Last night (Monday 2/26/07), NS made the first delivery of cars to the Guardian Fiberglass plant that now occupies what used to be the Mack Trucks plant in Winnsboro, SC. Since NS is using about a mile of SCRM's main line to reach the plant, a good-sized group of members turned up to co-supervise the first delivery along with the NS road foreman and his boss. I'll bet the crew just loved all the attention -- two NS supervisors, three guys from the plant, and at least 8-10 curious SCRM people. I managed to do it on the clock as the first rail delivery to a new area employer counts as news worthy of the newspaper. ;o)

Anyway, I saw the NS conductor using a telescoping pole with a hook on the end of it to wind high-level brake wheels. It was a neat tool and one I'd never seen used before.

The first time I climbed the end of a car to wind a hand brake wheel, it was a real thrill. The second high-level wheel was sort of fun. The third one was a bit of a nusiance. The fourth one could be described as a "rectal irritant." All subsequent high-level brake wheels have been entirely too much like work. Now, I find somebody else to send up those damned ladders if at all possible!

Anyway, after seeing the NS con using that pole thingie, I WANT ONE! Anybody know where I can get one? The sooner the better, we've got switching to do next Saturday that's going to involve a bunch of high-level brake wheels -- Greenbrier Siding is getting cleaned off for rebuilding.

BTW, here's a link to a pic of the NS local approaching the Guardian switch at MP 0.9. The big white guy (and he is BIG, at least 6'6") riding the end of the engine is the NS road foreman, the skinny black fellow is the con. Both real nice guys, BTW.

http://206.74.78.57/miscpix/IMGP4137.JPG

NS deliberately brought the biggest locomotive they had in Columbia, a D9-40CW "Catfish." Our President was a bit concerned about them getting around the 14-degree curve on the west side of the US 321 crossing. The flanges complained, but no more than they do when our SW8s hit that curve.

It's called an Omni "Sidekick" Brakestick. Omni Group Corp., Roanoke, VA.

http://www.omnigroupcorp.com/specs.html

Our guys use it everyday. Note, they're not cheap. As a non-profit, you might get lucky asking for a donation.

Alan Maples
Everett Railroad

I was going to buy one for my kid, whose still occassionally gets bumped back to conductor from engineer when things get slow. The larger of the two is $348 plus shipping and handling. He can buy his own.

I note NS units have a holder attached to the electrical cabinet to store these things. They have probably improved the design, but several years ago, a conductor got a big settlement when one of these sticks broke and he fell and was injured. One problem is that with no more COT&S requirements, so many handbrakes have gone so long without oil it requires two hands and a lot of force just to turn the wheel - not to tighten the chain, just turn the brake wheel period. Safety first - unless it costs money...

Thanks for the link to the company's website. I looked over their site and shot off an email yesterday afternoon. I must say I'm very positively impressed with the company.

Rather than emailing back, someone from Omni tracked down the Museum's phone number and called it this afternoon. Of course, the Rockton depot number is an auto-attendant system during the week. We also publish the Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce number, though, so he tried that one. I'm not sure if it was Terry or Susan who he talked to, but they told him he could reach me at the newspaper (God I love small towns!). So, he called me at work.

I had asked if they could donate a stick to the Museum -- they're a small company so he had to turn me down, very apologetically. I wanted a stick anyway, so I ordered one. I mentioned that we're going to be moving some stuff of the Greenbrier Siding on the 10th, so I was hoping to have the stick by then. The man told me he'd see to it that I got it by the 10th. It's even going to be engraved with "SCRM" and a date-based serial number.

The price has gone up, though. The standard stick was just under $400. I expect it to pay for itself after about three brake wheels, though. :o) It's also designed to open knuckles without stepping into the gauge. I think it will also help with coupling coaches with self-centering couplers on curves.

Once I get the stick and use it, I'll post my thoughts on how it works.

FOUR Hundred bucks for a handbrake stick? Now, over the years, I've been accused of spending money like a drunken sailor on shore leave, but really now, for $400, your guys can't climb a ladder and set a brake? What if this thing is at the "other" end of the railroad when you have to set a handbrake?

I can understand these things on big railroads with lots of money (and lots of FELA lawyers hovering), but, wow....

I guess I'm just a thrifty New Englander (not to be confused with a "Cheap Yankee"), but I think as "preservation railroaders", we should be doing most things in the traditional way, especially the "working skills" of railroading. I do draw the line at link and pin couplers, though.

Howard P.
Stemwinder, CT

You are not the only one Howard. My knees are going to have to get a lot worse before I spend $400.00 for something I can do with my feet and hands for free. Besides, being an old fat man I need the exercise. Who needs a gym fee if you have enough hand brakes to set. I am saving money twice.

John Bohon

My conductor, being a thrifty dutchman, made his own from a length of alumninum tubing, put a cap on it and welded a steel tee to the top, all for less than $10. Of course, his does not telescope (shorter) but it is functional just the same. He started using it last week and it works great, he loves it.
Working for a shortline without deep pockets calls for a little ingenuity.