Doug Jolley Wrote:
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> One more thought, just to throw a few more ideas
> out...as William has mentioned there are some
> boxes with what would appear are initials on
> them...And the reference in Bill Guilds book would
> lend even more credence to the idea boxes were
> assigned...at least at one time. But.....Jumping
> ahead now...in 1978-79 in Durango there were no
> assigned boxes. It was up to Mechanical Dept
> employees to see that each locomotive had the
> appropriate tools onboard.....just as it is to
> this day. In that light...it would make some sense
> for the boxes to be stored in the open, somewhere
> with easy access for Mech dept employees..rather
> than crews. My thoughts would still be near the
> ashpit or at least in a shed somewhere near where
> the loco was being serviced. Most tool boxes were
> not waterproof, and rusty tools are, at least now,
> taboo. However..the Salida photo certainly dispels
> my opinion on that!
>
> Seems a lot of work to build outriggers on the
> turntable..especially on BOTH sides....when one
> would have sufficed. Or even better...a simple
> shelf somewhere else. The outriggers may indeed
> have had boxes stored on them at times, guess I'm
> still not convinced that the outriggers were built
> for that purpose, though. Their original purpose??
> Puzzles me.
Doug
We may never really know the purpose for the outriggers, but it's fun trying to piece the mystery together. Someone who thought they were creating a better mouse trap designed them and had them installed. Because there is no AFE I believe it was the RH foreman at the time who had them built with materials on hand. I guess it's surprising that when the "big whigs" came to town they weren't removed. I suppose the real purpose of the boxes is also a little blurry as well. All we do know is the outriggers lasted for over a decade and in photos spanning their time in place shows these boxes on the platforms. I'll keep digging and see if anything new turns up. Appreciate your input and knowledge.
William
aka drgwk37
