In an old inventory of the RR shop where I used to work, there was one item listed as a "bulldozer". Questioning the old steam heads I worked with, some remembered it, but none really knew what it did or remembered seeing it in use. From their description, I gather that it was some type of homemade metal forming device, probably powered by an air cylinder. I've also seen one mentioned somewhere else (the Spencer Shops book?), but again, no description. Does anyone know what a bulldozer was?

bobyar2001@yahoo.com

I have heard it too. And having read your message it just bothered me that I could not remember how it was used.

Then it came to me. It is a form of shear or nibler. It has numerous cutting locations with openings to match different kinds of shapes such as angles, square rods, etc.

If I'm right, I walk right by one just about every weekend.

If I'm wrong, I'll let you know.

Brian Norden

bnorden@gateway.net

> In an old inventory of the RR shop where I
> used to work, there was one item listed as a
> "bulldozer". Questioning the old
> steam heads I worked with, some remembered
> it, but none really knew what it did or
> remembered seeing it in use. From their
> description, I gather that it was some type
> of homemade metal forming device, probably
> powered by an air cylinder. I've also seen
> one mentioned somewhere else (the Spencer
> Shops book?), but again, no description.
> Does anyone know what a bulldozer was?

A bulldozer was, according to the 1930 Loco Cyc: "... a machine for heading and forming metal parts, bars and plates such as arch bars, irregular sheets or shapes common to locomotive and car construction. The machine is used mostly for steel car parts."

A horizontal ram was used, with dies both on the ram and set against the fixed end posts.

hpincus@mindspring.com

> A bulldozer was, according to the 1930 Loco
> Cyc: "... a machine for heading and
> forming metal parts, bars and plates such as
> arch bars, irregular sheets or shapes common
> to locomotive and car construction. The
> machine is used mostly for steel car
> parts."

> A horizontal ram was used, with dies both on
> the ram and set against the fixed end posts.

Merriam Webster's 1909 dictonary puts it this way: "an upsetting machine, as in a forging or bending press, especially one operated by a hydraulic ram."

Brian Norden is describing an "ironworker", which is for chopping off bar, flat, and angle stock of all shapes and kinds.

Would anyone have a photo or drawing of a bulldozer?

Merriam Webster's 1909 dictonary puts it
> this way: "an upsetting machine, as in
> a forging or bending press, especially one
> operated by a hydraulic ram."

> Brian Norden is describing an
> "ironworker", which is for
> chopping off bar, flat, and angle stock of
> all shapes and kinds.


bobyar2001@yahoo.com

> If I'm wrong, I'll let you know.

Yes, I'm wrong. We do have a "bulldozer", but I got my machines confused.

The bulldozer we have was used in its latter years by the SF Muni to bend rails for track projects. We had the the machine in outside storage for years. We set up the machine and used it to bend rails for the replica wooden turntable recently completed for our 3' equipment display.

Brian Norden

bnorden@gateway.net

How about some photos and more description? To me, bending the ring rail of a turntable is probably the hardest part of such construction. Those who have tried to scratchbuild a model turntable know it is not as easy to make it operate well as it looks. I think our readers would like to know more. This could be a good short article..

Yes, I'm wrong. We do have a
> "bulldozer", but I got my machines
> confused.

> The bulldozer we have was used in its latter
> years by the SF Muni to bend rails for track
> projects. We had the the machine in outside
> storage for years. We set up the machine and
> used it to bend rails for the replica wooden
> turntable recently completed for our 3'
> equipment display.

> Brian Norden


bobyar2001@yahoo.com

> How about some photos and more description?

I'll see what I can do. I've got to borrow one of the digital cameras from work for a weekend to take some other pictures at the museum.

We did a write up for our newsletter on this part of the project. I was not part of the work parties. I'll see what I can dig up from the newsletter and other members.

For our Turntable I believe we used 60# rail for the inner and outer ring rails. It took our crew a while to get the procedure worked out. They passed the rail through several times as they mechanically bent the rail by striking it with the ram of the bulldozer while spacer blocks allowed for the rail to bend..

By the way, the turntable is a standard SP gallows style wooden gallows table. It is based upon SP drawings. Some changes were made to reflect the original still existing at Laws, California. It is also similar to the replica consturcted at Carson City at the Nevada State RR Museum. We borrowed the patterns from NSRM for our castings. A similar Turntable has been constructed at Fulton, California.

Brian Norden
Orange Empire Railway Museum


bnorden@gateway.net