Railroad Tools Big & Small

[AntiqueBen]

Here are a few Railroad manuals. The Railway Train Operations is from the Department Of The US Army. The smaller one is the Constitution for the Brotherhood of Railway & Steamship Clerks, Freight Handlers, Express & Station Employees. I've not read these through completely yet, but it has a lot of cool information, especially the Railway Train Operations from the Army.

 

[bobg03]

Fascinating thread, thank you.

I'm pretty sure that picture of the Bridges on the B&A are still in service today near Worcester MA. If my memory is correct there were at least 2, maybe 3. I will state for sure tho that walking over them in the winter to tie or release handbrakes or make a cut in the cars was very treacherous, that's why spiked winter boots were required.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Fascinating thread, thank you.

I'm pretty sure that picture of the Bridges on the B&A are still in service today near Worcester MA. If my memory is correct there were at least 2, maybe 3. I will state for sure tho that walking over them in the winter to tie or release handbrakes or make a cut in the cars was very treacherous, that's why spiked winter boots were required.

Hearing your story about needing spiked boots to navigate those bridges in the winter is something most people don't think about or realize. With all the cool stuff the Railroad has to offer also comes the many dangerous situations that only Railroad workers truly know about.

 

[bobg03]

Hearing your story about needing spiked boots to navigate those bridges in the winter is something most people don't think about or realize. With all the cool stuff the Railroad has to offer also comes the many dangerous situations that only Railroad workers truly know about.

I was friends with a couple of guys that were track foreman and never was aware of the amount of tools they used to get that ribbon rail straight and level along with the jointed rail.
I did work with each of them a few times as a conductor on some work trains where ties were unloaded, or ballast was dropped and even a rail train where they unloaded the rail and i directed the engineer according to their instructions whilst dropping things for the gangs to work on in the near future, dropping the continuous rail that would be welded to become ribbon rail was a truly interesting part of my job.

 

[AntiqueBen]

I was friends with a couple of guys that were track foreman and never was aware of the amount of tools they used to get that ribbon rail straight and level along with the jointed rail.
I did work with each of them a few times as a conductor on some work trains where ties were unloaded, or ballast was dropped and even a rail train where they unloaded the rail and i directed the engineer according to their instructions whilst dropping things for the gangs to work on in the near future, dropping the continuous rail that would be welded to become ribbon rail was a truly interesting part of my job.

Cool story bobg03. Looks like ribbon rail or the continuous welded rail (CWR) came about in the 1890's-1900. I suppose before that various brackets with nuts & bolts is how track was joined together. It's an interesting history to see how the Railroads methods changed as technology pushed forward over time.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Here's a few RR items I have around. I've got quite a few bigger jacks but didn't pull them out. The spike hammer and pulling bar get used on occasion along with the jack. I just picked up the Oliver track gauge at a swap meet today so it was a good time to grab some pix. Ed.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Here's a few RR items I have around. I've got quite a few bigger jacks but didn't pull them out. The spike hammer and pulling bar get used on occasion along with the jack. I just picked up the Oliver track gauge at a swap meet today so it was a good time to grab some pix. Ed.

Awesome Railroad tools. Personally I like that big spike puller

 

[AntiqueBen]

Here's a few old pics of some Railroad workers. It's always fun to zoom in on these old pics to see what tools they were using.

A hard days work frozen in time...

 

[AreBeeBee]

Two 12-inch railroad-stamped monkey wrenches: the top one is marked "M&StPRR" for the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, which operated under that name from 1867 to 1874.

The lower wrench is from the Milwaukee & St. Paul's successor: the Chicago, Milwaukee, & St. Paul, which operated 1874 to 1928. (Stamping isn't as clear as on the first.)

The wrenches were made by A.G. Coes (top) and Whitman & Barnes (lower).

The two railroads were ancestors of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad, better known as the Milwaukee Road, which under various names operated from 1847 to 1986.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Two 12-inch railroad-stamped monkey wrenches: the top one is marked "M&StPRR" for the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, which operated under that name from 1867 to 1874.

The lower wrench is from the Milwaukee & St. Paul's successor: the Chicago, Milwaukee, & St. Paul, which operated 1874 to 1928. (Stamping isn't as clear as on the first.)

The wrenches were made by A.G. Coes (top) and Whitman & Barnes (lower).

The two railroads were ancestors of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad, better known as the Milwaukee Road, which under various names operated from 1847 to 1986.

Nice examples in great condition. I always like hearing the history too.

 

[Farmall450]

I have a 15 ton Simplex 'railroad jack'. Not sure if it was actually used by a RR or not. I also have an old monkey wrench with a RR stamped on it, but it's buried in a box somewhere, and I don't remember what RR it is from. Cool old catalog pics!

Do you have a round handle? I'd like to find an original handle to copy for this one (just got it at the Sycamore Steam Show). I've always wanted one, and this seems to be an older design (only a single handle location, unlike the $2150 new ones).

