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Wheel greaser? (WTHIT?)
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[quote]QUOTE: <i>Originally posted by mudchicken</i> <br /><br />It's called a flange lubricator and they have been around for 50 years. Cuts down friction on the gage corner of the ball of curve rail (prevents wear, longer rail life).....Rail grease is now also applied by certain hi-rail trucks and a few specially equipped locomotives. (can't print here the other nickname railroaders have for them) <br /> <br />The mat helps minimize excess grease from getting into the ballast and fouling it. From the sounds of it, somebody does not know how to maintain the flange lubricator and it is set to pump out too much grease. The grease is to be placed on the side of the ball of the rail (not on top) and the flange of the railcar wheels helps spread and carry the grease along the curve for quite a distance. <br /> <br />Portec or RailsCo? <br />[/quote] <br /> <br />I didn't know enough to look for a brand name, the only visible parts were like some 1 1/2" rubber hose , a 1" threaded pipe Tee, and some hose fittings. .. Other than that, all that was visible was the gobs of grease, the aluminum shed the hoses ran into, and the (I'm guessing) pneumatic control lines. All the main componentry was either in the shed or under the grease gobbs. <br /> <br />SO, I guess it is the weight of the train that triggers the greaser? <br /> <br />You say it is done to extend the life of rail on curves,.. would this be more likely to be depoloyed if adjacent turns are especially tight radius? I'm just trying to rationalize why I've not seen these things near ALL curves, suspecting there must be something unique about the nearest curve 1/8 mile away.
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