These photos were taken about 1976 or 77 at the B&M hump yard in Mechanicville, NY. They show a new retarder built outside the track being put into place by the 150 ton wrecker and a MOW American crane. This is the intermediate retarder that is being installed. There was one master, 3 intermediates and 6 group retarders. The yard no longer exists.
Great photos Gil. Did those retarders wear out over time? I watch those at work in my DVD's of FF railroad action and I've wondered about that. Charlie
The retarders have what are called shoe beams. You can see these in the first photo on both sides of the rails. Each beam is about 6 feet long. The beams have shoes which rub against the wheels as they pass through and these shoes have to be replaced as they wear down. Usually the shoes are replaced once or twice. There is some adjustment possible as the shoes wear but after a few years the entire retarder is replaced as the working parts wear. Each railroad has their own method and some replace in place while others build new. This retarder is a General Railway Signal electric type. It has one electric motor which operates a large bar running the length of the retarder. This operates cross rods which moves the shoe beams. Union Switch & Signal has a pneumatic type which has a series of air pistons on each side that operate the shoe beams.
