Does anyone know where I can find torpedoes for sale?
Last I heard there is a surplus yard in Tacoma or Harbor Island that has some.
You will need to have the Feds insure the warheads are, in fact, inert.
They are BIG, and substantially heavier than you would imagine.
Good luck!
Missmee, are you referring to the torpedos that railroad workers placed on the tracks as a warning? They would explode with a loud bang when a train wheel passed over them, alerting the crew that there was a problem up the line.
What does this have to do with large scale or garden RR? [#dots]
I did wonder what the torpedoes might be, and expected one or two humerous remarks. [:D]
I guess Eric is most likely on the right track (pun intended [;)].
On older rolling stock over here the air ventilators on wagons and passenger cars were often described as torpedo type by the way.
Railroads use torpedoes as a last resort to tell an engineer to stop the train immediately.
They are placed on the rail head. They admit a load bang, bright flash, and a lot of smoke when run over the first car.
Example, one is placed on both rail heads. Then again about 100 feet ahead. Then another one 100 feet ahead on the engineer’s side.
When hit the train must stop immediately and must get clearance to move again. They must report how many they set off.
Do they have similar safety items in Great Britain?
I had a laugh again on what differently we call items.
Torch = flashlight
Boot = trunk of a car.
Bonnet = Hood of a car.
When I visited Bournemouth. I was talking to a girl about my visit to London.
She was telling me I had to Visit the Sky Wheel on the (Tems?) river.
After I figured out what she was describing. I said, "OH we call them Farris wheels.
She responded, “So do we.”
Yes -we have them! They are called “Detonators” here and they are always placed in a row of three on the (UK) drivers side. They can be set off with a brick dropped from about 3 metres in the air (yes I was that experimental child…)
There are no options listed for the driver when he runs over one -EMERGENCY STOP.
Before I knew that torpedoes were naval munitions, I knew them as an open topped sports car.
regards
ralph
lol not only have you all told this person who created there forum account to make this post where to buy torpedoes you have also told them exactly how to use them to get a train to stop
Knock it off guys this is the Garden RR forum [:(!]
Mr Ash you need to take a pill and relax[:)]
I’m sorry I don’t see what explosive devices used to get trains to do an emergency stop has anything to do with Model Railroading and I don’t understand why any of you are being so open as to tell this person who regestered just to make this post where to get some and how to use them to stop a train [#dots]
Most US railroads seem to have done away with the use of torpedoes. On some of the newer power, especially those with more sound insulation, there have been cases where the crews did not hear the detonation of torpedoes. I haven’t seen one at work for a few years, the last were on an engine that was on a run thru train from a different railroad.
To set the record straight. Most modern rule books required a train to slow down to restricted speed for two miles. They did not have to stop unless flagged or some other obstruction was encountered. The last GCOR rule required 4 torpedoes, two on each rail and staggered about 50 feet apart. It didn’t matter if only one or all 4 detonated, it was still a signal to reduce speed and watch for a flagman/obstruction.
Some older rule books did have a requirement to stop if only one torpedo was detonated. If two went off, slow down to restricted speed for the required distance.
One of the prototype practices that would be hard to simulate.
Jeff
Well Missimee hasn’t replied, so far, to tell us what type “of torpedo” is being sought.
It will be interesting to see what the anwer is.
Apart from the naval torpedo mentioned, which I am sure is well guarded anyway in the dockyard, no one has actually said where any type, model or real, can be got.
Im out of it today [#dots]
Even if it doesn’t have that much to do with garden trains I’ve found this quite interesting. Learning about something you’ve never heard of in the railroad interesting is a good thing.
Jack
I couldn’t agree more Jack. Living this side of the pond I am always keen to learn about 1:1 US railroad practice. As as my fellow countryman Ralph has explained about our practices you now now something about our ways. [swg]
I couldn’t agree more. I love learning about new stuff. I mean really now, if someone wanted info on buying torpedos for evil purposes, do you really think they’d go to a model railroad forum? I never knew torpedos were used on real railroads. Were they really military torpedos, or something just called torpedos?
Jeff has the right explaination of the use of railroad torpedoes.
On Class 1 railroads, at least, the book of Operating Rules sets forth the use of torpedoes.
Torpedoes and fusees are covered under Rule 11. You will find that most, if not all Class 1 railroad’s Operating Rules use the same Rule number for the same subject. Thus, Rule 11 in any railroad’s Operating Rules will cover torpedoes and fusees.
Operating Rules for the C&O/B&O effective April 27, 1969 Rule 11 is titled Fusees and Torpedoes. Under Rule 11 is listed 11-A, it states “The explosion of two torpedoes is a signal to be on the alert for an obstruction or flagman. The explosion of one torpedo will indicate the same as two, but the use of two is required.” “Torpedoes must not be placed at stations or on public crossings.”
Further, by December 1, 1987 the Norfolk & Western’s Operating Rules does not address torpedoes under Rule 11. The N&W Rule 11 addresses only Fusees.
From the N&W Operating Rules that would indicate that they no longer used torpedoes.
This is probably way more information than most folks want or need. Hope Mr. Ash doesn’t waste his time reading this!
A RR torpedo, as most must have determined by now, was/is a small explosive devise placed on the rail head and held in place by usually lead straps that were bent around the rail head. The size of a torpedo, as I remember, was a little smaller than your fist. They were usually square in shape with the two attaching lead straps.
As kids, we use to go out to the several locations on the B&O where torpedos were regularly used and gather up the lead straps. We melted them down to make sinkers for fishing.
JD
Before i retired i worked for the timken company in the bearing division we would get these co2 cylinders about four inches long they would fit into the bearing housing. When the bearing would get hot the lead in the end of the cylinder would melt and emit white smoke to let the train crew know that there was a problem with the bearings. But today i do not belive they are no longer used becaused they do not use a caboose at the end of the trains. No caboose no crews.
Model railroad use: get some old cap gun caps and place one on the track, train comes along and BANG! you have a GRR torpedo!
OK, just in case I was wrong, and what missmee really wanted from this grizzled group of railroad nuts (and part-time weapons purveyors) was a live naval torpedo, I’ll indulge him (or her). You can easily obtain a nuclear torpedo from the Acme Mail Order Torpedo Works, 6954 Main St., Seattle, Washington 98103. They’ll accept a cashiers check or money order drawn on any Nigerian bank. [:)]