Train Torpedo

[Anonymous]

Anyone seen one of these things?
Heard its roughly 2X2 inches. A friend said that they were used from the turn of the century till fifties - any truth in that? Appreciate any answers to this fascinating item of American railroad.

[edblysard]

Still in use today.
Is a 2x2 square safety device, made of a compound very like tnt. It has two soft metal straps. It is used to warn oncoming trains of a problem ahead. It is attached to the rail with the straps, and when a locomotive runs over it, it explodes, very loudly. Its included in the flagmans canister along with fusees (flares) and red flags. If you have to stop your train for some type of emergency, and your in unsignaled territory, the GCOR requires you to provide flag protection to the rear of your train. On single track, you are required to also provide protection to the front. You send your flagman to the rear of the train, he is required to proceed at least one mile beyond your train, place a flag, torpedo and light a fusee to warn any following train of the stopped train ahead.
The GCOR requires any train that runs over a torpedo to stop, and send their flagman ahead, at least one mile in front of their train, to investigate. You are also required to report to the dispatcher that you have encountered a torpedo. Often miss-representive as a 1/4 stick of dyanamite, its is not as violent as that, but instead, designed to creat a very loud bang, loud enough to be heard over the noise of a running locomotive. It is classified as an explosive, and its a federal offense to posses one off of railroad property.
Hope this helps,
Ed

[louisnash]

In the 80's, as a kid, on the old L&N in KY you could find pieces of the torpedos laying along the rail in certain areas that had been used. Have never heard one go off but my grandfather told me they were loud, just as Ed pointed out.
Brian (KY)

[jeffhergert]

No longer used on the UP. Before they were removed from the flagging kits, were required to go back a prescribed distance (based on max speed of a subdivision) when flagging and place two on each rail in a staggerd pattern.
When running over a torpedo required to immidiately reduce to restricted speed for 2 miles looking out for, and stopping short of a red flag or burning fusee.
The last table listing the proper distances only had for flagging distance for MOW protecting track defects and managers performing
effeciency tests(a stop test for rules compliance.

[Anonymous]

Man, when we were dumb kids we used to "steel" topedos from the flagging kit off the tail end of CN passenger trains (they weren't locked up). Then we put them on the tracks, hours later you could hear them from at home. The big kids showed us, then we showed the little kids. This was the 1970's.

[BR60103]

When we closed the Bloor and Danforth street car lines in Toronto, someone provided a string of torpedos that we set off going around the final curve. At 6:30 in the morning after an all-night fan trip.
--anonymous

[wabash1]

as ed stated the size and perpose and elaborated by someone else both are correct. the ns dont use it anymore either. I am not sure if the fra said they didnt haft to use it anymore as track warrents provide rule 99 protection. and id what ed says is true then i better get rid of the ones sitting here on my desk.

[edblysard]

With todays new Rhineland security, ops, I mean Fatherland sec.., well durn, I mean Homeland security, we most likley all should chuck em out, along with the fusees and most of the other crud we bring home.
Stay Frosty,
Ed

[Anonymous]

Thanks Ed! Most helpful.

[Anonymous]

Do any one have or know where to find a photo of these? This is all new info to me. If the gestapo has there way, all rail fains will be considered terrorist...the last thing I need it to be rail side with a torpedo :) Hail...Oh geez God Bless America!
Icemanmike-Milwaukee

[dknelson]

The last torpedo I heard was at Belton Junction in West Allis WI probably around 1983. I lived nearby and often railfanned the C&NW at night. Sometimes trains would stall on the hill (it was a summit so both east and west bounds might stall, but more often westbounds).

I sat down on my favorite battery box in pitch black darkness and waited for the action (Had no scanner then and relied on luck). Train came and hit torpedos that I had not seen wrapped on the track. Let me tell you this was as loud as any gunshot I ever heard. There must have been a considerable quantity of gunpower. Good thing that apartment building had laundry facilities as I needed them that night ...

The story of the night I thought I saw a beautiful hat next to the battery box, but quickly learned that it was a huge skunk, will have to wait for another time .........
Dave Nelson

[edblysard]

Funny how good those things aim is, shooting backwards like that...
Have a good monday.
Ed