I am looking for a source for pictures, drawings, descriptions, etc. of various types of track bumpers (correct name?) that were used at the end of spur tracks to keep trains from going off the end of the track. I am sure there were probably many different methods used and I would like to scratchbuild different ones to use on my ho layout. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
thanks
wdcrvr
except for passenger tracks, everywhere i worked it seems like the only end of track devices were a couple of old cross ties and a pile of dirt. there was one exception and since you are from a nearby community, you will appreciate it. on the old big four at E St Louis, we occasionally used the concrete flood wall next to the Mississippi river. of course, we had to shove out across front street and the TRRA track to get to it. such a move usually resulted in a visit to the terminal supt's office. see, that place could be fun even before they built the casino.
the great thing about the dirt pile was if you had a car roll off the end of the rails, you could usually pull it right back on. of course, this system only worked if a cut just rolled a little too far at a very slow speed. it did not work very well at stopping high speed moves.
once upon a time i was watching the inbound flexi-van train come into the yard and i thought he looked like he was in the wrong track. i had told him to come down number 9 and stop at the west end so we could take his train off the power with the yard engine. of course, the hogger must have noticed the yard clerk trying to get a check of the train so he widened out on 'em so the poor clerk couldn't get all the car numbers and suddenly they went into the big hole. they were in the wrong track and the dirt pile wouldn't stop three units and thirty cars going 20 mph. the lead engine was buried in the mud and the fuel tank was cut open by the rail ends, leaking number 2 diesel all over the place. by the time i got down there, the whole head end crew was walking around like a bunch of chickens so i walked up and said, "you know, they never did finish building this railroad to Kansas City." then the engineer wanted to fight but the fireman talked him out of it. they all wound up getting five days on paper.
i wish tearing up model trains was half as much fun as the real thing.
grizlump
Love it Griz!!! Out in galesburg on the BN we had the ties,dirt and the funny looking wheelstops that bolted to the tracks on not very used spurs.But we did have the huge heavy duty bumpers on well used tracks and the service tracks.
One night after the new wye was put in on the pit I had a trainmaster asking what would happen if we hit that bumper. I responded" Well theres a bell in there and if you hit it hard enough the bell rings and you get a prize!" I about got drug tested that night lol.
However when a set of locos hits one at 20 mph it doesnt ring a bell or slow em down!But it makes for funny stories and a heck of a laugh at the expense of the other crew.It also teaches you to make sure your lined up ;)
Yes we are on time but this is yesterdays train
Three types found at ends of tracks, dirt piles, wheel stops, and bumping posts. Then there was the crude expedient of a couple of ties wedged across the rails.
Wheel stops and bumping posts were often bought from an outside supplier, and each company had their own patented designs. They are still available and an internet search will probably yield an on-line catalogue or two. But perhaps the easiest approach is to go explore the industrial area of your nearest city and check out what the remaining factory and warehouse sidings use.
Wheel stops are bolted to each rail and can be quite low or the so-called "half moon" which rise above axle level. They are perhaps the most common. The downside is that an enthusiastic interaction will stop the truck but not the car.
Bumping posts are more elaborate, and expensive. They provide a more positive stop since it is the coupler that hits. (Unless the hit is strong enough to dislodge the bumping post itself!) They will be preferred where accidents may have more serious consequences. A terminal passenger station is an obvious example. They will also be preferred in coach yards too, since over-riding the truck will do real damage to all that underbody equipment. Loading docks may have a bumping post built into the end.
John
I remember as a kid in Wildwood, New Jersey on the PRSL the station had huge concrete blocks with a steel plate for the coupler to hit. they were probably three feet squsre on all sides. Never saw anything like that anywhere else the PRR was involved. They would be easily cast in plaster.
Griz: Thanks for the info on the track bumpers in E, St. Louis. It's helpful info for my E. St. Louis Rail Group Layout.
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on the serious side of this, think about how few real tracks are stub ended. sure a lot of industrial sidings and some service tracks but for the most part, stub tracks are more common on model railroads than in the real world. locations that would have a bunch of stub ended tracks would be places like lcl freight terminals and docks.
Here's you a picture. This small yard has them at the end of the sidings.
"Rust, whats not to love?"
the steel bumper Robby posted is probably the most common of the "store bought" bumpers that the freight railroads use in N America- although I have seen just about every type of American and European design wheel stop used as the railroads like to experiment to find the best way to do something so it is not unusual to see odd set ups. I have seen end tracks blocked with ties bolted to the rails with U bolts, piles of dirt and other debris (probably by far the single most common way of ending a track), concrete blocks to include left over Jersey walls (that seems to be a favorite of the Amtrak NE corridor), bent up rails, out of service antique equipment permanently parked at the end of the track to serve as a bumper, and many times there may be no bumper or wheel stop of any type, the rail just ends (one particularly scary place this happens is on the end of the car float for the ESRR)
The choice of which method to use on your railroad is up to you really, if you are modeling a specific scene then use what the prototype used, otherwise I would suggest piles of dirt, or if the end track is near a road then use a proper bumper of the type that you happen to like.
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The Big4 story is still creasing me too, Griz !
Dennis
ndbprr I remember as a kid in Wildwood, New Jersey on the PRSL the station had huge concrete blocks with a steel plate for the coupler to hit. they were probably three feet squsre on all sides. Never saw anything like that anywhere else the PRR was involved. They would be easily cast in plaster.
What used to be Mr. Plaster (I think) cast these big PRR style bumpers in HO and N.
Look here... http://www.modelrailstuff.com/ go to DETAILS and bumpers.