YMCA, the York School Board, and trustee of a number of charitable organizations.

Gibson, John, ed. History of York County Pennsylvania From the Earliest Time to the Present. Chicago: F.A. Battey Publishing Company: 1886 p364.

John Henry Small, Vice President & Superintendent

Born December 1 1826, died July 11 1902. Brother of David and son of Henry Small, he is the reason for the plurality in "Billmeyer & Smalls." He became president of the company after David's death. He was a director of the Mexican National Construction Company, which conveniently also contracted with B&S to construct its rolling stock, as well as vice president of San Rafael de la Zanza Ranco.

Robson, Charles ed. The Manufactories and Manufacturers of Pennsylvania of the Nineteenth Century. Philadelphia: Galaxy Publishing Co., 1875 p435.

Proceedings and Collections of the Historical Society of York County, York Pennsylvania: Historical Society of York County, 1902 p10.

Henry Small II, treasurer

The son of David Small, Henry was employed as treasurer after the 1876 reorganization of the company as a joint stock venture.

Charles Billmeyer

Born March 7 1824, died November 25 1875. Joined the partnership in 1852 at which time H. Small & Sons was changed to Billmeyer & Smalls.

Gibson, John, ed. History of York County Pennsylvania From the Earliest Time to the Present. Chicago: F.A. Battey Publishing Company: 1886 p364.

George S. Billmeyer, Secretary

Born January 7 1850, died January 13 1917. Son of Charles Billmeyer, employed as secretary after the 1876 reorganization of the company as a joint stock venture.

William Hose

Born 20 August 1828, apprenticed to Horn & Mitchell as a carpenter for three years, then worked as a car builder for two years before receiving the position of foreman for Billmeyer & Smalls in 1851, which he held until 1881. Upon leaving B&S he purchased the Eden & Blouser sash and door factory.

Gibson, John, ed. History of York County Pennsylvania From the Earliest Time to the Present. Chicago: F.A. Battey Publishing Company: 1886 p26.