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 Post subject: Taber's RAIL RODS
PostPosted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 11:51 am 

Joined: Fri May 28, 2010 9:52 am
Posts: 90
Members,

We’re seeking technical information, instruction manuals and related material for “RAIL ROD” light weight railway motorcars produced by Tabers, Inc of Perry, Oklahoma in the 1970s.

Built from square steel channel tubing, these vehicles provided ready access for signal maintainers and related craft. We understand early models were powered by a three-horsepower, Briggs & Stratton engine, had a top speed of 12 mph and could move roughly 600 pounds. Priced about $1000, they provided an affordable alternative to hoofing signal batteries or other heavy gear to remote locations.

Restoration of our unit is pretty straight forward, but we’d like to see detail for the engine, engine mount and power linkage – all missing from our car. Should anyone care to share info for these little cars, kindly contact drop a line.

Many thanks for the help!

JT Kovach, Preserving
American Railway Signaling Technology


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 Post subject: Re: Taber's RAIL RODS
PostPosted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 12:38 pm 

Joined: Sat Sep 19, 2015 9:01 pm
Posts: 32
Can you post a photo? I've never seen one.


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 Post subject: Re: Taber's RAIL RODS
PostPosted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 12:47 pm 

Joined: Fri May 28, 2010 9:52 am
Posts: 90
Here's a shot from the project file...


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Taber RAIL ROD.jpg
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 Post subject: Re: Taber's RAIL RODS
PostPosted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 9:38 pm 

Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:14 am
Posts: 352
These are interesting because they break down into 4 light weight pieces.

Pm me with your contact info. I have a complete rail rod that may help. I also have some literature that i could scan and email to you. Mine was sold by Rails Company of maplewood, NJ, but looks almost identical to your picture.


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 Post subject: Re: Taber's RAIL RODS
PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 5:57 am 

Joined: Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm
Posts: 2279
Someone in Georgia was selling a slightly different one on craigslist for $650 about a month ago:

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/atq/ ... 48395.html

Apparently the Texas Transportation Museum in San Antonio has one plus some information on their website, but it isn't working right now, it just came up in a search: "...called a rail rod. It was built for only two years in the late 1960s by a company called Tabers based in Perry...":

http://www.txtransportationmuseum.org/c ... r-cars.php


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 Post subject: Re: Taber's RAIL RODS
PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 11:46 am 

Joined: Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:39 pm
Posts: 72
Location: Rochester, NY
We have a fully restored Rail Rod at the R&GV railroad museum in Rochester, NY. I'd be happy to take photos/measurements of anything you need. Just let me know!

http://www.rgvrrm.org/museum-receives-d ... nspection/

Image

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Joe Nugent
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Motive Power Superintendent
Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum
http://www.rgvrrm.org


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 Post subject: Re: Taber's RAIL RODS
PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 2:42 pm 

Joined: Fri May 28, 2010 9:52 am
Posts: 90
We are grateful for the response.

Beating bushes, we found some information about the manufacturer and an overview of their products. One article is published in the Fall, 1998 issue of “Speeder” magazine (volume 7, no. 2), while the other appears in the March /April 2012 issue of “The SETOFF” – both publications focus on motor car restoration and maintenance. Neither contain mechanical details or drawings.

In the 1950s, the parent company “Tabors Welding” was located near the junction of two major railroads in Perry, Oklahoma – the Frisco and the Santa Fe. By the late 1960s, Tabor manufactured oil field equipment and completed small jobs for local railroads. Becoming acquainted with local signal maintainers, track gangs and their work, Tabers recognized a niche he could fill as Hi-Rail equipment began replacing the crew’s smaller motorcars.

He subsequently offered two designs, the simple box-like model depicted above and a later model marketed as the “Rail Rod II” (see the Craig’s list model), to help crews move tools and bulky supplies (e.g., signal batteries) to remote locations. Each car could be set-off is short order and transported in a pick-up.

Based on our member’s response, a few have survived in various collections.

Once again, thanks for the help on these little known cars.
JT Kovach


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 Post subject: Re: Taber's RAIL RODS
PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 4:00 pm 

Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2014 5:00 pm
Posts: 71
Rubber treads on the wheels?


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 Post subject: Re: Taber's RAIL RODS
PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 4:05 pm 

Joined: Fri May 28, 2010 9:52 am
Posts: 90
Yes - ours has rubber tires over flanged metal wheels.


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 Post subject: Re: Taber's RAIL RODS
PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 5:12 pm 

Joined: Tue Mar 21, 2006 12:17 pm
Posts: 116
Location: walton, ky
A friend and I purchased two M19's and a railrod two years ago. His railrod is in decent shape but does need restored. It is for sale and from the N&W.


Joe


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 Post subject: Re: Taber's RAIL RODS
PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 5:43 pm 

Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2004 2:50 pm
Posts: 2815
Location: Northern Illinois
Wow! Does that thing look scary! Having participated in some illicit "speeder speed trials" in my misspent youth, I'd want nothing to do with it. I can't believe there isn't even a foot rest beneath the brake pedal.

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 Post subject: Re: Taber's RAIL RODS
PostPosted: Wed Oct 18, 2017 7:49 pm 

Joined: Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:34 pm
Posts: 32
Run one for any length of time and you'll find out why there are few left, not that many where produced to begin with.

Your off the track more than on.


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