Maintainece of Way forum??

[wt&c]

How about a forum for Maintainence equipment dicussions, pix and sightings, this could become a successfull forum if enough people support it.

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Appalachian & Atlantic Model Railroad (http://www.angelfire.com/wv/appalachianatlantic/images/theappalachian&atlantic.html)

"QUALITY at WORK with SAFTEY in MIND"

[watash]

I'm on your side, WT&C!

I'm after photos and info on Steam cranes 200 ton, and rotary Snow plows.

I purchased two snow plows from Athern, and when I opened the boxes, they both had a 6 wheel truck from a passenger car on the rear. When I sat them on track, they both were tilting down hill with rotor blade low!
All the steam rotaries I ever saw had 4 wheel trucks all around and sat level on the track. Athern had no answer except to send them back with all packing and receipt, and that was 1975. I can make one plow out of the two, because no one makes a truck for a rotary. That's Athern for you.

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Watash

[Bill c]

This sounds great to me I would love to see some of this equipment.

[rhensley@anderson.cioe.co]

Oh, does something like this count?

http://madisonrails.railfan.net/slides/plow_1sl.jpg

Roger

Roger Hensley
rhensley@anderson.cioe.com
== http://madisonrails.railfan.net/ ==
== Railroads of Madison County (Indiana) ==

[slynch]

Here's some LIRR MOW stuff: http://www.nyandw.com/lirrmow.htm
SL

[watash]

WE need ART's big cranes here too!!!

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Watash

[wt&c]

Also, we could dicuss modeling various equipment, thanks guys for some support.

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Appalachian & Atlantic Model Railroad (http://www.angelfire.com/wv/appalachianatlantic/images/theappalachian&atlantic.html)

"QUALITY at WORK with SAFTEY in MIND"

[watash]

Has anyone tried out, or even seen one of the new 200 ton HO DCC controlled cranes? I saw a short blurb in a magazine where someone had a contest where they let some kid about 12 or so operate one of these and he won a prize for getting to do it! That thing costs around $400.00! If it really does work as claimed, I might be persuaded to go DCC just for that. Have you heard anything about it Roger?

Slynch, what does that Scarificier do, tie ties?

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Watash

[This message has been edited by watash (edited 05 November 2000).]

[rhensley@anderson.cioe.co]

DCC Crane? Yes, I heard that it was a big hit at an NMRA program for youth. The kids that operated it caught on to it quickly and had no apparent difficulty at all in operating it. This was part of a program to help introduce model railroading to youth.

DCC may do more to bring youth into the hobby than anything else that's come along recently.

Roger

[watash]

Perhaps DCC coupled with some good quality equipment, could become the "Lionel" of the 30's and 40's by bringing kids and fathers back together. My opinion of todays 'kids' is that there are way too many who do not know who their father is, the father isn't around, and there are too few mothers who really try to be close to their kids like it was back when families were together. Maybe these kids can become a generation of good dads to their kids. I hope so. Its going to take a lot of rich people to pull it off. It doesn't look like prices are ever going to go back to realistic value.

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Watash

[rhensley@anderson.cioe.co]

Perhaps it will. I know that I didn't do the hobby any favors by telling my kids to keep their hands off and 'don't touch that'. Yes, I'm guilty!

Now, for the MoW content. does a scale test car count as MoW?

http://madisonrails.railfan.net/image/c80091b.jpg

Roger

Roger Hensley
rhensley@anderson.cioe.com
== http://madisonrails.railfan.net/ ==
== Railroads of Madison County (Indiana) ==

[wt&c]

absolutly. http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif

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Appalachian & Atlantic Model Railroad (http://www.angelfire.com/wv/appalachianatlantic/images/theappalachian&atlantic.html)

"QUALITY at WORK with SAFTEY in MIND"

[watash]

Roger, don't appologize, at least you were one of the good fathers who tried to protect other people's property by teaching your own kids. I don't understand the rich fathers that let their kid pickup anything they want, and if it gets damaged, the rich dad acts like it wasn't worth anything to begin with so why berate his kid. Like Well, Do you know who I am? He got told who and what he and his kid was very fast by several people. I have witnessed this several times, and that is why I have very little respect for Big Shots. At one small local 'club' meeting we each had a young boy we were teaching how to handle delicate HO equipment, when one Big Shot from the Home Office of this 'club' waltzed in with his kid and the kid promptly picked up an engine looked it over then dropped it in the trash can with the comment that it was a toy! It was in fact a superdetailed model owned by a member. We had to forceably keep the guy from beating the kid to death. He did get one good lick in http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif We all told the father to sit tight, the cops were called, but failed to arrest the Big Shot, so we each made him and his kid a very firm promise. He left and that was that after he forked over 200 big ones while we counted, cash! You know the 'club' I am talking about, so don't you dare appologize for being an excellent father to your children! It shows you love them and care about them, and they will respect you for it. I salute you with respect, Sir.

