more mill dump finds

taz42o · May 19, 2009

Found this RR lock today in steel mill dump where I work, there was also RR spur and a electric trolley that ran through this area. the lock reads Adlake on key hole cover and pc -76 on back nothing on shackle .
Any idea what year it is?
I also find a few hundred pounds of RR spikes each week this one has a strange shape and is 9 inches long. Very large for a RR spike.
Did they use RR spike this large? Maybe in steel mill?

BioProfessor · May 20, 2009

Looks like a pole climbing spike to me.

Daryl

chipveres · May 20, 2009

This website:

www.railcarhobbies.com/servlet/the-15/PENN-CENTRAL-PCRR-PC/Detail - 14k -

Says that the markings on your lock stand for Penn Central 1976.

Chip V.

Monty · May 20, 2009

They do use spikes that long on the larger ties you find where the tracks cross a roadway. That's because the ties are much larger than ordinalry track ties. Monty

taz42o · May 20, 2009

chipveres said:
This website:

www.railcarhobbies.com/servlet/the-15/PENN-CENTRAL-PCRR-PC/Detail - 14k -

Says that the markings on your lock stand for Penn Central 1976.

Chip V.

Thanks for link that is the same lock. Ill have to clean it better maybe more markings that Im missing.

taz42o · May 20, 2009

BioProfessor said:
Looks like a pole climbing spike to me.

Daryl

It may be a climbing spike, it is an odd shape for RR spike its just hard to tell in my poor pictures. the curve in it is made that way not bent and the head also has a curve not like regular RR spike.

Monty · May 21, 2009

Taz42o, I think you are talking about a Piton spike. No, I think this is just a spike that was bent when it was removed from the tie. My opinion is based on a bisic knowledge of RR gear plus the location in which it was found. Real good guess though I think Monty

IronSpike · May 21, 2009

It does have an unusual curved shape and also appear thinner on the last 4". Guess for climbing spike the narrow 4" inch portion would be hammered in and remaining portion would function as the thread.

Maybe post another bigger pic of the 9" spike. As Monty points out the RR finds at same location are good indicators. Was the spike bent while being pulled out? It would almost take the power/force of a train to bend a RR spike :icon_scratch: