Flange Lubricators

[Anonymous]

I was watching a Pentrex Video, "Santa Fe's New Mexico Mainline Vol II - The Gallup Subdivision" (1994) and they were talking about Flange Lubricators. Can someone tell me something about this? Is this just for the engine wheels or does every car get a dose of juice? Is this still done today?

Larry

[Jackflash]

Larry, I dont know how many differnt types
of lubricators there are so I can only speak
about the one I know exist at a power plant I
go into, it is a metal box sunk into the ground
next to the tracks with a feed hose comming up
and feeding both rails, there is a ratchet/plunger
that the wheels hit and "pump" grease up out of the box and onto the insides of both rails, with
this one all wheels get a little grease,
by the way, some locomotives have a flange lubricator built in, it will apply a lubricant
to the flanges of the locomotive wheels. jackflash

[Anonymous]

On the BNSF, we use solid "stick," type lubricators on the locos. I think that it is graphite.
Ken

[Modelcar]

...I understand flange lubricators have been around for years but can someone address the situation when they are in use...what guarantees none of this lubricant will find it's way up on the crown of the rail [with the rotating wheels], causing all kinds of problems for traction...?

QM

[wabash1]

the grease or lubricator does find its way up on the crown. on the ns the greasers shoot grease up on the wheels and each wheel gets a little as you make your way down the tracks it keeps spreading itself on with the movement. the problems are not as bad as you think. the sanders on the engine will come on and you can sand. what sand you use will be covered by the grease when the train keeps moving along .as far as flange lubricators on engines i dont think our even work anymore.