NW-Mailing-List Digest, Vol 92, Issue 5

[NW Mailing List]

Looks like a track gauge rod, used for measuring the correct distance
between the rails. If it's 56.5" between the inside points, it's for
standard gauge. Any other distance is a different gauge. In times
years ago, I have been privileged to work with 30", 36" and 5' 4.5"
gauge railroads and their similar gauge rods.

In some earlier times, the PRR used a 4' 9" or thereabouts gauge for
their rails.

Bob Cohen


 Today's Topics:

>

>    1. Fwd: help with train artifact (NW Mailing List)

>    2. Re: Fwd: help with train artifact (NW Mailing List)



> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

>

> Message: 1

> Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2013 08:47:27 -0500

> From: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

> Subject: Fwd: help with train artifact

> To: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

> Message-ID:

>         <CAAjE1GS2E31jfXgGHqnYPfvbbErwcNiX7ggTLdobZhYNhrYGig at mail.gmail.com>

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>

> Hello,

>

> I am an exhibit designer working on the new permanent exhibit at the

> History Museum of Western Virginia at the Center in the Square in Roanoke.

> We recently borrowed a "mail hook" from the Virginia Transportation Museum

> to use in a grouping of N&W tools. However, after doing some research, we

> don't think that it is actually a mail hook but a part of a tool of some

> kind. I was wondering if someone there (a train buff and/or historian)

> could identify this tool for us and let us know what it was used for,

> approximate date, and so on. I would be grateful for any help you could

> give me.

>

> Attaching images below. The tool is 36" in length.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Michelle Babyok

> michelle at design3va.com

>

>

> Moderator:

>  See images at:

> http://nwhs.org/wiki/show_image.php?id=242

> http://nwhs.org/wiki/show_image.php?id=243

> http://nwhs.org/wiki/show_image.php?id=244

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> ------------------------------

>

> Message: 2

> Date: Tue, 05 Feb 2013 09:59:01 -0500

> From: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

> Subject: Re: Fwd: help with train artifact

> To: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>

> Message-ID: <51111E35.3000102 at ieandwry.com>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

>

> Based on the ends I would suggest it is a measuring tool.  If the

> distance between the protruding part at the top and the two at the

> bottom is 36 inches, it is probably a track gage for industrial railroad

> track.

>

> Just a possibility, I don't qualify as an industrial archeologist.

>

> Jim Stapleton

> Purcellville VA

> ========================