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Watash

[slynch]

Hi Watash,
"Slynch, what does a Nordberg Scarificer Cable Tier do? OK it ties cable, but how does that fit into railroading today?"

I have posted the LIRR photos and am asking for help with the items. The photos were taken in the late 1980's of the MOW equipment. It has been identified as a Tie Inserter and is perhaps still part of the modern fleet of track layting equipment.? http://www.nyandw.com/lirrmow.htm

Thanks for any help. SL

[Big Al]

A Nordberg Cable Tie Inserter - Scarifier is a two function machine that can first 'dig out' the trench for the tie to sit in and then use a cable and clamp assembly run under the rails to pull the tie into place. This type of machine is still found on small railroads but has been replaced by hydraulic tie inserters on large railroad production tie gangs.

[watash]

Roger, is the Conrail Snow Plow in your photo, self propelled, or is the car behind it like a "B" unit that pushes the plow? In Kansas when they cleared snow out on the plains, they could sometimes hit 50 mph if no drifts. It threw the snow nearly a hundred feet away, but they were pushing with a steamer, and the plow was mounted on a high side condola full of rock.

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Watash

[rhensley@anderson.cioe.co]

No, that is a PRR boxcar converted to a flanger. To show you have fast things change, the flanger was transferred to NS a few days ago.

The Snowplow/Flanger combination is pushed by a locomotive. Generally a 4 axle.

Roger

Roger Hensley
rhensley@anderson.cioe.com
== http://madisonrails.railfan.net/ ==
== Railroads of Madison County (Indiana) ==

[watash]

My dad took 8mm movies of a 4-12-2 pushing one similar to that one out west of Wichita, Kansas back about 1938/9. Dad was hitting 60 mph and the train was out running us heading west. He was throwing snow a hundred feet on either side! That film has since fallen into pieces, but I'll never forget it, because dad commented,"son, 60 miles an hour is a mile a minute!" He had to slow done his 1936 Chevy, because they didn't have power oil pumps yet, there were little dippers on the cap of each piston rod. My what a child can remember when impressed!

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Watash

[watash]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by watash:
[/B]Slynch, what does a Nordberg Scarificer Cable Tier do? OK it ties cable, but how does that fit into railroading today?]

[/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> OK GUYS HOW DO YOU COMBINE THIS QUOTE TO AN EXISTING POST ABOUT TEN OR SO ABOVE, SO I CAN SAVE THE SPACE I WASTED WITH A DOUBLE POST HERE AND THERE TOO?

Never used quote before. Rats! http://www.trainboard.com/redface.gif



[This message has been edited by watash (edited 05 November 2000).]

[Colonel]

I was looking at some work picture and came across some mow equipment thought you'd all be interested to see. This is what we call a ballast regulator that keeps the ballast profile correct. Unfortunately it also tends to demolish signalling equipment if the operator is not careful. Both myself anf Gats have had to replace trainstops, switch machines and track connections numerous times

http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000/pics/regulator.jpg


[This message has been edited by Colonel (edited 07 November 2000).]

[Colonel]

Here is a picture of a production and turnout tamper

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1321106&a=9815870&p=32564178&Sequence=0

[This message has been edited by Colonel (edited 07 November 2000).]

[Alan]

I love those pictures, Paul. Track machines have a mean look http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif

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Alan

The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

www.alancurtismodels.com (http://www.alancurtismodels.com)
Andersley Western Railroad (http://www.trainweb.org/andersleywestern/)
Alan's American Gallery (http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com)

[Colonel]

Here is a picture of one of our over head wiring machines. it is used to string catenary and make adjustments etc.

