Don't know if this has been discussed here before. The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum could use some heavy metal step boxes. These are often for sale as collectibles, at rather high prices. We don't need "authentic" railroad step boxes with railroad names embossed, just some we could use for passengers to board and detrain safely. Does anybody still make these?

Thanks.

Les

These are repop's not sure of construction but sure look OK. No info or weight listed!

https://www.houzz.com/photos/67557534/E ... tep-stools

RDGRAILFAN -

Thanks for this possibility. I looked the site up, and am confused. Four different entries for what appears to be the same 3 pictured step boxes. Quite a difference in prices. And in the dimensions! AND.....what they are made of! Wood (Nyet!) Plastic (NO!) 100% iron. I guess I'm a bit scared about this whole entry. I'll report it to the museum, but if it was just me, I'd probably take a pass. But..thanks again!

Les

Just search for "adjustable Jump Box" or "adjustable step stool" a lot of RV places have them, they won't be a authentic but they will work.

RCD -

Sorry....Negative!


Les

If I remember correctly, the Illinois Railway Museum recently built a number of their own in their shops. I think the process was outlined on the Hicks Car Works blog.

The Marc cars Septa leased have nice step boxes- big with a wide base, rubber feet and made out of aluminium so they are very light weight. I didn't see any makers mark or part # on them.

looked a little closer, product specifications are on the side below the price, which I do not get either...same Item 3 prices.....says made of Iron?
Listing might be like amazon...same product just different fulfillment vendors?

https://www.houzz.com/photos/67557534/E ... tep-stools

Product Specifications

Manufactured By
IMAX Worldwide Home
Sold By
Houzz
Size/Weight
W 10.25" / D 16.75" / H 12" / 5.5 lb.
Materials
100% Iron
Assembly Required
No
Category
Ladders And Step Stools
Style
Rustic

Any decent fab shop should be able to make these easily. There is not all that much that goes into them..

Many moons ago, in far-off New Jersey, High Iron Company solved the step box problem by making a couple dozen out of heavy (3/4") marine-grade plywood. They duplicated the size and shape of the traditional slant-sided step boxes, with beveled joints and proper hand-holes, etc. Painted yellow, the tops were black with sand sprinkled into the wet paint for anti-slip protection,

A good railway museum wood worker or wood shop should be able to make these, and they'd be reasonably inexpensive. And, not something anyone is going to want to take, like a nice, traditional steel step box.

The open-sided, round-tube with rubber feet type is currently used by Amtrak; figure out what company makes these, and you should be able to get them "off the shelf".

Howard P.

Howard -

One of our members made some wood "replica's" and we have used them for years. Unfortunately, on certain of our trains, we load/unload onto stone and the wood step boxes have a tendency to shift, especially if not "squarely" stepped upon. Surprisingly, some or our passengers do exactly that, and we have had some problems. The old metal ones seem much more stable. We just don't have enough of them.

Not sure about the "Amtrak" type. Will have to see if I can find a photo. That may be a possible answer. Thanks for mentioning that possibility.


Les

Western Railway Museum purchased several medical step stools through government surplus several years ago. We use them on our boarding platform and also carry them on trains.

Here is a similar commercial product:
Step stool

Amtrak step stool:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/thestressica/3285483969

Lot's of websites seem to sell the step boxes that were found on Houzz, so I think it's a legit product. On Walmart's listing for them, it says the assembled product is 2lbs. They must be made out of sheet metal in the look of the old step boxes.

https://www.google.com/#q=Ella+Elaine+Train+Step+Stools

The price of the Houzz product looks attractive, but as a retired Amtrak OBS attendant who has boarded and detrained thousands of passengers, I have a few reservations.

First, I noticed that the corners of the top surface appear to be sharp, square angles. A rounded corner would be safer because it would be less likely to produce an ankle or shin injury in the event of a misstep. Note that there are no sharp corners in the Amtrak design. See the picture posted by Junior this morning.

Second, the top surface may or may not be non-slip. I would want to be sure the passenger's foot has a firm grip on the surface, especially in inclement weather.

Third, the Houzz product appears to be iron, which would probably be fine. The assembly method is important. These things are often treated roughly, so it's important that they be assembled well enough that they will hold up, no matter how many times they are dropped, thrown, etc.

Tom