What is it? Found along the railroad tracks.

Daver1963 · Nov 19, 2013

We have a railroad track about 200 yards from the house. I was exploring today and found this alongside the track. It looks like a PTO shaft going into a box. It looks like at one time there were hoses that came out up to a track junction and might have greased it in some way.
I don't know. Any former or current railroad men out there?

k0ua · Nov 19, 2013

Maybe some sort of pump to pump out a storage tank? or something.. Just a WAG, I don't have a clue.

JPRambo · Nov 19, 2013

Have you cut the lock to look inside yet?

k0ua · Nov 19, 2013

JPRambo said:
Have you cut the lock to look inside yet?

I think the RR guys frown on that.

hawkeye08 · Nov 19, 2013

How did you know it was lost? Perhaps it was being stored there (I am guessing it was on RR property). Maybe I'll come by your place and have a look around to see what I can "find". Seems a quick call to the RR is in order..

tractchores · Nov 19, 2013

Total guess, but maybe part of some kind of switch? Lock looks new, so must be something of current value.

brokenknee · Nov 19, 2013

hawkeye08 said:
How did you know it was lost? Perhaps it was being stored there (I am guessing it was on RR property). Maybe I'll come by your place and have a look around to see what I can "find". Seems a quick call to the RR is in order..

I am pretty sure he didn't do anything with it. He just saw it and was curious to what it is or was.

bcp · Nov 19, 2013

Small, oily hoses make me think "flange lubricator."

Trackside rail flange lubricators | Dipostel

LINCOLNLUBESRAIL.COM

Probably not all there now. The PTO might go to a pump which went to a tank.

Bruce

Gator6x4 · Nov 19, 2013

Looks like junk to me. I have seen car after car piled high with all types and kinds of junk while setting at a train crossing waiting for a train to go by. Probably fell off a train car transporting junk. Would be interesting to see what is in the locked box with a PTO going into it.

dave1949 · Nov 19, 2013

I think it is something that was installed there for a purpose, but maybe hasn't been used for quite a while. It could be out-moded by newer equipment.

Trains have air lines, maybe the hoses carried air pressure.