One of the favourite elevator tasks was to jack the train car. Elevator agents used a device called a “Car Jack”. Train cars are delivered to the elevator by way of a side track off the main line. The cars are not in the position need to load them as they need to be aligned with the spout on the back of the elevator. The box cars had a brake wheel on the top of the car which was accessed by a ladder. After releasing the break, the car jack was positioned under the wheel and downward pressure was applied on the handle. The car would barely budge but with repeated action one person could move a train car by hand. Once rolling, a box car would roll freely and may even pick up speed. The agent would have to run ahead of it, climb the ladder and spin the break wheel to stop in time.
