Railroading Education
Aug 1, 2019 15:31:05 #
In getting photos of Big Boy in Wyoming I noticed that in one photo there was an unexpected object next to the tracks - an inverted broom resting in a bit larger metal pipe. See photo.
Having never seen this before I was curious as to why it was there. Why would a train have need of a broom...a rather small one at that?
Turns out the train doesn't...but the switch just to the left of the broom does, especially in the winter. This broom likely has a metal spike on the other end (so I'm told) to help break up ice, while the broom is used to sweep snow out of the switch.
Once again 4014 helped me learn something new today.
Having never seen this before I was curious as to why it was there. Why would a train have need of a broom...a rather small one at that?
Turns out the train doesn't...but the switch just to the left of the broom does, especially in the winter. This broom likely has a metal spike on the other end (so I'm told) to help break up ice, while the broom is used to sweep snow out of the switch.
Once again 4014 helped me learn something new today.
Aug 1, 2019 15:50:38 #
Aug 1, 2019 19:25:41 #
fredpnm wrote:
In getting photos of Big Boy in Wyoming I noticed ... (show quote)
Thank you for that interesting bit of education!
Aug 2, 2019 05:51:06 #
Aug 2, 2019 07:46:20 #
Aug 2, 2019 07:59:23 #
Aug 2, 2019 11:31:40 #
dougbev3
Loc: Pueblo, Colorado
They still have brooms on the engines, but sometimes those get lost. So to insure that there is a broom at the switch, the RR placed brooms at the switches. In the winter sometimes two brooms are better than one.
Aug 8, 2019 06:36:22 #
Hamltnblue
Loc: Springfield PA
For 40 bucks you can own one too:
https://www.aldonco.com/store/p/347-Switch-Broom.aspx
https://www.aldonco.com/store/p/347-Switch-Broom.aspx
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