Railroad Track A S O (anvil shaped object)

[hofferwood]

Well I stopped by my brother's today, to see his new lawn tractor. While we're talking I mention to keep an eye out for an anvil. He says "What about that old R.R. track guy Dad brought home 40 some years ago?"
Heck I'd forgotten all about that. Take it.
So here it is
12" from tip to heel

What would you do??
Thanks
Chuck

 

[kxxr]

I'd put stuff on there I want to beat on and commence beating. First I'd spray paint it chrome gold. Hell yeah I would. Rail steel is measured in pounds per foot I think, with main line being the heaviest and hardest and spur lines the other end of the spectrum. Sometimes you can see a number on the rib of the rail that tells the weight. This one has a barely visible 5 0 on it, can't tell what might be missing.

 

[RivennHewn]

My first anvil. Made it my own damn self!

 

[onemore]

Hmmm that gives me idea I have access to old rails thanks!!!!

 

[Barry Tucker]

I picked this up at a flea market. In the rough:

Cleaned up:

It is 18" long. Regards Barry

 

[5lima30]

Nice anvil! I would love score something like that, plus as a bonus it is a family heirloom!

 

[bad_idea]

i would like to get a chunk of rail for an anvil. i don't use an anvil enough to justify a big one taking up space.

clean it up, paint the base and oil the top half.

 

[ekeller]

Rail is measured in size by Lbs in a 3 foot section.

 

[jamesemery728]

Here's a little one for you.

 

[kxxr]

Rail is measured in size by Lbs in a 3 foot section.

Good point. When I was on the railroad the measurements were "a couple guys can move that", "****, that's heavy", and "we're gonna need a crane". Only the guys with the white helmets and coffee cups used that lbs/yard stuff.

 

[demographic]

Rail is measured in size by Lbs in a 3 foot section.

Indeed, I got some of the UK heavy stuff from the Workington Rail Head Hardening plant years ago (when it was still open) after walking in and asking the first bloke wearing a boilersuit.
His answer was "Aye lad, there's some in't skip".

That was 110Lb per yard.

 

[lilredex]

I picked this up at a flea market.

It is 18" long. Regards Barry

Rough to GEM............really nice work, thanks for posting that.

 

[blueflame6]

Nice items.........Something like I made in the late '70's, now I know I'm not alone.........

 

[Indy_500]

Be careful on the RR tracks, I just got a $577 fine.

 

[pirana]

We have an old beam at work, a W18 x 311 that I want to cut a foot off of to make an anvil out of. Problem is movin the damn thing when I get it home.

 

[kxxr]

Be careful on the RR tracks, I just got a $577 fine.

Trespassing? Who gave you the citation?
I've always wondered about what kind of trouble could be had by wandering near the tracks. I am sure the railroads are pretty sensitive about all the steel that walks off their property.
It's no wonder though, I see nasty old rr spikes all over the place with price tags on them. First time I saw that I thought the seller must be crazy, but have since seen it often enough to realize that there must be buyers. Anyone ever see railroad steel at surplus sales. I know you see rr ties sometimes at the landscapers. Expensive.

 

[jwitt]

Looks like I have the only pink one. Bought at a flea market for 5 bucks, who knows why it was painted pink.

Jim

 

[wornoutoldman]

"Aye lad, there's some in't skip".

That was 110Lb per yard.

?????

 

[Stuart in MN]

?????

"Yes, sir. There are some pieces in the trash container."

 

[Indy_500]

Trespassing? Who gave you the citation?
I've always wondered about what kind of trouble could be had by wandering near the tracks. I am sure the railroads are pretty sensitive about all the steel that walks off their property.
It's no wonder though, I see nasty old rr spikes all over the place with price tags on them. First time I saw that I thought the seller must be crazy, but have since seen it often enough to realize that there must be buyers. Anyone ever see railroad steel at surplus sales. I know you see rr ties sometimes at the landscapers. Expensive.

We were scrapping the junk on the side of the tracks. Only took bent rusted stuff, anything we saw gray paint on we walked the other way. County cop gave it to us, the railroad agency wanted us busted bigtime but instead we just got a fine. Worst part is, we were never caught. 2 Buddies got caught and ratted us out and told the cops we were with them which we weren't. They still have no proof we did it in the first place, since there's no paper trail. I think if i go to court i can get the charges dropped. All I'm saying is, be careful. It may not be worth it, all it takes is one bypasser to write down ur liscense plate #.

 

[Sterff]

You could have gotten higher fines. You were stealing metal off of railroad property.

