Question

[Awesome!]

http://www.locophotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=86755

Does anyone knows what is the equipment attach to the rear truck coming out from one of the housing wheel? I have never see this before.

[beaulieu]

Speedometer Cable.

[Awesome!]

That simple! Wow!

[NYBob]

Its a speedomiter cable.

[trainfan1221]

I'm guessing it wasn't originally on the locomotive, looks like a home made thingy.

[silicon212]

Yep, speedometer (although in railroad lingo, it's a 'speed recorder').

[oltmannd]

It's for a speedometer - most likely a speed indicator in the cab and an 8 track tape speed recorder in the air brake compartment.  This one looks like a Barco or a Pulse axle alternator on the axle that would send altenating current to the indicator/recorder. 

Axle alternators were also used for other purposes.  Early GE's used them for the wheelslip system, with on one each axle.  The GE ones were squarish with a big script GE on the end plate.

[enr2099]

Yep, speedometer (although in railroad lingo, it's a 'speed recorder').

 

I don't think I've ever heard it called a speed recorder...hmm, learn somethin' new every day.  

[J. Edgar]

Yep, speedometer (although in railroad lingo, it's a 'speed recorder').

 

I don't think I've ever heard it called a speed recorder...hmm, learn somethin' new every day.  

 

speed recorder is an old term (1800's) for the type of distance\time recodrers on early engines....Santa Fe used a ticker type of speed recorder in the caboose in the 1880's...rulebook said speeding over track speed of 15 was firable offence, crews learned that slamming their hack into the train at 14 mph caused the recorder to stick at 14 and they could make the time needed without repremand...CSX stills calls em that

[Anonymous]

I have heard caboose speed recorders used in the 1800s called, Dutch Clocks.