We ran across what appears to be a reverser handle of unknown provenance. It is the top one in the photo, and is pictured above a typical EMD drum controller handle for comparison. The short little rascal measures only 4-7/8" end-to-end.

Does anyone know what type of controller this small handle fits? It seems to fit nothing local, so our guess right now is that despite being vaguely EMD-ish in materials/workmanship, it is not for an EMD locomotive, but we really don't know. An ALCo, Baldwin or some other diesel-electric ? Maybe even something electric?

ETA: Maybe it isn't a reverser handle at all? It sure looks like one, but maybe it is some other type control handle.

Those look like old style EMD reversors, maybe they fit an SW-1, an F unit, E unit, or possibly an SD-7.

We have never seen an EMD reverser "bit" quite like the one on that short handle. For comparison, the following photo shows the three EMD reverser types we have run across that fit the EMDs on hand (they are shown in order of era, with the earliest one at the top, a "drum controller" type in the center and the latter "AAR" type at the bottom).

If that short handle in the original post is also an EMD reverser handle, then might EMD have actually had four different "bit" styles rather than three? If this stubby little thing isn't an EMD handle, hopefully someone will recognize what it actually is, as our knowledge of minority-builder diesel (or electric) reverser handles is alarmingly low.

Good question. With a bit of luck, Preston Cook will answer it for us...

The bottom reverser in the above photo looks like the standard shape for most Class I reversers I used over 15 years ago, but in brass. I have a brass one I bought from a co-worker/railfan and tried it in a control stand to make sure it would work. It did. I was planning on having it polished as a display piece, but a friend said it would be better to leave it unpolished.

Another example of these very short (approx. 4.85" OAL) handles has recently been examined, this one showing a lot more wear (see bottom three attached photos). It appears to have also helped beat on a brake handle or two.

Despite our best efforts, as of right now there has still been no positive ID on exactly what these small handles were used on, and - so far - no volunteer or retired railroader remembers even seeing one.

With each year, we lose a little more of our "institutional memory." Just last year we lost one of the local railroaders whose career went back to the days of last-gasp steam and doodlebugs. Identifying some of the more mundane things - such as these "mystery" handles - is going to be increasingly difficult.

My brain seems to think that the short ones fit non-MU EMD switchers? The bottom one in Gham55's photo kinda looks like an older GE? Maybe my synapses are misfiring....

The smallest brass reverse handle in the photo from Gham55 is the current size and shape of a modern reverser used on most major railroads. I have a brass reverser just like that and it fit the socket for a CSX loco just fine when I tried it about 20 years ago after I bought it from a railfan coworker. I wanted one for display, not to actually use.

I saw your old message about the unknown reverser. I recognize all of the EMD reversers but do not recall this one. It could be some type of switch engine reverser, not sure. However, it is not an Alco or GE road engine as GE made the control stands for both. I have attached a photo of these with Alco being the longer one on the top.

Sure looks like an Alco RS-3 reverse handle to me.

Howard P.

To add to Mr. Pincus's reply, the reverser in question does fit all Alco / MLW RSs (except an RS1), all Centuries and M-Lines. I am not sure however about M420Ws.

Yea, and it "looks like it would fit" some early U Boats, too. I'm thinking specifically of the ones with half notches on the throttle, which varied the excitation separately from the rack settings.

Thanks for the confirmation. I have no idea how I ended up with a new one.

IIRC, the style of reverser on an RS1 could be one of two types, depending on whether or not the unit was MU-capable.