 

[trackwelder]

We were scrapping the junk on the side of the tracks. Only took bent rusted stuff, anything we saw gray paint on we walked the other way. County cop gave it to us, the railroad agency wanted us busted bigtime but instead we just got a fine. Worst part is, we were never caught. 2 Buddies got caught and ratted us out and told the cops we were with them which we weren't. They still have no proof we did it in the first place, since there's no paper trail. I think if i go to court i can get the charges dropped. All I'm saying is, be careful. It may not be worth it, all it takes is one bypasser to write down ur liscense plate #.

Not real smart to be admiting to stealing the railroad's scrap on a public forum.

We use to be able to lay material out at jobs weeks before actually being scheduled to be there, but those days are gone know. With the amount of new and relay materials stolen lately the railroads will bring charges even for a rusted out 100 year old spike.

 

[Hiball]

Agreed... Not to bright trespassing nor stealing scrap, most iron dealers around here won't take tie plates etc and report to the railroad if anyone tries to turn some in. Believe it or not, it can be viewed as a act of terrorism under the homeland security guidelines. Most recently, 3 guys were convicted and sent to prison for stealing copper code lines in between signals, in this case the iron dealer reported them to the railroad, since it affected the signals and there was a possibility of trains getting together it got serious in a hurry.

 

[byoungblood]

We were scrapping the junk on the side of the tracks. Only took bent rusted stuff, anything we saw gray paint on we walked the other way. County cop gave it to us, the railroad agency wanted us busted bigtime but instead we just got a fine. Worst part is, we were never caught. 2 Buddies got caught and ratted us out and told the cops we were with them which we weren't. They still have no proof we did it in the first place, since there's no paper trail. I think if i go to court i can get the charges dropped. All I'm saying is, be careful. It may not be worth it, all it takes is one bypasser to write down ur liscense plate #.

Their ROW can sometimes extend 40-50' (or more) from the centerline of the tracks. If you're picking up any quantity of metal from around the tracks to sell for scrap, it is still technically theft of their property. They regularly collect old spikes, tie plates, etc., after track work has been done and resell it (or even reuse the tie plates) for scrap afterwards.

Now, if you pick up a random spike to use as some memento or paperweight that's one thing, but collecting stuff to sell for scrap is going to get you into trouble.

 

[Indy_500]

It was 3 piles of spikes. I know it wasn't smart, but we didn't think much of it. We rode around on junk day in our town and picked up old bikes and furniture and appliances, passed a track and picked up a few spikes, threw them in our trailer with all of our junk stuff. We see people walking the tracks all the time. It's just a bad decision I guess. All I'm saying is, be careful. I dont want to see someone on here get caught getting a chunk of I-beam and get fined just so you could use it as an anvil. Even IF you're using it for yourself and not to make money.

 

[Indy_500]

Not real smart to be admiting to stealing the railroad's scrap on a public forum

I just don't want someone making the same mistake I did. It doesn't matter what you use the metal for.

 

[Hiball]

It was 3 piles of spikes. I know it wasn't smart, but we didn't think much of it. We rode around on junk day in our town and picked up old bikes and furniture and appliances, passed a track and picked up a few spikes, threw them in our trailer with all of our junk stuff. We see people walking the tracks all the time. It's just a bad decision I guess. All I'm saying is, be careful. I dont want to see someone on here get caught getting a chunk of I-beam and get fined just so you could use it as an anvil. Even IF you're using it for yourself and not to make money.

Live and learn... At least your passing the Word on. Anyone on Railroad Property is Tresspassing and with everyone being sue happy they take it pretty serious. I cant speak for all Railroads but on my District, Railroad Police are severly undermanned. I report people all the time, Its not a good day when you walk back and find someone who has been hit by a train. Ive been involved with Way too many Crossing accidents and thankfully thru Training and More and More gates being installed the numbers are down.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Off topic, but I read about this freak train accident in the paper this morning:

A Bridgeport, Wis., man died early Saturday after he was thrown from his SUV and hit by a train.

The 29-year-old driver was traveling south on Hwy. 35 north of Ferryville when his Jeep Grand Cherokee went off the road and struck a sign, according to the Crawford County Sheriff's Department.

The vehicle continued south behind the guardrail, spun and rolled down an embankment, coming to rest on its side in weeds 10 to 15 feet from railroad tracks, said Sheriff Dale McCullick.

The driver, whose name was not released Saturday, was apparently ejected and landed on the tracks, where he was struck by a Burlington Northern train. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the county coroner.

