Re: Greer spike puller mysteries

Perhaps the the puller had a tapered opening in between the two prongs that bit the spike. IE after the second bite you would just push the puller in closer to the spike, and it would wedge in between the two prongs.

Ron Keagle wrote.
"Another mystery is how the puller, which is said to rest its fulcrum upon the rail base, would accommodate the slope of the rail base. The puller fulcrum could be made to match that slope, but then it would only work from one side of the spike."

It was said before that the puller was F shaped. That being said, then it should only pull from one side of the spike anyway. Also Greer could have made two pullers, one to pull from the right and one from the left side of the spike.

Here is a picture of the second greer spike I got.This one is not the birthday gift. This one put up a fight with the puller(at least initially). The spike is bent to its right(or toward the puller, left side of pic) and you can see where the puller slipped of the top head, and you can also see the bite on the lower head. There is no evidence of a third bite. Perhaps after the second bite was made the spike slipped right out. This happens alot when pulling normal spikes today. Usually after you pry it about half way, you can yank on the puller and it will come out.


Here's the whole thing.


And just for fun here is a bunch being used on the short section of rail on the other side of the turntable at the Orange Empire RR Museum. Opposite the lead in track.