Ramapo Switch Stand

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

Can anyone tell me when the Ramapo-type switch stands were first introduced (roughly speaking.) Were they around in the the 1920s?

Also, does any manufacturer (other than NJ International, where they are perpetually out of stock) make an HO scale model of the Ramapo?

Thanks in advance.

Greg Smith

2

Well Ramapo the company (RACOR: Ramapo-Ajax Corporation) goes back to the 1890’s I guess. Not sure when the particular type of switch stand you’re talking about was made. I’m pretty they’re shown in the video of the 1946 Great Northern training film I have, they don’t seem as I recall to be treating them as something new.

3

I am trying to discover the same information, and probably for the same reason: NJ International gives no information about prototype.

I found a mention of a patent for the Ramapo dated 1925 in my web search. If you found out more, I would be interested.

Crews

4

I would think that since Ramapo is/was the company, the appearance of the switch stand would have changed over the years. So I don’t know if what was made in the past resembles the commercial models available.

Anyhow, I did find a discussion of Ramapo switch stands on page 49 of something called Proceedings of the Annual Convention of the Roadmasters’ and Maintenance of Way Association.

See:

http://books.google.com/books?id=lcoEAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA49&dq=ramapo+switch+stand

According to the information found in the section called “about this book”, the published date was 1892.