hand rails needed

Scott R. · **Joined:** Sun Oct 18, 2009 11:25 pm **Posts:** 11

Does anyone know where I can get replacement handrails (quarter rounds) for an N5-B?
Thanks
Scott

Howard P. · **Posted:** Sat Nov 14, 2009 12:54 am

Well, it looks like you have the brackets, which are important parts. There are grab iron suppliers, but you may want to find a local "hobby blacksmith" and have them made. Measurements can be obtained from other PRR N5s, if needed. I happen to know of one near me....

This outfit used to make a wide range of rail car grab irons; try them first.

http://www.engines-inc.com/index.html

Howard P.

Scott Kwiatkowski · **Posted:** Sat Nov 14, 2009 8:41 am

Scott,

I have an N5 the only difference between your N5b and an N5 is the hand rails are about 6" taller to the belt line.

My cabin is in the shop for some interior work and I will be removing the handrails for the planned work. let me know if you need a template.

Scott Kwiatkowski
Templateville, NJ a.k.a the other planet
www.prrllc.com

Howard, your slipping!

mincy21 · **Joined:** Thu Nov 09, 2006 10:25 am **Posts:** 125

Check the parts dept at Ozark Mountain Railcar.com

SZuiderveen · **Posted:** Sat Nov 14, 2009 1:04 pm

Take a look at this previous post. They will need a sketch, but you will get an OEM quality product. I suspect these would be less than $100 a piece and two months delivery. I am a satified customer.

http://rypn.sunserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=27684&p=127576#p127576

Steve

k5ahudson · **Joined:** Tue Aug 24, 2004 6:30 am **Posts:** 773

Easy to make for anyone with any kind of welding and/or cutting torch experience. I made 4 quarter round handrails last year very similar to yours for our Pullman troop sleeper. They cost virtually nothing to make because I made them out of scrap we just had kicking around. The turned out looking just like the originals. I'd show you the finished product if I had a picture of the end of the car, but I don't. Only a side view.

SZuiderveen · **Posted:** Sun Nov 15, 2009 12:26 am

k5ahudson wrote:

Easy to make for anyone with any kind of welding and/or cutting torch experience. I made 4 quarter round handrails last year very similar to yours for our Pullman troop sleeper.

I can tell you with some authority that it would be unwise to operate this particular troop sleeper in any kind of FRA regulated service in the future. Welded safety appliances are not allowed by the FRA, except for some very special circumstances under factory controlled conditions. Field inspectors take this seriously; a brakeman was killed in Texas a year ago due to an improper weld repair on a hand brake stand.

Steve

k5ahudson · **Joined:** Tue Aug 24, 2004 6:30 am **Posts:** 773

SZuiderveen wrote:

I can tell you with some authority that it would be unwise to operate this particular troop sleeper in any kind of FRA regulated service in the future. Welded safety appliances are not allowed by the FRA, except for some very special circumstances under factory controlled conditions. Field inspectors take this seriously; a brakeman was killed in Texas a year ago due to an improper weld repair on a hand brake stand.

Steve

We never have and never will operate it under any kind of FRA regulated service. Why's that you ask? Because we are in Canada and the railways are come under the authority of Transport Canada. Rules are much more lenient for tourist railways here operating under 15 mph.

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Sun Nov 15, 2009 11:41 am

These may not be anything like what you want, but the Boothbay Railway Village has an old Maine Central caboose that is thoroughly rotted out, and collapsing into a heap of wet rubble. It still has all the grab irons and metal appliances. Literally, one could pull them off the pile. You might see if they will give them to you. The caboose has to go and it would represent some level of salvage before the whole thing is buried or shoved into the woods as compost.
Hey, it's just a thought.