I had posted this in the prototype section but figured it might belong here.
Yesterday when I was taking pics of this B30-7 I noticed something that I never had before.
If you see in this pic there are 2 spare knuckles on the back of this loco and also on the SD20-2 next to it.
Actually I didn’t even notice it until I was cleaning up the pics.
How common is this? I haven’t seen this on any model Loco’s I have.
I personally haven’t seen this, but have added them to a model I detailed a while ago (based upong a photo). Details West makes the parts in HO scale.
Maybe if these parts were NOT made in some hodink foreign country they might be a little more reliable. I wonder how long before you see spare wheels hanging on the hood, Still might have to call AAA though.
I have read comments on the Trains magazine forums indicating that all locomotives carry spare knuckles, usually somewhere inside and not visible.
That’s probably why no models incorporate spare knuckles carried out in the open.
Why does this particular railroad carry them externally ?
most of our cabooses used to have a couple of spare knuckles on them. an “E” and an “F”. they were in the supply locker along with spare fussees, oil lamps and other such stuff. road engines usually had a couple also. if you ever had to carry one of these things 50 car lengths, you would understand why you wanted a spare at both ends of the train.
we used to put one in an old conductor’s grip when he wasn’t looking and then laugh when he tried to pick it up.
grizlump
Broken knuckles are a common part of railroading, even before the “hodink” countries came into play. [D)][D)][:-^]
It was just a joke, maybe with a little sarcasm. I can understand how ramming a 90ton engine into a 5000 ton stationary object could be a tad harsh on a small coupler, even when looking at our mini world with cars measured in ounces.
Kato did have them molded on the HO SD70MACS, but hanging knuckles on the front or end sills is fairly common or even on the trucks. Nothing like having a broken knuckle when you dont have any spares…
I’ve been a model railroader since 1969 and this is the first I’ve heard of the vulnerability of coupler knuckles and the apparently common practice of carrying spares. I’ll add it to the long and growing list of stuff forum participants have taught me.
Thanks,
Slightly [#offtopic], but, I think, pertinent.
When I was railfanning the last of the steam in the Northeast, it was common to see rerailing frogs (and a poling pole) hanging from hooks on the tender frame. I know that poling has been outlawed, but do modern locos ever carry those big triangular steel pyramids?
One of the first railfanning ‘unusual experiences’ I remember in some detail was watching a West Shore crew deal with a broken knuckle. I was a Boy Scout at the time.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
What is poling? I had never heard that term before.
That could be what’s called a “hard coupling incident” according to real RR vernacular according to the Guide at Steamtown NHP.
Have you ever noticed the semi-circular divots in the corners of the frames on steam era lokes and cars? What poling is is when you have a cut of cars on an ajacent track, you take a poling pole, line it up with the divots on the car and locomotive, and shove the car foward. Since these poles are made of wood, they tended to shatter, and the process was eventually banned.
Poling is old usage from the steam days of a pole positioned between the engine and a RR car on a track beside the engine’s track to push it along without the engine having to go down the same track the RR car is on. On the fronts and backs of steam engines and teh fronts and sides of old RR cars can be seen a round dimple. The pole would be placed into the dimples, and the RR car pushed along the siding. It was outlawed many years ago as it was dangerous, the poles would break, counductors would be injured etc.
Thank you nik n and galaxy. That was a good explanation. It does sound dangerous and efficient, but I definitely see why it was banned.
Again thanks.
Tom
My mistake, sorry.