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1321106&a=9815870&p=32564180&Sequence=0

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Regards

Paul Cassar-Moderator & Member number 50
http://www.iconbazaar.com/people/sleuth.gif SPAD Investigator #1
ICQ 61198217
http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000

[Colonel]

Here is a picture of our automated tracklaying machine. This MOW can remove existing rail and tie (sleepers) and replace with new rail and concrete ties. This picture was taken recently during a weekend possession the tracklayer was renewing existing track with new concrete ties
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1321106&a=9815870&p=32565896&Sequence=0

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Regards

Paul Cassar-Moderator & Member number 50
http://www.iconbazaar.com/people/sleuth.gif SPAD Investigator #1
ICQ 61198217
http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000

[slynch]

Here's a page of scale test cars: http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=388340&a=2869410

SL

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[E-8]

Neat scale test car photos. I am interested in MoW stuff myself. I don't know that it could support a forum. As a matter of fact, before TrainBoard.com was launched, a MoW forum had been planned. The feeling was that it probably would not fill a forum. But, feel free to continue these discussions and we will evaluate that at some point. We do have some slow forums and will do some changing at some point.

Charlie

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http://www.trainboard.com/e-8/jester.gif Ship It On The FRISCO! (http://www.frisco.org) | IAMOKA.com (http://www.iamoka.com)

[rhensley@anderson.cioe.co]

Well, I have other photos of MoW equipment, but I will have
to dig them out and scan them. As that may never happen, in
the meantime, here is a 1900 track gang and a 1996 track gang.

1900
http://madisonrails.railfan.net/trk1900.jpg

1996
http://madisonrails.railfan.net/trk1996.jpg


Roger

Roger Hensley - rhensley@anderson.cioe.com
== http://madisonrails.railfan.net/ ==
== Railroads of Madison County (Indiana) ==
http://madisonrails.railfan.net/image/tgang_sm.gif

[watash]

Roger I recognize the track gang, but the machine I don't. Is the Laying machine riding what looks like a rail behind the guy standing, or is it still on the original rail it is replacing?

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Watash

[rhensley@anderson.cioe.co]

You are looking at a Grove Crane mounted on a tracked vehicle with track wheels as well. The angle of the shot makes it look as if it is all one piece of rail equipment. It is not.

Roger

[wt&c]

Hey again, <marquee>KEEP THE POSTS COMING!!!</marquee> E-8 says that the final decision will be made shortly after the nEw Year IF there is enough activity. http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif <marquee>DON"t Let this die!!</marquee>

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Appalachian & Atlantic Model Railroad (http://sd40dash2.homestead.com/aamain.html)
http://images.honesty.com/imagedata/6/3/8/17992638.jpg


"QUALITY at WORK with SAFTEY in MIND"

[watash]

I still need photos of big BIG wreck cranes, and hopefully one of the Double ended crane made to work tunnels. There was a photo of it in the Railroad Modeler book that came with my Lionel Hudson train set. About the middle of this book was white line blue prints of many different Lionel track arrangements that were possible, and at the back pages were small photos of all kinds of engines, cars and cranes and other maintainence of way equipment. It was a treasure to me while growing up.

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Watash #982 http://www.trainboard.com/smiles/092.gif

[wt&c]

well no one has posted here lately. SOOOO, there have been about 3 boxcars that have been sitting in town, here for about3 years and haven't even moved although there are contiuously other railroad car parked arpund them. I got up close ot the cars oneday and I notice that there was MOW stenciled on the door. I'm guessing that it is a tool car, and they are setting there because they are the ones who needs the MOW. Probably couldn't move eben with 6 SD40-2s hooked up they sre so rusted althought they are modern boxcars. (2 FMC boxcars for SCL and 1 Railbox for Railbox)

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TrainBoard.com MEMBER#204
Appalachian & Atlantic Model Railroad (http://www.a&a.77th.com)
http://images.honesty.com/imagedata/6/3/8/17992638.jpg


"QUALITY at WORK with SAFTEY in MIND"

[Alan]

Just sorting through some photos from a few years ago, and came across this one. It is the only piece of MOW equipment I have photographed.

It is a tamper, seen at Carnforth, Lancashire, in the north west of England sometime in the 1980's.


http://acmodels.homestead.com/files/tamper.jpg

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Alan Curtis. Moderator. Member #12

The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

www.alancurtismodels.com (http://www.alancurtismodels.com)
Andersley Western Railroad (http://www.trainweb.org/andersleywestern/)
Alan's American Gallery (http://www.trainweb.com/alansamericangallery/)

[Chessie_SD50_8563]

Track laying machines are some of the most interesting machines I have ever seen.

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Theres no such thing as having to many coal hoppers or GP40-2 when you model Chessie System
LONG LIVE THE KITTEN!!!
LONG LIVE BIG BLUE!!!
LONG LIVE THE TIGER STRIPE!!!
(I am one of those wierd Chessie,CR,BN Fans)
I looked at DCC... and stayed DC!

