What is it? Found along the railroad tracks.

[Daver1963]

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]

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

 

[JPRambo]

Have you cut the lock to look inside yet?

 

[k0ua]

Have you cut the lock to look inside yet?

I think the RR guys frown on that.

 

[hawkeye08]

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]

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

 

[brokenknee]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[jcummins]

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

What does a flange lube? I guess flange, but how does it work....what requires lubrication on a rail???

 

[/pine]

Is this near a road crossing etc...?

 

[RobertBrown]

That is a strillium enuffrcaitor. It's obsolete. They were replaced with new technololgy. The new device is called a .......

 

[dave1949]

That is a strillium enuffrcaitor. It's obsolete. They were replaced with new technololgy. The new device is called a .......

Where do you get these crazy notions?
Actually, I'm dead certain it's a winder for a spring-driven locomotive.

 

[Cub 7274]

Usually there is a curve and the inside of the rail needs grease applied to lesson the "binding" effect of the the wheels trying to push against the rail.
As the wheels go over it and releases a small amount of grease to the wheel which spreads it out as it turns.
There was probably a small tank there also which contained the grease but due to cutbacks and neglect they usually either run dry or break

 

[RobertBrown]

carbolic conspazmorgate?

 

[RobertBrown]

Where do you get these crazy notions?
Actually, I'm dead certain it's a winder for a spring-driven locomotive.

How can that be......does a spring driven locomotive run in the fall.........? I think not my friend...... I think not!

 

[dave1949]

How can that be......does a spring driven locomotive run in the fall.........? I think not my friend...... I think not!

Okay, you got me. At least I used real words. :laughing:

 

[Daver1963]

Quote Originally Posted by JPRambo View Post

Have you cut the lock to look inside yet?

I think the RR guys frown on that.

When I was 18 I might have done that. I'm not THAT curious anymore.
I prefer to ask questions on here.

 

[bcp]

Here is a patent drawing of the lubricator with a drive shaft.



Full diagram:
http://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/pages/US2486600-0.png

Patent:
Patent US2486600 - Rail lubricator - Google Patents

Secured to the other side of rail is plunger mechanism,... including a plunger adapted to be depressed by the treads of wheels. The plunger mechanism operates through suitable clutch mechanism, ... to drive uni-directionally a flexible shaft extending to a lubricant tank set in the ground alongside the track and filled with lubricant ... The flexible shaft drives a vertical shaft in the tank which in turn drives a series of gear pumps...

Bruce