 

[ekeller]

Live and learn... At least your passing the Word on. Anyone on Railroad Property is Tresspassing and with everyone being sue happy they take it pretty serious. I cant speak for all Railroads but on my District, Railroad Police are severly undermanned. I report people all the time, Its not a good day when you walk back and find someone who has been hit by a train. Ive been involved with Way too many Crossing accidents and thankfully thru Training and More and More gates being installed the numbers are down.

I have noticed lately that more and more people see the lights/gates come on and they just will not stop. Way too many close calls this month.

 

[lilredex]

You don't need to steal pieces of track. If you live in/near a major city, you can always find a RR or streetcar maintenance yard. They will give you a chunk...........if you ask right. Look for piles of RR ties.

Keep your eye out on garbage days, I have several from that source.

 

[HOFFERWOODS BROTHER]

nobody asked about the tractor hahaha

 

[kruegdr]

I was speaking with a RR cop friend out of Birmingham, AL the other day. For about 6 months, he was the top cop on the RR for busting trespassers.

Anyways, they got wind of some serious scrap theft and set up a bust. His guys set up cops in the locomotive, more at the crossings, and brought in the local SWAT team. The local hoodlums got on the train, and started tossing scrap off before it even stopped at the terminal.

The bust ended up nailing a bunch of scum, especially several with federal warrants for other crimes.

 

[Nova_Guy]

I have one of those home-made anvils also. I got mine at a flea market; I think I gave $5 for it. I was offered to double my money a couple times on the way to the car. I haven't used it much. The pictures of the smoothed and painted one makes me a little jealous.

 

[bobemmerich]

I live pretty close to RR tracks (about 1/10 mi.) owned by Metro-North. Pretty busy line as it runs service from Boston to NYC. At one point you could literally walk across the tracks. Up until about 4 or 5 years ago. Too many people getting hit by trains and damage to the sub stations so they finally put up a fence. If Metro P.D. or Bridgeport or Stratford P.D. find you up there, you will be arrested AND fined, and Metro HAS been known to want prosecution.

 

[bmxr4life87]

Most railroads are federal property and get treated as such. Any crimes commited on / against the railroad are taken very seriously and charges are usualy pushed to the fullest extent of the law

 

[Zeke]

Where did we get started on having a piece of RR track was going to put you in federal prison? All those anvils end to end couldn't make 10 feet and we'd be assuming one person made them all. I'm sure I can go to the scrap yard and get a short piece and a receipt for same. come Monday I just might try. I like the look of those anvils.

To the OP, what should you do? See post #5.

 

[Vinko]

2 Buddies got caught and ratted us out and told the cops we were with them which we weren't.

I gather they aren't your buddies anymore.

 

[Davefr]

Another train track anvil. I can't take credit for the machining - just the final cleanup.

 

[WR250F]

I have to stop reading threads about these things.

I just got a couple of nice vises. Now I have been having moments of anvil envy and been looking all over the net for a good source for a decent hobby anvil.

I can envision how just a couple of 12-18" pieces of scrap track could make for a nice home use anvil.

Federal offense just to obtain a scrap piece of track ? WOW !

It's nice to know every other crime problem in this country has been dealt with to the point we are now using Federal L.E. to ferret out the track scrappers.

How does one legally obtain a couple of pieces of scrap track to make a hobby anvil out of ? Is there some sort of paper trail one must maintain in order to own 30 inches of scrap metal without ending up on death row ?

So help me if I end up in the bar room hilton, it's going to be Davefr's fault, that last pic is like putting a box of warm donuts on the table by the front door at a Jenny Craig convention

 

[blue dog]

I have to stop reading threads about these things.

I just got a couple of nice vises. Now I have been having moments of anvil envy and been looking all over the net for a good source for a decent hobby anvil.

I can envision how just a couple of 12-18" pieces of scrap track could make for a nice home use anvil.

Federal offense just to obtain a scrap piece of track ? WOW !

It's nice to know every other crime problem in this country has been dealt with to the point we are now using Federal L.E. to ferret out the track scrappers.

How does one legally obtain a couple of pieces of scrap track to make a hobby anvil out of ? Is there some sort of paper trail one must maintain in order to own 30 inches of scrap metal without ending up on death row ?

So help me if I end up in the bar room hilton, it's going to be Davefr's fault, that last pic is like putting a box of warm donuts on the table by the front door at a Jenny Craig convention

Most excellent post.
I found a piece of track on cragslist for $20, shhhh, i do not want to go to jail. who would keep my plants and dog alive.