Can anyone identify this peice of MOW equipment?

[Anonymous]

Can anyone identify this peice of MOW equipment in this link?

http://www.the-gauge.com/showthread.php?t=9456&page=1&pp=15

[Big_Boy_4005]

I'm going to take a wild guess and say that it is a power drill for for bolt holes in track joints. Another possibility is that it is simply a "poor man's" speeder, it looks self propelled. It also looks rather homemade. Where did you find this critter? there are a number of interesting things in these photos.

[Modelcar]

...It really does look home made...Engine seems to have a rather large wheel to drive belt meaning it is driving something at speed....Also, the system contains a heavy flywheel for inertia and then on that same shaft is a covered wheel...Possibly a saw blade....?? Looks like the rail that it is sitting on, on camera side in first photo is of two different weights...at the joint.

[pmsteamman]

I am probably wrong but I am going with Modelcar on this a rail saw.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Saw is a good choice too. What about the hand crank in the third photo, it looks like it is connected by that chain to the axel for positioning. The joint bars and the chunks of rail on the flat car may be clues.

It looks like this is a working piece, belonging to a museum or similar group. Did anyone notice the track just resting directly on the ground, all jointed rail. Then the old Amtrak car, a tank car, and what looks like an old passenger car.

[mudchicken]

As long as we are all guessing here (I am, and it certainly isn't standard issue!)....It seems to have many of the features of a bolt hole/ signal bond hole drill. Is the rail cart next to the machine attached or just up against it? Instead of a saw, how about a tie adzer (for seating larger tie plates?)

[edblysard]

Thats a three, maybe five hp briggs lawnmower engine, hooked to pullys and a flywheel.
Looks a lot like a homeade crane or utility loader, note the cross bars laying in the middle of it, with a turnbuckle and eyebolt?

Ed

[espeefoamer]

It looks like a rail saw to me, too.I am guessing that the location is a museum.Since the postor is from Arizona,I am guessing the museum in Chandler,AZ.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all the responses and input.
My brother took the photos at the San Diego railroad Museum when he was out there on a business trip.
I just couldn't figure out what this piece of equipment did.
I also thought it might of been an in-shop home brewed thing, but then I saw another photo of one ( in a museum).

[edblysard]

Rail dolly?

Ed

[Anonymous]

This doesn't seem to fit, but something in the back of my mind is saying that it is a very unique version of a ballast tamper. Short of that, I don't think that it is a rail cutter--if it has a three horsepower engine, it seems a bit underpowered for sawing through rail. Then again, what do I know [:)]?

See you around the forums,
Daniel

[lupo]

Ray,
as you know where the picture was taken, can't the San Diego Railroad Museum shed a lite on what they got? I looked at their website there was nothing on this contraption.

[Modelcar]

....One more observation on our mystery machine....I blew up the pic's. to get a closer look and I note the wheel with the crank and chain seems to be attached to a sprocket that may control the movement of the flanged rail wheel below it and hence, maybe that is used to fine tune the position of the machine along the rail...And one more thing....Ed, I believe that "little" one lung engine may be just a little stronger than 3 horsepower....It looks pretty old but may have a pretty good measure of torque. It says "I C" up on the side of the cylinder....I suppose that could mean for "Industrial" use possibly...I noted earlier of the large output wheel size but I now note the wheel it is driving [with the belt], is the same size and then from there it is geared "down" for more torque into the "wheel" that is covered with a shroud.

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainjunky29

This doesn't seem to fit, but something in the back of my mind is saying that it is a very unique version of a ballast tamper. Short of that, I don't think that it is a rail cutter--if it has a three horsepower engine, it seems a bit underpowered for sawing through rail. Then again, what do I know [:)]?

See you around the forums,
Daniel

I don't agree Daniel, I'm convinced that this gizmo is for rail work. It is way too small and light for ballast, beside none of the track in the photos is ballasted (yet).

I too "cheated" and enlarged the photos. That small engine is belted to the flywheel. The shaft from the flywheel goes into that elongated housing, which most likely is some level of gear reduction. This turns the speed into power, and lower RPM's. The question is where does it go from there, and what does it drive?

