The square box is the holding tank for the curve grease. The 4th picture is of the actuating plunger, the round peg is on an oval lever. As the wheel tread (flat part of wheel) of each wheel pushes down on the peg, it in turn, turns the shaft. Pumping out a little grease each time. As the wheel flange goes by the knife edge applicator bar,(missing in the pictures) the flange picks up the grease and deposits it on down the rail.
They were usually put in ahead of curves to grease the high rail as the axles were solid. The speed and going around the curve forces the wheels up against the high rail. The wheel on the high side has to turn faster than the low rail, thus wearing the rail down. Wearing the rail out and over the years, the rail is replaced with newer,longer and heavier rail.
The last rail that I worked with was 141#, that was 141# every three feet.
The last gang I was on was a material distribution gang. Distributed spikes,plates and anchors.
Usually started in Kansas,on to Missouri, Illinois,Wisconsin,Minnesota and Iowa.
This past year we distributed material in Colorado a month before the weather really got bad.
Having worked section and different gangs across Iowa for the past 40 years, 23 on the ChicagoNorthwestern and
17 on the Union Pacific.
Finally had enough,plus a heart attack, had a triple by-pass. Retired on August 12,2013
T.J.
