Can anyone identify this peice of MOW equipment?

[tree68]

On scrolling down the rest of the link, I see two more pictures. There appear to be three similar devices laying on the whatzit - two leaning against the far side in the first picture, and another on the "floor" in the end shot. What are they?

I'll probably edit this after I have a chance to look at the images more...

<Edit>
OK -
The two things lying diagonally in the first picture appear to be attached by chains to the bar that runs from upper left to lower right. I would hazard a guess that in operation they hang straight down from the end of the bar (can't see the top of it in other pictures). The bar may or may not pivot just above the framework. It looks like it does there, but not in another view. It does look like they would hang on either side of the track.

The motor drives the white belt which turns the big flywheel/pulley on the left. There is an idler. It appears that the driven pulley is probably driving a gear inside the cover just to the left and behind it. The shaft from the gear runs to the other side of the whatzit, but I can't see what it does.

There is a large wheel with a handle on the side opposite the motor - it appears to be connected via a chain to one of the axles, thus used to move the device on the track for short distances.

Brainstorm. May be way off the mark, but the more I look at this thing, the more I believe it - A spike puller. Operated by three people - one on each of the 'hangy-down things' and one on the crank that moves the whatzit. The motor somehow moves the spike pullers up and down (haven't worked out the linkage yet), the two workers catching the head of the spike at the bottom of the stroke, and the third advances the whatzit to the next spike location...

Rube Goldberg would be proud!

[Modelcar]

....I agree with the accessment of the wheel with the crank does control the chain that appears to rotate the axle of one of the wheels on the rail hence moving the machine just as needed. But inside that shroud there must be a revolving wheel and possibly a dangerous one so much so that they even had to install a shield.....and believe that is where the work is done.....but what work...? Cutting, grinding...hammering....?

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

Rail dolly?

Ed

I was going to say that...

but my vote on that.

[tree68]

I still think it's a spike puller...

[edblysard]

The more I look at it the more I am sure it does several jobs....
but I have watched our MOW guys, and with a simple hand tool, a spike bar(spike puller, think long handled pry bar made just for spikes) they can pop a tie plate and four spikes in a few seconds....so I doubt its just a spike puller.
I get the feeling its a jack of all trades tool, a poor mans Pandrol Jackson.

Ed

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

I get the feeling its a jack of all trades tool, a poor mans Pandrol Jackson.

Ed

Jack of all Trades tool? Wonder if it makes breakfast?

[tree68]

QUOTE: Originally posted by edblysard

The more I look at it the more I am sure it does several jobs....
but I have watched our MOW guys, and with a simple hand tool, a spike bar(spike puller, think long handled pry bar made just for spikes) they can pop a tie plate and four spikes in a few seconds....so I doubt its just a spike puller.

If it is just a spike puller, that would explain why it's sitting at a museum...

In defense of my theory, I pictured it in use pulling a LOT of spikes, as in for a rail replacement. It could be that it was discovered that it was faster to pull them by hand than to wait for the cycle to catch the head, move the contraption, pull the next spikes, move down the line, etc, then possibly have to manhandle the thing around to do the other track.

[Modelcar]

....Just seems too cumbersome to build a machine to pull spikes one at a time....When they rip up rail they pull a wedge behind a work train and wedge up the rail and hence, the spikes pop out, etc....I just thought about that wedge deal and can't remember just how they loaded the rail at the same time they were pulling it up here in Muncie on the route that is now a Trail. I went and hunted for my pic's. but didn't find them for now.....I'll have to check that later. I understand what Larry is saying...a machine to use just for a section crew to do local work but I tend to agree with the fact there being hand tools to pop them out with much less hassle than with a machine for just spot work. We may be overlooking the fact since this machine is in a museum....the work it did is not work being done now and so no one is familar with it....All though that engine on the machine is not that old...ie, not an old one cyl. engine with a cooling water tank instead of being air cooled.
It sure does have the rube goldberg look to it...almost like pieces we're added to it as time passed....

[Modelcar]

...Has everyone given up on ID'ing this thing.....Surely some railroaders with a bit of gray in the beard might be able to help...Many of us have thrown in bits and pieces of which some may be close and maybe not...One last try....?

[jeaton]

OK Guys & Gals Here is the official word.

From Jim Lundquist, President, Pacific Southwest Railway Museum, operator of the San Diego Railway Museum.

It is (Close your eyes if you don't want to know) a Spike puller.
EOT (End of Thread)

Jay

[espeefoamer]

It's a Swiss Army Railcar![;)]

[edblysard]

And Larry nails(uh, spikes?) it!!!

Ed[:D]

[Modelcar]

....All that to do that......No wonder it's in a museum.

[tree68]

I think the proper nomenclature is "A Solution in Search of a Problem..." Sounds like a really good idea, but....

What, no chocolate cake?[:D]

[edblysard]

Mookie will be back in the dinner monday, cake in the afternoon...

Quentin, remember, this is a industry that hand fired steam engines for half a century, before someone got around to designing and building a self feeding stoker.

Ed

[Modelcar]

....Yea, you're right Ed....Change did seem to come slow in the industry and to a certain extent still prevails. But we sure did guess and analyze it to death.

[edblysard]

True, but that was half the fun, wasnt it?[:D]
Ed

[jeaton]

Just a little bit more on the spike puller. This from Allan Dillane [e-mail]

"If no one answers your questions about the spike puller at Campo give me
an e-mail. I was the Roadmaster and have used it often. Unfortunately
I had a stroke and going through my file will take some time.

It was part of three pieces of MOW we got from the Army. It is hand
pushed but the engine powers the spike puller.
Two people can run it but three is better. It can be turned around by
hand. The only real bad trouble with it is a new
person does not understand to hold the handle hard down when the spike
puller is in motion you get a terrible brused hand. It pulls spikes
when you gain experience with ease and you only need a hand spikepuller
it the spike was put in wrong.

Allan Dillane