Mechanical Department "No no that's fine shove that 20 pound set all around the yard... those shoes aren't hell and a half to change..."
The Missabe Road: Safety First
23 17 46 11
QUOTE: Originally posted by FThunder11 http://acelaexpress2000.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=116617 I went up to Palmer Lake, Colorado to fan and was walking near the tracks, now there is a tough grade, so i saw some broken knuckles, but in that picture, i saw and entire coupler on the ground!! why would the entire thing be there?And next time i go up there, if its still there, im takin it
USAF TSgt C-17 Aircraft Maintenance Flying Crew Chief & Flightline Avionics Craftsman
QUOTE: Originally posted by csxengineer98 a drawhead is somthing you cant fix line of road... normaly the knuckle would break first..but not always...and pulling it out of the draft gear box is not to common..but it dose happen... and if your engineer gets a drawhead... your realyhurting.... your in for a long long ordeal then.... csx engineer
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
Originally posted by FThunder11 Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply locomutt Member sinceSeptember 2003 From: Louisville,Ky. 5,077 posts Posted by locomutt on Friday, April 29, 2005 7:03 AM QUOTE: Originally posted by spbed Maybe it is keep there as a spare due to the grade in case there are not enough knuckles on the train itself if there is a coupler breakage. [:o)] Originally posted by FThunder11 I doubt it;read ED's comment . It's broken. And I wouldn't advise taking it,UNLESS you have the Railroad's permission. Being Crazy,keeps you from going "INSANE" !! "The light at the end of the tunnel,has been turned off due to budget cuts" NOT AFRAID A Vet., and PROUD OF IT!! Reply tree68 Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Northern New York 25,009 posts Posted by tree68 on Friday, April 29, 2005 7:18 AM I have GOT to look through my old MRs for the cartoon of two railroaders watching a railfan, apparently pulling in for some sort of event, with a coupler mounted on the back of his station wagon. "We probably should keep an eye on this one." Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it... Reply Mookie Member sinceJune 2001 From: US 13,488 posts Posted by Mookie on Friday, April 29, 2005 7:47 AM That's not only funny - you have given me an idea. Poor Millie! She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw Reply mudchicken Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Denver / La Junta 10,820 posts Posted by mudchicken on Friday, April 29, 2005 8:56 AM That drawbar/coupler assembly is there on the ground because that hummer broke right there and had to be moved with great effort to get it in the clear. It's not going anywhere until the crane on a UP section truck gets it. Leave it alone. (It weighs more than you do) Go stare at the Kaiser-Fraser sign accross the street. You're way to young to know what that was for. Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west Reply Mookie Member sinceJune 2001 From: US 13,488 posts Posted by Mookie on Friday, April 29, 2005 10:00 AM Before I go, in the picture there is a hole just before the drawbar. Is that where the "keeper key" goes? She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw Reply edblysard Member sinceMarch 2002 9,265 posts Posted by edblysard on Friday, April 29, 2005 12:16 PM Mookie, Just to the right of the hole you see, the shank begins to taper...there is a slot from side to side, some what oval in shape. The keeper slides in there...this one is broken at that point..some one hammered the throttle pretty good, or it was a heavy train. Looking at the photo, this one looks like it came off a big tankcar.... 23 17 46 11 Reply CShaveRR Member sinceJune 2001 From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois 13,681 posts Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, April 29, 2005 12:26 PM Hmmm...it's definitely an F-type coupler. But I was thinking from the shape of the shank that it might be a rotary coupler off a coal car. Most drawbars I've seen are squarer than that. Carl Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!) CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM) Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 29, 2005 2:14 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR But I was thinking from the shape of the shank that it might be a rotary coupler off a coal car. That would be my guess, knowing absolutely nothing about coupler design. But Palmer Lake is near the top of the Palmer Divide on the UP/BNSF Joint Line through Colorado, and it is almost exclusively coal drags that roll through here. And I know that loaded, those can get long and heavy. Reply Edit BaltACD Member sinceMay 2003 From: US 25,276 posts Posted by BaltACD on Friday, April 29, 2005 7:09 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie and a 2nd question - since railroads are so safety-minded - when they teach you how to change out a coupler, do they also include how to do it without straining something? I am sure there must be techniques involved, since at some point, you will have to pick it up. With a broken drawhead the only thing the train crew would try to do would be to roll the drawhead out of the area between the guage of the rails. If they could not easily accompli***hat, they would put in a call to the dispatcher to get the nearest car department personnel enroute