 

[AntiqueBen]

Do you have a round handle? I'd like to find an original handle to copy for this one (just got it at the Sycamore Steam Show). I've always wanted one, and this seems to be an older design (only a single handle location, unlike the $2150 new ones).

Now that's a real jack!

 

[Farmall450]

Now that's a real jack!

I wonder if it's before/after this No. 29. As far as I can tell it is a No 15 - so I would assume before? Anyone know the circa?

I figured $70 was too fair to even try and negotiate down.

 

[Farmall450]

It appears the big number is the model - not just the tonnage (mine might be a bit confusing since they happen to be the same).



The P/N between the "rib" and the circle seem consistent on mine and this internet one.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Here's my Prentiss Vice with 6" smooth jaws. It came from the Railyard here in Cincinnati. It's my favorite vice to use in the shop. Weighs well over 200lbs.

 

[ararat]

Here's my Prentiss Vice with 6" smooth jaws. It came from the Railyard here in Cincinnati. It's my favorite vice to use in the shop. Weighs well over 200lbs.

Do you have the stand bolted to the floor? That's an awesome vise.

 

[AntiqueBen]

Do you have the stand bolted to the floor? That's an awesome vise.

Right now it's on a reinforced metal stand with 200lbs of counter weight on the back of the bottom shelf. I would like to have a proper railroad stand for it, but those are huge & weigh a ton.

 

[four.cycle]

1905 Baker & Hamilton Hardware catalog Underwood ad pp 95

1909 Dunham Carrigan & Hayden Hardware Co. catalog railroad pp 38

1912 Marshall Wells & Co. Hardware catalog pp 541

1928 Marshall Wells Hardware catalog Buda RAILROAD ad pp 414

1928 Marshall Wells Hardware catalog RAILROAD ad pp 415

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Here are a few more RR related items. A tall spout thumb pump oiler marked SPCO and an adjustable wrench marked SPTCO/SSWRY. {Southern Pacific Transport Co. / St Louis Southwestern Railway} aka the cotton belt route. Also a couple jacks that I haven't gotten around to messing with yet. Simplex, Duff, and one I haven't worked to identify yet. I think I can get them all working once I get around to it.

Also throwing in a couple pics of a pair of 35 ton ratchet handle screw jacks by Norton. Technically they are bridge jacks but I figure they would be useful on trestles as well as for railcar work. Ed.

 

[four.cycle]

Question for the railroad aficionados -
any idea who this manufacturer might be?

P.G. & S. Co.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

I am in the same boat. Who is NYC RR?

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

And my Simplex had to make a show. We have used this quit a bit.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

And then Jim Crow had to be in this thread. 40 to 80 lb and something to do with Gibraltar.

 

[Wrench97]

I am in the same boat. Who is NYC RR?

New York Central RR merged with PRR to become Penn Central.

 

[four.cycle]

@Mike'smeatshop
Your Jim Crow units were manufactured by Gibraltar Equipment & Mfg. Co., Alton, IL

(* not to be confused with that other "Gemco": Garage Equipment Mfg. Co., Milwaukee, WI *)

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

@Mike'smeatshop
Your Jim Crow units were manufactured by Gibraltar Equipment & Mfg. Co., Alton, IL

(* not to be confused with that other "Gemco": Garage Equipment Mfg. Co., Milwaukee, WI *)

Thanks, 4cy. I will forever regard it as a Miners Helper. I lost track of my information. Pun intended.

 

[RTM]

P.G. & S. Co.

Besides Railroad, what is the context?

Pittsburgh Gage & Supply?

Electrical Mining

books.google.com

 

[four.cycle]

I will forever regard it as a Miners Helper.

^ Makes perfect sense. Everything I was able to dig up on the company came from mining trade journals.

Pittsburgh Gage & Supply?

Your resourcefulness never ceases to amaze me. The way the logo is forged on the unit in the image is a dead-on match to a JIm Crow I've been puzzling over - posted above in post #58
1909 Dunham Carrigan & Hayden Hardware Co. catalog railroad pp 38 - lower left - "Jim Crow"

The as-yet-unanswered question remains: how did it come to being called a "Jim Crow"? The "Wikipedia" entry offers no clue as to etymology.

@RTM -
post #58
1928 Marshall Wells Hardware catalog Buda RAILROAD ad pp 414
center right: "R & T Samson" rail bender
lower left: "Emerson Tee Rail Bender"

Those are the other two puzzles on those pages. the "Emerson" unit appears to have "PATENTED" marked on it. Not having any luck trying to figure out the "who" on either of those widgets.

Pretty much given up on that "A.T. Co." (the pincers and tongs)

I think you've nailed it on the Jim Crow:
Pittsburgh / Pittsburgh Gage & Supply Co., 2996 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15201 / railroad and mining tools and equipment /
and they were indeed in the business of railroad and mining equipment (along with scales, oil filters, and washing machines.... go figure!)

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

^ Makes perfect sense. Everything I was able to dig up on the company came from mining trade journals.



