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Railroad items of yesteryear "Click" to Login or Register 
IHC Life Member
Picture of Douglas Addy
posted
Thought I would give you folks a interesting item
from the days of steam locomotives. I do know the answer and will supply at end. Many railroaders carried this item. What was its use?

Doug

 
Posts: 138 | Location: Magdalena, New Mexico USA | Registered: April 01, 2006
Railway Historian
IHC Life Member
Site Moderator
Picture of Larry Buchan
posted
It looks to me like a torch locomotive engineers used to inspect their engines at night. I have several of these that use kerosene and have a wick.
 
Posts: 3370 | Location: Okotoks Alberta Canada | Registered: November 22, 2002
IHC Life Member
Picture of Douglas Addy
posted
Larry

Actually this is much smaller than that. This item was used to remove cinders from the eye.. It seems to me to be a dangerous practice but was carried by a lot of engineers and firemen at least on the Erie railroad.

Doug
 
Posts: 138 | Location: Magdalena, New Mexico USA | Registered: April 01, 2006
IHC Member 163
Picture of Mark Cross
posted
A lot of blacksmith's used to keep these in their pockets as well.

Regards! Mark
 
Posts: 3831 | Location: Estill Springs, Tennessee, USA | Registered: December 02, 2002
Railway Historian
IHC Life Member
Site Moderator
Picture of Larry Buchan
posted
Isn't that interesting, a lot of the old-timers I work with from the steam era, said they used to use a loop of horsehair they kept in their wallets.

Larry Buchan
 
Posts: 3370 | Location: Okotoks Alberta Canada | Registered: November 22, 2002
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