to assist them Drawheads come out of cars in two ways....the right end and the wrong end! The right end is the trailing end of the car, the car can be set off by the train crew without requiring the use of chains or other tools to move the car with the drawhead out of it. If the drawhead is out of the leading end of the car, then that car must either be set out by having an engine couple to the 'rear' of the train and then setting it out, or the car must be chained to the leading portion of the train and drug to the set out point. Sometimes with the number of 'interlocking' coupler assemblies that are used on todays equipment....the drawhead does not fall to the ground, but stays coupled to the adjoining car. This type of drawhead failure is basically only handle by calling the car dept as the 'hanging' drawhead will weigh from 400 to 800 pounds and sometimes more; the act of 'hanging' with the good adjoining drawhead will create tension on the couplers such that they cannot be uncoupled to let the drawhead drop to the ground. Pulled out drawheads are no fun for any interested party, train crew, dispatcher or car department. Additionally pulled out drawheads can and do cause derailments as the coupler sometime bounce under the wheels of the moving train when if comes out of the drawbar pocket....the wheels run over the solid steel of the drawhead and derail. Genuine NO FUN! Never too old to have a happy childhood! Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 29, 2005 7:26 PM BaltACD's note about a hanging coupler reminds me of a recent happening near here on Guilford (exB&M) in which a truck disintegrated under a car on a moving train. The coupler held the end of the car up for about a mile before the whole mess derailed. Reply Edit joesap1 Member sinceNovember 2003 From: Tulsa, OK 140 posts Posted by joesap1 on Friday, April 29, 2005 11:20 PM Enjoyed the photo and the comments. I could see in the photo what a knuckle actually looks like. The knuckle weighs 84 pounds and that is bad enough. I certainly would not try to lift an entire coupler. That would be insane! Glad to see the morals of our nation aren't completely gone. Everyone was in agreement that to steal anything left out in the open was wrong. Just 'cause it doesn't have a fence around it doesn't mean we can take it home. Joe Sapwater Reply mvlandsw Member sinceDecember 2001 1,190 posts Posted by mvlandsw on Saturday, April 30, 2005 4:05 AM QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie and a 2nd question - since railroads are so safety-minded - when they teach you how to change out a coupler, do they also include how to do it without straining something? I am sure there must be techniques involved, since at some point, you will have to pick it up. These are not usually repaired by train crews. When I worked in the Union Railroad car shop they were replaced by one person when the crane was available. (Two counting the crane operator). If the crane could not be used two people would lift the coupler by placing a bar under it while a third person balanced it on the bar. When it was lifted to the correct height the balancer could shove it into position on the car. Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Saturday, April 30, 2005 7:30 AM If you have to lug a knuckle any distant I would suggest that whomever decides to be train crewman should no a awful lot of working out at the gym before some time before applying for a position with the RRs. [:o)][:D][:)] Originally posted by mvlandsw Originally posted by Mookie [ Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply PigFarmer1 Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: Nebraska 253 posts Posted by PigFarmer1 on Saturday, April 30, 2005 9:10 AM Good luck. I used to work in a car shop where we actually had to install couplers by hand. It took four guys to lift one. Leave well enough alone and save your dignity while you're at it. You're not about to move that thing unless you're planning on bringing a hoist with you. MoW employee Reply adrianspeeder Member sinceMarch 2002 From: Harrisburg PA / Dover AFB DE 1,482 posts Posted by adrianspeeder on Saturday, April 30, 2005 8:38 PM Reminds me of my friends brass bell of a CP steamer with the mount and everything. When we installed we bolted it to three 4x4posts attached to the wall in his train room. Of course everyone wants it and when asked, he says if you can carry it out it's yours. It is still his... Adrianspeeder USAF TSgt C-17 Aircraft Maintenance Flying Crew Chief & Flightline Avionics Craftsman Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 4:02 PM There was a recent topic of a teenager who found a FRED and was asking what he could sell it for. There were numerous responses ALL of which said to return it, as it was theft. Since a FRED costs about $5,000 and a railroad worker has to check it out he would not just throw one along the ROW. The payroll deduction for "lost" equipment would be huge. I suggest that you forget about acquiring a souvenoir (unless you have the strength of Superman). Reply Edit Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 4:16 PM I am sure you could find one at a junk yard or some place like that IF you really wanted one. However, what would you do with it? Reply Edit ChrisBARailfan Member sinceApril 2005 From: Kansas City, MO 100 posts Posted by ChrisBARailfan on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 4:29 PM I have a buddy who works for American Car Foundary here in Kansas City and he says that anyone who wants a cracked or fatigued one can have one. They have to pay someone to take them to the junk yard and the yard gives them less than $50 per coupler. Reply Join our Community! Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Login » Register » Search the Community Newsletter Sign-Up By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy More great sites from Kalmbach Media Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy
Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub
QUOTE: Originally posted by spbed Maybe it is keep there as a spare due to the grade in case there are not enough knuckles on the train itself if there is a coupler breakage. [:o)] Originally posted by FThunder11 I doubt it;read ED's comment . It's broken. And I wouldn't advise taking it,UNLESS you have the Railroad's permission. Being Crazy,keeps you from going "INSANE" !! "The light at the end of the tunnel,has been turned off due to budget cuts" NOT AFRAID A Vet., and PROUD OF IT!! Reply tree68 Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Northern New York 25,009 posts Posted by tree68 on Friday, April 29, 2005 7:18 AM I have GOT to look through my old MRs for the cartoon of two railroaders watching a railfan, apparently pulling in for some sort of event, with a coupler mounted on the back of his station wagon. "We probably should keep an eye on this one." Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it... Reply Mookie Member sinceJune 2001 From: US 13,488 posts Posted by Mookie on Friday, April 29, 2005 7:47 AM That's not only funny - you have given me an idea. Poor Millie! She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw Reply mudchicken Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Denver / La Junta 10,820 posts Posted by mudchicken on Friday, April 29, 2005 8:56 AM That drawbar/coupler assembly is there on the ground because that hummer broke right there and had to be moved with great effort to get it in the clear. It's not going anywhere until the crane on a UP section truck gets it. Leave it alone. (It weighs more than you do) Go stare at the Kaiser-Fraser sign accross the street. You're way to young to know what that was for. Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west Reply Mookie Member sinceJune 2001 From: US 13,488 posts Posted by Mookie on Friday, April 29, 2005 10:00 AM Before I go, in the picture there is a hole just before the drawbar. Is that where the "keeper key" goes? She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw Reply edblysard Member sinceMarch 2002 9,265 posts Posted by edblysard on Friday, April 29, 2005 12:16 PM Mookie, Just to the right of the hole you see, the shank begins to taper...there is a slot from side to side, some what oval in shape. The keeper slides in there...this one is broken at that point..some one hammered the throttle pretty good, or it was a heavy train. Looking at the photo, this one looks like it came off a big tankcar.... 23 17 46 11 Reply CShaveRR Member sinceJune 2001 From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois 13,681 posts Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, April 29, 2005 12:26 PM Hmmm...it's definitely an F-type coupler. But I was thinking from the shape of the shank that it might be a rotary coupler off a coal car. Most drawbars I've seen are squarer than that. Carl Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!) CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM) Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 29, 2005 2:14 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR But I was thinking from the shape of the shank that it might be a rotary coupler off a coal car. That would be my guess, knowing absolutely nothing about coupler design. But Palmer Lake is near the top of the Palmer Divide on the UP/BNSF Joint Line through Colorado, and it is almost exclusively coal drags that roll through here. And I know that loaded, those can get long and heavy. Reply Edit BaltACD Member sinceMay 2003 From: US 25,276 posts Posted by BaltACD on Friday, April 29, 2005 7:09 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie and a 2nd question - since railroads are so safety-minded - when they teach you how to change out a coupler, do they also include how to do it without straining something? I am sure there must be techniques involved, since at some point, you will have to pick it up. With a broken drawhead the only thing the train crew would try to do would be to roll the drawhead out of the area between the guage of the rails. If they could not easily accompli***hat, they would put in a call to the dispatcher to get the nearest car department personnel enroute to assist them Drawheads come out of cars in two ways....the right end and the wrong end! The right end is the trailing end of the car, the car can be set off by the train crew without requiring the use of chains or other tools to move the car with the drawhead out of it. If the drawhead is out of the leading end of the car, then that car must either be set out by having an engine couple to the 'rear' of the train and then setting it out, or the car must be chained to the leading portion of the train and drug to the set out point. Sometimes with the number of 'interlocking' coupler assemblies that are used on todays equipment....the drawhead does not fall to the ground, but stays coupled to the adjoining car. This type of drawhead failure is basically only handle by calling the car dept as the 'hanging' drawhead will weigh from 400 to 800 pounds and sometimes more; the act of 'hanging' with the good adjoining drawhead will create tension on the couplers such that they cannot be uncoupled to let the drawhead drop to the ground. Pulled out drawheads are no fun for any interested party, train crew, dispatcher or car department. Additionally pulled out drawheads can and do cause derailments as the coupler sometime bounce under the wheels of the moving train when if comes out of the drawbar pocket....the wheels run over the solid steel of the drawhead and derail. Genuine NO FUN! Never too old to have a happy childhood! Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 29, 2005 7:26 PM BaltACD's note about a hanging coupler reminds me of a recent happening near here on Guilford (exB&M) in which a truck disintegrated under a car on a moving train. The coupler held the end of the car up for about a mile before the whole mess derailed. Reply Edit joesap1 Member sinceNovember 2003 From: Tulsa, OK 140 posts Posted by joesap1 on Friday, April 29, 2005 11:20 PM Enjoyed the photo and the comments. I could see in the photo what a knuckle actually looks like. The knuckle weighs 84 pounds and that is bad enough. I certainly would not try to lift an entire coupler. That would be insane! Glad to see the morals of our nation aren't completely gone. Everyone was in agreement that to steal anything left out in the open was wrong. Just 'cause it doesn't have a fence around it doesn't mean we can take it home. Joe Sapwater Reply mvlandsw Member sinceDecember 2001 1,190 posts Posted by mvlandsw on Saturday, April 30, 2005 4:05 AM QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie and a 2nd question - since railroads are so safety-minded - when they teach you how to change out a coupler, do they also include how to do it without straining something? I am sure there must be techniques involved, since at some point, you will have to pick it up. These are not usually repaired by train crews. When I worked in the Union Railroad car shop they were replaced by one person when the crane was available. (Two counting the crane operator). If the crane could not be used two people would lift the coupler by placing a bar under it while a third person balanced it on the bar. When it was lifted to the correct height the balancer could shove it into position on the car. Reply spbed Member sinceDecember 2001 From: Austin TX 4,941 posts Posted by spbed on Saturday, April 30, 2005 7:30 AM If you have to lug a knuckle any distant I would suggest that whomever decides to be train crewman should no a awful lot of working out at the gym before some time before applying for a position with the RRs. [:o)][:D][:)] Originally posted by mvlandsw Originally posted by Mookie [ Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply PigFarmer1 Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: Nebraska 253 posts Posted by PigFarmer1 on Saturday, April 30, 2005 9:10 AM Good luck. I used to work in a car shop where we actually had to install couplers by hand. It took four guys to lift one. Leave well enough alone and save your dignity while you're at it. You're not about to move that thing unless you're planning on bringing a hoist with you. MoW employee Reply adrianspeeder Member sinceMarch 2002 From: Harrisburg PA / Dover AFB DE 1,482 posts Posted by adrianspeeder on Saturday, April 30, 2005 8:38 PM Reminds me of my friends brass bell of a CP steamer with the mount and everything. When we installed we bolted it to three 4x4posts attached to the wall in his train room. Of course everyone wants it and when asked, he says if you can carry it out it's yours. It is still his... Adrianspeeder USAF TSgt C-17 Aircraft Maintenance Flying Crew Chief & Flightline Avionics Craftsman Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 4:02 PM There was a recent topic of a teenager who found a FRED and was asking what he could sell it for. There were numerous responses ALL of which said to return it, as it was theft. Since a FRED costs about $5,000 and a railroad worker has to check it out he would not just throw one along the ROW. The payroll deduction for "lost" equipment would be huge. I suggest that you forget about acquiring a souvenoir (unless you have the strength of Superman). Reply Edit Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 4:16 PM I am sure you could find one at a junk yard or some place like that IF you really wanted one. However, what would you do with it? Reply Edit ChrisBARailfan Member sinceApril 2005 From: Kansas City, MO 100 posts Posted by ChrisBARailfan on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 4:29 PM I have a buddy who works for American Car Foundary here in Kansas City and he says that anyone who wants a cracked or fatigued one can have one. They have to pay someone to take them to the junk yard and the yard gives them less than $50 per coupler. Reply Join our Community! Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Login » Register » Search the Community Newsletter Sign-Up By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy More great sites from Kalmbach Media Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy
Originally posted by FThunder11
Being Crazy,keeps you from going "INSANE" !! "The light at the end of the tunnel,has been turned off due to budget cuts" NOT AFRAID A Vet., and PROUD OF IT!!