Your resourcefulness never ceases to amaze me. The way the logo is forged on the unit in the image is a dead-on match that on a JIm Crow I've been puzzling over - posted above in post #58
1909 Dunham Carrigan & Hayden Hardware Co. catalog railroad pp 38 - lower left - "Jim Crow"

The as-yet-unanswered question remains: how did it come to being called a "Jim Crow"?

Uhm don't shaggy. Where is Lugz?

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

^ Makes perfect sense. Everything I was able to dig up on the company came from mining trade journals.



Your resourcefulness never ceases to amaze me. The way the logo is forged on the unit in the image is a dead-on match that on a JIm Crow I've been puzzling over - posted above in post #58
1909 Dunham Carrigan & Hayden Hardware Co. catalog railroad pp 38 - lower left - "Jim Crow"

The as-yet-unanswered question remains: how did it come to being called a "Jim Crow"?

But 40 and 80lb rails is awfully heavy for mining rails.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The as-yet-unanswered question remains: how did it come to being called a "Jim Crow"?

Where is Lugz?

Not sure if I am being beckoned as the grandson of a former Chestnut Ridge Railroad track gang foreman or a wordsmith, but in either case, I don't know the answer to the question. If I had to make an informed speculation, I would surmise that it may have had something to do with the history of segregation laws following Plessy v. Ferguson, which if I am not mistaken, were first applied to railway cars, and the slang term - derived from blackface minstrel shows, first being used by conductors and crews in and around the railway business. That seems too relevant to not have something to do with it.

EDIT: On the other hand, I have seen a number of historical references where it is hyphenated, and in lower case, like this - "jim-crow" - which diminishes the allusion to segregation, and tends to imply the "jim" part almost as a prefix for the "crow" part, which further tends to make an allusion, for me, anyway, to the long pry bar.

 

[thehorse13]

Railroading runs in the blood. Here is a shadow box with the retirement certificate of my great grandfather. He was a track man for the Erie railroad. This is his lock and his track wrench as well. I have Shovels, lanterns, track bars, watering cans and a bunch of other stuff all marked with the railroad logo.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

Not sure if I am being beckoned as the grandson of a former Chestnut Ridge Railroad track gang foreman or a wordsmith, but in either case, I don't know the answer to the question. If I had to make an informed speculation, I would surmise that it may have had something to do with the history of segregation laws following Plessy v. Ferguson, which if I am not mistaken, were first applied to railway cars, and the slang term - derived from blackface minstrel shows, first being used by conductors and crews in and around the railway business. That seems too relevant to not have something to do with it.

EDIT: On the other hand, I have seen a number of historical references where it is hyphenated, and in lower case, like this - "jim-crow" - which diminishes the allusion to segregation, and tends to imply the "jim" part almost as a prefix for the "crow" part, which further tends to make an allusion, for me, anyway, to the long pry bar.

I like your second hypothesis. We will go with that.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I like your second hypothesis. We will go with that.

It's still a little fuzzy, but there's enough to suggest it may have had little or possibly nothing to do with the segregation term.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

It's still a little fuzzy, but there's enough to suggest it may have had little or possibly nothing to do with the segregation term.

I see what you're saying. Jim Crow RR cars. But I don't believe the tool is affiliated with Jim Crow.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I don't believe the tool is affiliated with Jim Crow.

I gathered that when you said you liked my second theory. That's why I posted the definition excerpts. They support that theory.

 

[four.cycle]

^ I ran a search for earlier "Jim Crow patent" and came up with a device used to bend the metal rails which supported the backs of seats on wagons.
I just tried it again and come up with patent 819161 issued to one Benjamin Newman of Gateshead, England on May 6 1906, well after "Jim Crow" laws went into effect in 1865, for "Improvements in or relating to Jim-Crows and similar appliances". Note the - and the plurality of crows, repeated again just below.
I'm no lexicographer, but I'm more inclined to lean toward "jimmy" (e.g. prying on something.)

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Well, that makes three of us then.

 

[RTM]

928 Marshall Wells Hardware catalog Buda RAILROAD ad pp 414
center right: "R & T Samson" rail bender
lower left: "Emerson Tee Rail Bender"

Richardson and Tallman, shelbyville, Illinois

Industrial Directory and Shippers' Guide

books.google.com

George D Emerson patents for track bending devices

US108123A - Improvement in apparatus for bending railroad-rails - Google Patents

US96684A - Improved device for bending railroad-rails - Google Patents

Other patents

Google Patents

Search and read the full text of patents from around the world with Google Patents, and find prior art in our index of non-patent literature.

patents.google.com

US116576A - Improvement in water-meters - Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US101846A/

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

Richardson and Tallman, shelbyville, Illinois

Industrial Directory and Shippers' Guide

books.google.com

George D Emerson patents for track bending devices

US108123A - Improvement in apparatus for bending railroad-rails - Google Patents

US96684A - Improved device for bending railroad-rails - Google Patents

Other patents

Google Patents

Search and read the full text of patents from around the world with Google Patents, and find prior art in our index of non-patent literature.

patents.google.com

US116576A - Improvement in water-meters - Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US101846A/

Mine is not near as complex as those patent models. Come on RTM you can find it.