I did a search on RYPN and elsewhere and came up with some good info, however, has anyone recently installed journal box dust guards of the 'home brew' variety for 4 1/4 X 8 boxes? What was your fix? Not interested in the wood trick, although I did find a rather unique design utilizing two threaded rods with springs and nuts that allowed the dust guard to move with the axle. Trouble was that once the wood swelled it, no longer would float in the slot. The biggest problem with wood is that should you have to jack the box up (ie:check/change the brass) the wood crushes and the dust guard is damaged with the resultant oil leak. This is why 'Unity' filed a patent for their bellows design.

A 'Unity' style dust guard with the bellows would be grand. I did see a version of dust guard that used a plastic backer board with a neoprene gasket material attached to the journal bore and a type of automotive weatherstripping stapled to the perimeter of the plastic backer board. Bummer that neither outfit is in business anymore or have disappeared into obscurity.

Working on an 1891 Rogers of infamous character and looking to 'do it right'. Any info appreciated...


Erik Young
CSRM Foundation
SRY#3 Restoration Team
Railtown 1897 SHP
Jamestown, CA

When I was in the process of restoring the CGW-601 caboose, which has the 4 1/4 X 8 journals, we had to change an axle that was damaged. As you have done, I looked everywhere for the plastic ones that used to be standard. When I could not find them, I used an old guard as a pattern, and used synthetic carpet padding(not foam), which looks somewhat like felt and is availble at carpeting stores. I used two layers to obtain the necessary thickness. The two layers had to be riveted/bolted together to allow them to be pushed into the sideframe and maintain their proper shape. They are plyable, wick journal oil, wear extremely well and seem to seal the rear of the journal box well, as I have not found dirt in the boxes as they are inspected prior to service. They move in the cast groove of the of the sideframe. To keep the water out, I left them short of the top of the openning of the sideframe. Above the space I used foam "backer rod," which is used when caulking large gaps before applying caulk. The top of the area where the dust guard goes into the sideframe was then caulked with butyl caulk, which seals exceptionally well and does not get hard and brittle. We now use butyl caulk to seal the top of all dustguard opennings of sideframes and it has done a great job of keeping wateer out of the journal boxes. Hope that yhis helps.