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR But I was thinking from the shape of the shank that it might be a rotary coupler off a coal car.
QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie and a 2nd question - since railroads are so safety-minded - when they teach you how to change out a coupler, do they also include how to do it without straining something? I am sure there must be techniques involved, since at some point, you will have to pick it up.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Originally posted by mvlandsw Originally posted by Mookie [ Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply PigFarmer1 Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: Nebraska 253 posts Posted by PigFarmer1 on Saturday, April 30, 2005 9:10 AM Good luck. I used to work in a car shop where we actually had to install couplers by hand. It took four guys to lift one. Leave well enough alone and save your dignity while you're at it. You're not about to move that thing unless you're planning on bringing a hoist with you. MoW employee Reply adrianspeeder Member sinceMarch 2002 From: Harrisburg PA / Dover AFB DE 1,482 posts Posted by adrianspeeder on Saturday, April 30, 2005 8:38 PM Reminds me of my friends brass bell of a CP steamer with the mount and everything. When we installed we bolted it to three 4x4posts attached to the wall in his train room. Of course everyone wants it and when asked, he says if you can carry it out it's yours. It is still his... Adrianspeeder USAF TSgt C-17 Aircraft Maintenance Flying Crew Chief & Flightline Avionics Craftsman Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 4:02 PM There was a recent topic of a teenager who found a FRED and was asking what he could sell it for. There were numerous responses ALL of which said to return it, as it was theft. Since a FRED costs about $5,000 and a railroad worker has to check it out he would not just throw one along the ROW. The payroll deduction for "lost" equipment would be huge. I suggest that you forget about acquiring a souvenoir (unless you have the strength of Superman). Reply Edit Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 4:16 PM I am sure you could find one at a junk yard or some place like that IF you really wanted one. However, what would you do with it? Reply Edit ChrisBARailfan Member sinceApril 2005 From: Kansas City, MO 100 posts Posted by ChrisBARailfan on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 4:29 PM I have a buddy who works for American Car Foundary here in Kansas City and he says that anyone who wants a cracked or fatigued one can have one. They have to pay someone to take them to the junk yard and the yard gives them less than $50 per coupler. Reply Join our Community! Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Login » Register » Search the Community Newsletter Sign-Up By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy More great sites from Kalmbach Media Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy
Originally posted by Mookie [ Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR Austin TX Sub Reply PigFarmer1 Member sinceFebruary 2005 From: Nebraska 253 posts Posted by PigFarmer1 on Saturday, April 30, 2005 9:10 AM Good luck. I used to work in a car shop where we actually had to install couplers by hand. It took four guys to lift one. Leave well enough alone and save your dignity while you're at it. You're not about to move that thing unless you're planning on bringing a hoist with you. MoW employee Reply adrianspeeder Member sinceMarch 2002 From: Harrisburg PA / Dover AFB DE 1,482 posts Posted by adrianspeeder on Saturday, April 30, 2005 8:38 PM Reminds me of my friends brass bell of a CP steamer with the mount and everything. When we installed we bolted it to three 4x4posts attached to the wall in his train room. Of course everyone wants it and when asked, he says if you can carry it out it's yours. It is still his... Adrianspeeder USAF TSgt C-17 Aircraft Maintenance Flying Crew Chief & Flightline Avionics Craftsman Reply Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 4:02 PM There was a recent topic of a teenager who found a FRED and was asking what he could sell it for. There were numerous responses ALL of which said to return it, as it was theft. Since a FRED costs about $5,000 and a railroad worker has to check it out he would not just throw one along the ROW. The payroll deduction for "lost" equipment would be huge. I suggest that you forget about acquiring a souvenoir (unless you have the strength of Superman). Reply Edit Anonymous Member sinceApril 2003 305,205 posts Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 4:16 PM I am sure you could find one at a junk yard or some place like that IF you really wanted one. However, what would you do with it? Reply Edit ChrisBARailfan Member sinceApril 2005 From: Kansas City, MO 100 posts Posted by ChrisBARailfan on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 4:29 PM I have a buddy who works for American Car Foundary here in Kansas City and he says that anyone who wants a cracked or fatigued one can have one. They have to pay someone to take them to the junk yard and the yard gives them less than $50 per coupler. Reply Join our Community! Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Login » Register » Search the Community Newsletter Sign-Up By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy More great sites from Kalmbach Media Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.