Dug near an old rail line when I was looking for civil war artifacts.
The orange pinpointer is about 9 or 10 inches long so that should give you an idea of the size. I left it in the woods as it was too heavy to carry out.
Sunday morning....Just stumbled into this Thread..
Surprised that it has lasted over 2 months, and no ID??
Surely, one of our 12'' to 12'' Railroaders can identify it??
They look "kinda-sorta" like the 19th Century switch stand parts I've seen in a local rail museum. The museum's parts were a bit more complete though, it looks like what you found were fragments.
I'd suspect if the pieces you found were too heavy to carry out of the woods the guys who tore up that rail line decades ago probably thought the same thing!
Or...it may not be railroad related: https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Wedge_of_Aiud
Might part of track maintenance tools too.
cx500Might part of track maintenance tools too.
At first glance, I thought it might be a part of one of these: https://rrtools.com/product/badger-railcar-mover/
I had considered that might be a possibility, but ultimately decided it was unlikely to be the answer. I have been known to be wrong though.......
I keep coming back to its being some kind of queen-post iron.
That's a "clevis".
On the left end, there's a hole for a half-inch bolt or shaft.
On the right end, there's a hole with a saddle that will accept a rope or cable. It will accept an inch and a quarter rope or cable, or smaller. Both ends of the rope or cable, when placed through the hole, then go off to the right (visually).
I can't think where such an item would be used on a locomotive or freight car, as ropes and cables are pretty rare on such things. It would be VERY handy, however, in the tool car of a wreck train. It might also show up in logging operations, or perhaps MOW or bridge erection/repair. Pretty much wherever you might need to lift or move a longish somethin'.
Ed
7j43k That's a "clevis". On the left end, there's a hole for a half-inch bolt or shaft. On the right end, there's a hole with a saddle that will accept a rope or cable. It will accept an inch and a quarter rope or cable, or smaller. Both ends of the rope or cable, when placed through the hole, then go off to the right (visually). I can't think where such an item would be used on a locomotive or freight car, as ropes and cables are pretty rare on such things. It would be VERY handy, however, in the tool car of a wreck train. It might also show up in logging operations, or perhaps MOW or bridge erection/repair. Pretty much wherever you might need to lift or move a longish somethin'. Ed
Sorry for not checking back sooner.
It's funny that you mention cables. Not too far away there is a heavy cable coming up out of the ground about a foot or so. It has an eye on the end where something could be hooked. The cable does look newer though so I'm not sure if it's related to the part or not.
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