items found around most North American tracks

[Chris750]

Working on my route and I was wondering what objects may be found around main lines and yards besides the following:

switches
crossing gates
relay boxes
telegraph poles
switch heaters

Is there anything else that is common that I am missing? I hope the meaning of what I am looking for is clear, I have looked at many online pictures and videos and that seems to be about it.

Thanks folks.

 

[RRSignal]

Tires, McDonald's cups and KFC boxes. Seriously.

 

[oknotsen]

Junk
Trash
Old ties
Old tracks
Hobos
Mile posts
Name signs
Flanger signs
Warning signs
Bell / horn / no-horn signs

 

[Chris750]

Thanks for the help. Got the whistle signs and names signs, should have included those. Never thought of junk and stuff like that; what is a flanger sign?

 

[oknotsen]

what is a flanger sign?

This will tell you what a flanger is. The last sentence tells you about the sign:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flanger_(railroad)
Various railroads use various versions of the sign and so far the documentation about them is very limited.

 

[mjolnir]

Chris, it would be useful to know what era, and what area your route is set in.

ns

 

[davesnow]

Me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Chris750]

Never heard of a flanger before. It only clears snow and such though from the link.

Anyway, it is modern era in Alberta (Medicine Hat route from Redcliffe to Irving).

 

[Chris750]

Ah, no one came up with defect detector/hotbox; I was looking at a CP employees handbook and they listed them on there, DOH!

 

[JCitron]

Add in... dragging equipment detector

Here's a flanger sign...

CPRail type.

There are other styles like simple blades, etc. They are used to tell the work crews when to lift the blades of the Jordan spreaders up when they come to crossings and switches.

 

[mjolnir]

A week and a half ago, I had the occasion to travel along the UP (ex CNW) line which roughly parllels US 30 across Iowa, and observed some things that perhaps should be added to your list. First, every control point, had at least one (and sometimes more) LP gas tanks, used (I presume) to power heat and AC in the relay boxes, and perhaps other things. Two of the control points had portable toilets, whether as permanent part of, or as a temporary addition to the installation, I couldn't tell. There were also solar power panels of various sizes, and most had evidence of satellite communication (dishes, &c) mounted on top of relay boxes, or on an adjacent pole. Near some grade crossings equipped with automatic gates, I saw a rack which held a few crossing arms, deployed for possible use. I assume, though I don't know for certain, that these were deployed near crossings where broken gates were more common. I also piles of ballast and gravel in a few places (I could tell the difference, the native gravel in the area had a different hue than the ballast.). Finally, my trip was just before the start of (highway) construction season, and in a couple of locations, I saw track and grade crossing material pre-positioned, apparently in anticipation or upgrade of the crossing in the near future.

ns

 

[Chris750]

Thanks, some good items to add in there. Sweet!