Concord Coach: The Engineering Marvel That Built the American West

Описание: Imagine crossing a pathless wilderness in the 1860s inside a vehicle known as a "bone-shaker". The Concord Coach was the primary method of overland travel to the American West, charging sixty cents a mile. Built in Concord, New Hampshire, by the Abbot-Downing Company, these coaches prioritized survival and durability over passenger comfort.

This video explores the engineering behind the Concord Coach, including its revolutionary thoroughbrace suspension system made from layered bull hide, which created a cradle effect to absorb the brutal shocks of the trail. Discover the meticulous craftsmanship involved, from the lightweight basswood body to the carefully selected elm hubs, white oak spokes, and hickory felloes, ensuring these vehicles could withstand impossible conditions.

The documentary also covers the harsh economics of stagecoach operations like Wells Fargo, their global export to places like Australia during the gold rush, and the eventual decline of the coach following the completion of the transcontinental railroad at Promontory Summit in 1869.

Chapters / Timestamps:

00:00 - The Reality of Western Travel
01:06 - Origins of the Abbot-Downing Company
02:35 - Engineering the Thoroughbrace Suspension
04:10 - Craftsmanship and Wood Materials
06:07 - Built for Survival: Durability and Cargo
07:41 - Global Expansion and Australia's Cobb & Co.
09:00 - The Business and Economics of Stagecoaching
10:36 - The Transcontinental Railroad and Decline
11:52 - Surviving Obsolescence and Historical Legacy

#ConcordCoach #WildWest #Stagecoach #AmericanHistory #Documentary