Is there a rhyme, reason, or safety rule concerning the use of drop grab irons vs. straight ones? Does it vary from road to road? Is it a question of personal shop preference? Is it a question of using whatever was handy? Every photo (especially from the steam era) seems to show cars following a different rule…
Thanks for your thoughts.
G.J.
The lower grabirons, especially, are used for feet as well as hands. A foot could slip off the end of a straight grabiron.
(In by brakeman days, I’d almost always climb up to the grabiron for a ride, ratner than stay in the stirrup, just because it was more comfortable for me.)
I’m waiting to see what brother Ed has to say on the subject.