Re: High-tech D&RGW(?) rail retainer
| December 03, 2020 09:51AM |
Tank Smith Wrote:
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> While going through old slides I came across this
> one taken while walking the grade a couple miles
> west of Sublette back in August 1973. Having never
> seem anything like it before, it caught my eye and
> I decided to snap the shutter. It was on a curve,
> but obviously couldn’t replace a real, steel
> retainer. My guess is that it might be the track
> equivalent of doweling a screw in woodwork; the
> spike holes could no longer hold spikes, so
> instead of replacing the tie the section crew
> moved them outward with this hunk of wood. How
> often were things like this done in the old days?
>
Since you found it in '73, have you considered the possibility that it might not be D&RGW work but was done in '70 by one of the volunteers trying to get the line re-opened in a hurry? Perhaps meaning to come back and make it right later but then forgotten in the rush of things?
Ahh, the mysteries of the past ...
Hank
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/03/2020 09:54AM by hank.
-------------------------------------------------------
> While going through old slides I came across this
> one taken while walking the grade a couple miles
> west of Sublette back in August 1973. Having never
> seem anything like it before, it caught my eye and
> I decided to snap the shutter. It was on a curve,
> but obviously couldn’t replace a real, steel
> retainer. My guess is that it might be the track
> equivalent of doweling a screw in woodwork; the
> spike holes could no longer hold spikes, so
> instead of replacing the tie the section crew
> moved them outward with this hunk of wood. How
> often were things like this done in the old days?
>
Since you found it in '73, have you considered the possibility that it might not be D&RGW work but was done in '70 by one of the volunteers trying to get the line re-opened in a hurry? Perhaps meaning to come back and make it right later but then forgotten in the rush of things?
Ahh, the mysteries of the past ...
Hank
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/03/2020 09:54AM by hank.
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488 stops for water at Los Pinos tank on closing day Oct. 1979. Photo courtesy Don Richter
The NGDF was started by Don Richter and is currently operated in his memory by Nathan Holmes and others. Others who have contributed to the upkeep of this board are (in no particular order): Charles McCandless, Everett Lueck, Ted Wilton, Cole Adams, James Bane, John Moellmer, Jon Bentz, Linn Moedinger, lloyd lehrer, Rod Jensen, John Craft, Steven Forney, Herb Kelsey, Bill Ramaley, Russ Sperry (El Russo Loco), Josh McNeal, John West, Jim Armstrong, Bob Bergstrom, Greg Scholl, Blake Forbes Doug van Veelen and Mark Fuller.