[watash]

The most fastenating MOW equipment I remember seeing was a BIG black steam railroad crane in action at Wichita, Kansas when I was about 6. There was a lot of cars noise and steam. Dad got stopped in the traffic where an engine (steam) had blocked the street. We could see the boom of the crane coming slowly up toward this engine, so dad grabbed my hand and hollered "come on we'll go watch!" (He was great about that sort of thing!) We got to watch that crane gently pick up the front of the engine, swing it back over the rails and set it back on the track. We had to run for the car as the engine started backing away to clear the street. I'll never forget looking up at the crane operator as we went over the crossing. I waved, but we were going too fast to know if he waved back. I like to think he did. That was conversation for all next week til Saturday when dad took me out to the roundhouse to see that crane up close, but that is another story.

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Watash #982
"See you in the Pit" http://www.trainboard.com/smiles/092.gif

[wt&c]

watash... you've been blessed to see that kind of thing. http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif

this was a year before the merger but, Once I saw a Conrail SD60M #5521(I think) and a Conral SD40-2 #6411 with CSX pumpkin GP38 #9660 with about 15 special 20' gons with several pieces of rail. Each rail was the length of the train. at the end was an odd piece of equipment.It was A railroad car coupled to the last Gon and had a guy in a cab on top (7 feet of of ground maybe) operate a hydraulic rail cutter and 3 crew men with torches and a little cart that rolled on the tracks with 10 12 gallon buckets with new spikes. Then came the machinery that pulled up the old spikes on one end and pulled the old rails to the inside and then the next machine was behind it. It had runbber tires like a front end loader, it picked up each section of rail and aligned it on the ties (NOTE the tieplates were already spiked to the rail and snipped off at the bottom. and them had a heavy weld.) then the next machine put the spikes through the tieplates (6 per tieplate) and then was a remote controlled GP (single)truck set with 2 ballast hoppers on either end. then was a ballast reglator it only took CSX 3 hours to Do the section I was watching from. (NOTE this has been 3-4 years ago so some of this is likely to be incorrect)

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TrainBoard.com MEMBER#204
N.A.R.A. Member #8
THE-WEB-PAGE-IS-NOW- UPDATED!!
Appalachian & Atlantic Model Railroad (http://www.a&a.77th.com)
http://images.honesty.com/imagedata/6/3/8/17992638.jpg
"QUALITY at WORK with SAFETY in MIND"

[This message has been edited by wt&c (edited 25 January 2001).]

[watash]

Any of you older people ever see and hear a track gang of gandy dancers working aligning new track?

There was a "caller" and they set up a rythum similar to Rap music today. The Caller would call, chant, or Rap out what sounded like a poem, and on eveny down beat, all the gang would have their crow bars under the rail stuck into the ballast, holding the bars at about a 40 degree angle. On the down beat they would all tap their bars up on the bottom of the rail, then when the Caller called,"Hugh" they would all put their backs into it on the next beat in unison, moving the rail, ties and all a few inches toward alignment. It was fastenating to hear as well as watch. Almost sounded like a marching band in quick time! That was a part of the romance of the rails, now machines do it, and its just noise. Sad.

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Watash #982
"See you in the Pit" http://www.trainboard.com/smiles/092.gif

[Telegrapher]

Yeh Watash
I am with you on those gander dancers. Quite a scene.
Dick

[Benny]

Hello again

I love this topic. And yes, it would make an excellent forum.

Quick question: Anybody have closeup pictures of a Jordan Spreader similar to the Walter's Kit? I want to paint and weather it correctly for the AT&SF, and all of the pics on the web seem a little dark or too far away to really discern the colors, especially behind the wings. I do know that the plow bottom edges should have a little rust.

Thankyou

[Benny]

The post made it in. You can delete this post please.

[ 13 February 2001: Message edited by: Benny ]

[HemiAdda2d]

I'll support it! I want info on all sorts of rail equipment, like tampers, rail layers, etc. Jordans, rotaries, and other snow equip. especially. :D

[Benny]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by watash:
[B the kid promptly picked up an engine looked it over then dropped it in the trash can with the comment that it was a toy!
[/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Grrrrrrr!!!! :mad: Any kid who doesn't value a toy, any toy, much less a quality toy, should be strung up until the cows come home!!! In the mean time, I've got a pair of texans, a four percent grade, 100 cars of coal, and one of my fireman really could do with a short rest. I'm sure the kid could help! :D

If they won't respect toys and liesure, then they aren't working hard enough. For some reason, hard labor makes a person more appreciative of the finer things in life.

