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 Post subject: Texas & Pacific Marshall, TX shop photo
PostPosted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 11:31 pm 

Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 12:28 am
Posts: 244
Location: Dallas, TX
I am wanting to id the track panel within the track gauge in the following photo. This retarder looking item is resting against one side of the track and there is material along side the track which is unknown to me. The presence of trash/cinders on the track and adjoining area reminds me of a dump site. Any ideas what is the center panel and its use?

The T&P set up a major shop in Marshall upon arrival in Texas. The shops are now gone and so is this track section.

[img][URL=http://s1370.photobucket.com/user/h_k_nicholls/media/TampP011_zpseacb29a0.jpg.html][IMG][/img]

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Harry Nicholls


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 Post subject: Re: Texas & Pacific Marshall, TX shop photo
PostPosted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 11:40 pm 

Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 12:28 am
Posts: 244
Location: Dallas, TX
Try this if the 1st photo does not appear. Apologies as this is a new process for me. Image

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 Post subject: Re: Texas & Pacific Marshall, TX shop photo
PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 1:01 am 

Joined: Sun Oct 19, 2008 12:58 pm
Posts: 1346
Location: Chicago USA
Here you are.


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 Post subject: Re: Texas & Pacific Marshall, TX shop photo
PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 2:36 am 

Joined: Fri Mar 05, 2010 3:41 am
Posts: 3911
Location: Inwood, W.Va.
I think this is a retarder, as suggested. The "dump site" appearance, at least to my eyes, looks like this is a very new installation, not yet cleaned up. It also looks like it may have not yet been ballasted.

One thing that does look a bit unusual for a retarder is that the air cylinders for the mechanism all appear to be on one side of this device, with a series of linkages to operate both sides of the retarder. Photos of other retarders I've seen use cylinders on each side of the retarder.

I am a bit surprised at what look like rather rough ties in this installation. Was this installed in existing track, or did someone use second-hand or relay ties in this installation?

Did the yard at Marshall have a hump?


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 Post subject: Re: Texas & Pacific Marshall, TX shop photo
PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 8:43 am 

Joined: Tue Aug 24, 2004 3:07 pm
Posts: 705
Definitely a retarder, one that appears to have already seen considerable use, as evidenced by the debris atop the parts and ties and the accumulation of grease at the entering end. As for the placement of the operating cylinders, this is a GRS (General Railway Signal Co.) retarder, whose design used one large air cylinder at one side with a series of linkages to transmit the motion to the various points along its length. Retarders made by Union Switch & Signal used multiple air cylinders along both sides of the mechanism to accomplish the same end result.


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 Post subject: Re: Texas & Pacific Marshall, TX shop photo
PostPosted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 11:04 pm 

Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 12:28 am
Posts: 244
Location: Dallas, TX
Thanks for the help in showing the photo. Sometime, I shall figure out whatever I did wrong.

And, a big thanks for the confirmation and explanation of the retarder. It was installed in the Marshall, TX yard and the photo dates from about the early 1940's. I believe the original photo came from S G Reid when he was working on his Railroads of Texas. The photo is now at SMU in the DeGolyer collection and will be digitized for cataloging. An explanation was needed to use for notation in the description for the catalog.

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