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Rail dolly?

Ed

I think Ed's got it. This device could allow a single man enough mechanical advantage to move a full section of rail. I took another look at where the shaft went, and it looks like it ends behind the plate where the crank wheel is. It looks like if the rail was positioned on top of the shaft it would slowly roll out. that would explain the arm, and the desire for hand positioning.

[UPTRAIN]

The link won't work for me. [:(]

[Anonymous]

The site where the photos are posted seams to be down today.

[UPTRAIN]

Dang it...CONGRATS ON 100 POSTS!!! Keep em coming!

[edblysard]

Quentin,
I worked in a lawnmower shop for a few years, IC stands for Industrial Commerical.
Thats a 3 or 5 HP Briggs engine, most likely a five, the gas tank and carb placement gives it away.
By the way, thats a "custom" air cleaner...
And a 5 hp briggs would get it on down the road around 5 to 10 mph, even geared like that.

I cant get the photo to come up, but some of you copied it, so blow it up, and look for something.

See if that thing has brakes.

I dont think it did, and if not, the the engine isnt for propulsion, after all, you gotta be able to stop.

I didnt notice a friction brake on the flywheel either.

I think its for the crane/crank, and I still think its a home made utility crane, may be used to pull ties or spikes, or unload a small MOW trailer, with ties, spike buckets, stuff like that.

You could use it to pull a piece of rail along also, general lifting duties.

Ed

[UPTRAIN]

I can't see it because I see no photo!!! [soapbox][soapbox][soapbox][banghead][banghead][banghead][censored][censored][censored]

[Modelcar]

....Something's changed as I can't pull the photos up of it now either...and I didn't make any copies of the thing. Yea, Ed...I noticed the "customized" air cleaner too. Can't pull in the photo and enlarge to take another close look so guess we'll just have to wait until photo capability returnes. Sure does have a bunch of fellows guessing. From memory Ed, I didn't see brakes on the unit....and it sure does look to be "light" in weight to be much of a crane. The whole vehicle is really quite small compared to most railroad equipment. To me it seems home made and perhaps constructed to do something special for a section group. Maybe even the brain child of such group.

[UPTRAIN]

Boy I wish I could see it!!! LOL!!!

[Anonymous]

The site the photos were posted on crashed and we had some bugs to work out. I reposted the photos (after a few technical problems).

http://www.the-gauge.com/showthread.php?t=9456&page=1&pp=15

[Modelcar]

...I believe the photo seems more clear this time....but it's still a mystery.

[edblysard]

Ok, no brakes, and did anyone notice that the mystery machine is attached to the MOW flat on the left of the photo, by a simple drawbar?

I am betting thats its a simple crane, there are eyebolts and turnbuckels on the end of a spreader bar, like you would use to pick up rail sections and ties.
Add to that the flat has joint bars and bolts laying on it.
Note the wrench laying on the mystery machine in the foreground is a air hose wrench, so it may even be used to change drawbar heads, its the right height.

Ed

[Modelcar]

....Another eye ball and now I'm wondering what looks like a "T" handle sticking up vertically just behind and to the right of the flywheel...What is it's purpose. The unit is nothing an operator rides...no seat and visable controls. So power from engine is used with the unit stationary. It performs some kind of work other than running down the track. I still think what is inside the shroud...possible round structure of some sort is what does the work.

[Train Guy 3]

It looks like a crane... whatever it is it looks like a good way to keep equipment costs down. I might have a little concern employee safety.

[Modelcar]

....Yea, open flywheel and belt running around on it and other pulleys for one thing.

[Allen Jenkins]

I'll go along with"EMD NexGen LD 1000."

[Modelcar]

...Again scrutinizing the mystery object....I don't think it is even attached to the "trailer" next to it....It appears to me to have just been placed up next to it.....If one looks close at the dark tie under where a hitch would be, it appears one can see the tie all the way across to the other rail. This doesn't decide anything but I believe the little unit is just independent of the other "flat car" of sort....They still may "work together". I'm surprised that some maintenance of way person can't shed some light on what area of work this unit is fit for....