Train Tool or Part, I need help, what is this For? Old W.R.R.S. Speed gauge

[Moosiebaby]

http://s1049.photobucket.com/user/moosiebaby/slideshow/

Does anyone know what this is for? And what it is called, and how it works would be great. There is a Vibrator and a vibrator inverter wired to it, not shown in the picture. Any help would be great. It is made by W.R.R.S. company. In the middle of the gauge it says " Read MPH on Color Band  Indicated by Pointer Attach Contacts to Rail 1/60 mile (88 Feet) Apart"

[tomikawaTT]

From your description I'd say you have a device for reading the speed in MPH of a passing train.  Since 60mph = 88fps, the device obviously uses a clock-on - clock-off circuit to set the pointer position.  Don't ask me how it keeps from getting confused by all wheels after the first.

It would only be accurate for a train running at uniform speed.  An accelerating train would read accurately only at some point in the center of the trap,  Its departure speed would be higher - and rising.

Chuck

[ndbprr]

When I was a kid in the days before radar the police used a similar device to measure car speeds. It had two hoses across the road and the time between hitting them gave them a speed. A train speed would be c hecked by the first two hits only. Probably a way to check if trains were speeding.

[lonewoof]

When I was around 12-13 yo the city police got one of those hose-type speed traps.  bunch of us stopped by right after they put it out (running over it, with the officer's permission, with our bikes, to see how fast we could pedal)

One of the older guys said "I hear you can fool this thing, by dragging a chain behind your car". The cop said "It reads from your front wheels; you'd better be PUSHING that chain".

[Deggesty]

"Remember: In South Carolina, North is southeast of Due West... HIOAg /Bill But, where is Ninety-Six? I was told that it is four miles this side of one hundred.