Grab irons

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Anonymous

Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts

Grab irons

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 6:24 AM

Is there a rhyme, reason, or safety rule concerning the use of drop grab irons vs. straight ones? Does it vary from road to road? Is it a question of personal shop preference? Is it a question of using whatever was handy? Every photo (especially from the steam era) seems to show cars following a different rule..
Thanks for your thoughts.
G.J.

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CShaveRR

Member since
June 2001
From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
13,681 posts

Posted by CShaveRR on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 9:57 AM

The lower grabirons, especially, are used for feet as well as hands. A foot could slip off the end of a straight grabiron.

(In by brakeman days, I'd almost always climb up to the grabiron for a ride, ratner than stay in the stirrup, just because it was more comfortable for me.)

I'm waiting to see what brother Ed has to say on the subject.

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)