Re: Railroader at Work

The best way to get a brake club is to buy the best baseball bat and cut it to the D&RGW standard plans (9/17/1946) which I will try to detail:
The total club is 36”. The handle end is a 1-15/16/1-13/16 oval ball. At 1-1/4” it is a 1-1/4”/1-1/8”oval for the next 4-3/4” to the 1 foot further cross-section of 1-3/8”/1-5/8” oval. In the next 7 inches it changes to 1-7/8” by 1-5/8” rectangle, which changed in the next 7” to 1-7/16” x 1-9/16” rectangle. The final 4 inches took it to the end at 1” by 1-3/8” rectangle.

The specification is where it really gets to be fun:
Brake Club be Grade A A W made of thoroughly seasoned, straight-grained, bastard cut, vertical grain hickory having not less than 9 nor more than 20 annual rings, not less than 8 % nor more than 15% moisture, and having a smooth wax finish.

Club must be free from Knots, bird pecks, iron streaks, checks, brashness, worm holes, cross grain, dip grain, warps, and twists. Then it gives the definitions of all those exception.
Branding: The Railroad Company’s initials and the Manufacturer’s band must be burned or stamped on the hand grasp end of all clubs by the Manufacturer Litters used to be not less than t1/4” in height.

Also Check the McMaster Catalogue. All brakeman working any ng train should have one in his hand anytime they are in movement. They cannot do their job without this tool.