I like the thought of a MOW Forum. Perhaps a name such as "The Mob Squad," "M*A*S*H," "The Bangup Crew", "The Toil and Grime"...

[ 13 February 2001: Message edited by: Benny ]

[Benny]

Hey Watash

Found a great site for viewing wrecking cranes.

Only problem, if you are weak in head, heart, of stomach you might not want to look at some of these, especially the ones filled with some of our more cherished units.
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/wrecks3.html
Explore this site a little...lots of pics.

Ironic how the worst railroad times bring out the best in these bad boys.

There is also a pic of your double headed crane(I can't figure out how it swivels...perhaps just the derrick moves.
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/mncw001.jpg

Hope this helps.

[ 13 February 2001: Message edited by: Benny ]

[E&NRailway]

Esquimalt and Nanaimo MOW Hirail at Station, Courtenay, BC. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ENRailway/files/photosp4n1.jpg

[OSUguy98]

I guess this would fall under MOW in some way or another..........

Today on I-79, between Fairmont and Morgantown, WV... I passed a wide load which looked like it was carrying a left-hand switch... huge thing... It was driving on the shoulder and slow lane and I still have to drive on the rumble strip in the passing lane to get around it... kind of weird to see a switch laying on a flat-bed trailer...

Is moving switches as one big piece a common thing? Anyone have pics/info/etc??

[watash]

Thanks a lot Benny! This is what I have needed. Yes the double ended tunnel crane is made like the huge derricks that dug the Panama Canal. The boom swings right or left under power. :D

[SS JIM]

You don't want operate or assist on a cable tie inserter-scarifier. First you have to hold the 100 to 200 pound tie up on one end so it will go under the rail, then hope the operator does'nt hit the foot lever to pull the tie in if the tie is against the rail. This flips the tie upward or sideways to fall on anyone in the wrong place at the right time.We usually had the biggest guy on this cable so he could hold up the tie and get it under the rail without it hurting somebody. Once we almost eliminated one of our " favorite" supervisers by a tie going sideways. All in all not to fun of machine. Jim

[Benny]

Would you rather wield a pick and shovel?

I know I definately would. Why? It is a good cardiovascular work out, not to mention that it builds muscle mass. Of course, it might get hard, but then we do have all of these celebrities lifting weights half their work day.

Not to mention that a pick and shovel are much safer, as long as the entire gang knows how to use them.

Sounds like they need a jig or something to fit that area, so that the sleeper cannot meet the rail.

[ 22 February 2001: Message edited by: Benny ]

[SS JIM]

Hey Benny, like some famous person said, Been there, done that, with the pick and shovel. Also need two men pulling spikes ahead. Two more men with jacks preferably aluminum not iron! and two man tie tongs and one lining bar, sharp. Pull out tie. Next two men with picks and stone forks to dig out for new ties. One or if you were lucky two men to put tie back under the rail and put the tie plates on the tie for the next two men. One can hold up tie to rail and the other spike two spots on tie, one inside rail, the other on the outside. Two men with stone forks or shovels to tamp stone under tie and dress off the shoulders to look like they did before you started to change the tie. Do this about 100 or 125 times in 5 or 6 hours. Then you had muscle tone to hold up beer bottles all the better with. Well really it works out to 50 or 75 apiece if you had enough men at work that day. SS JIM

[Telegrapher]

Does anybody know where I can get one of the little "put - put's??. Those things that carry 4 or 6 man section gangs down the track :confused:

[watash]

Dick, there was one advertized under "classifieds" on RailServe.com the other day, if you mean a real on 4ft8-1/2in gauge. I have two HO gauge packed away, new.

[Telegrapher]

Thanks Watash. I forgot to mentions "N" gauge. A couple of months agot I came across a shed kit to park it in. It is all assembled and in place with nothing to put in it. Time for me to go to work so will be back about midnight. :confused:

[rush2ny]

Here's a pic I took at the Danbury RR museum of a double crane. (heavy duty).
http://hometown.aol.com/rush2ny/crane.jpg
Russ/NYC
The Hoffman Valley RR (http://users5.50megs.com/rush2ny/hvrrpage.html)
NARA member#28

[watash]

Russ, welcome to the TrainBoard!

I have been looking for info on that double ended crane to make a model for my layout. Thanks for posting the photo. Is any more info available at the Danbury Museum? Do you know their e-mail address? I wish I could copy the photo and print it out clearly for details, in fact, I wish I could travel, I would go there and measure it myself! :D