SP caboose found in Roseville, CA!

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Take a look at what I found in Roseville this past weekend, it is a gem if you are an old SP fan. Happy rail fanning guys! Link… http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=369288

Adam Pizante

Sacramento, CA

2

There is one also @ Flatonia TX [:)]

3

It looks as though it is being used, shiny rails and all. Sort of forlorn though. I have a photo of an old TRRA caboose in Pacific, MO which has been shoved onto a siding and into some shrubbery.

That’s the way cabooses are treated these days.

4

I’ve always wondered about the curved grabirons on the side panels of cabeese. What were their purpose? Seems like the unsafest safety appliance ever.

RIXFLIX

5

Living in Roseville, I see that all the time. There are a couple locals I believe that it runs on.

6

Rixflix -

I’m thinking that the curved handrails were for use when climbing onto a moving caboose. The curved rails allowed for a continuous secure handhold at the right level as you swung up onto the steps.

A level rail would be too high or too low at some part during the process, and rails at two levels would force you to release your hold in the middle of the process. Either would pose a serious safety issue.

7

Agreed, as my understanding is the same - but then, why not a single vertical grab iron/ handrail ? This may be something best explained by someone who’s actually used them to board a moving caboose . . . [:-^] (see separate thread here on “railroad training videos” at: http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/t/133637.aspx )

  • Paul North.
8

I would think that, if you are trying to grab on while the caboose is moving, you want to allow a bit of both vertical and horizontal movement of the hand. A straight vertical bar might result in some serious pulled shoulders!

9

Let’s see, the train is moving right to left, the brakie grabs that thing with his hopefully greased left had glovve. Gets nearly slammed while rising but quickly grabs the vertical bar with his right hand,hanging on for dear life.

Then what? Release the left hand from the curved bar and pivot to a vertical grab on the end above the steps? And then to the steps or platform?

There’s nothing for the feet in all this and who could rely on the train having enough speed to lift you up to the cabin.

RIX

10

Paul North (the world’s foremost authority, succeeding Corey Feldman), please come in. Over. What were the curved grabs for… train orders?

RIXFLIX

11

I found a picture showing the proper way to get on a moving caboose in an old AAR safety pamphlet I have, “These wheels must turn, 1964 issue.” Unfortunately, it shows the man’s right hand towards the top of the grab iron, above the more curved portion. I imagine the photo was probably taken with the caboose stopped or moving slowly.

Usually, I would guess, the speed of getting on a caboose would be slightly higher than say getting on a freight car during a switching move. Again guessing, that the curve may aid in guiding the hand towards the top of the grab iron before getting a good grasp. A bit more gradual than just grabbing a vertical hold as it goes by. I know I’ve seen it done (and may have some videos witha a clip from the old days showing the rear end crew getting on at a crew change) but it’s been so long I really can’t say for sure how they grabbed that curved iron.

Jeff