Why is the handrail on Center Cupola steel caboose in a big curve on the lower corners?
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@Charly posted:Why is the handrail on Center Cupola steel caboose in a big curve on the lower corners?
A photo of what you are asking about would be VERY helpful.
I think pretty much all cabooses had that feature. In the steam era, it wasn't unusual for the conductor and/or brakeman to step off the caboose to give hand signals to the engine crew to start the train forward. Once the train started, the conductor would hop on the rear platform. With the curved handrail, I think the idea was he could put his hand on the lower part as the caboose rolled by, and the curve of the handrail would lead his hand up as he jumped onto the step.
It was very helpful when trying to board a moving caboose. The Trainman often was practically trying to run on uneven ballast that was on a slant and the curved grab iron gave him something low to grab onto and swing himself aboard.
Here's a link to a model of a USRA-style caboose, but virtually all cabooses had the same curved handrails near the steps at each end.
Here is a link to a silent movie with Fatty Arbuckle…showing how the curved handrail on the caboose is used…
https://youtu.be/heaWlrvAraE?si=dLikb74qADbPDqaZ
Tom
If you've ever boarded one at 8-10 mph, you will understand.
I used it once and never again!. Too far away from the steps and would really stretch your arm out trying to use it. Dangerous in my opinion!
Silent movie comedies were often "undercranked" - literally, the guy cranking the film through the camera turned the crank slower than normal so when projected at regular speed the film would be speeded up and even jerky. I suspect in the Fatty Arbuckle clip the train may actually have been going slower than it appears in the film. Plus he does grab the handrail with both hands, which would be less of a strain than if he did it with one.
BTW virtually all cabooses had this feature. If it didn't work and/or was dangerous, it wouldn't have lasted 100 years.
I never saw anyone use that handrail either!
This wonderful 1946 GN safety film shows crewmen getting on a caboose - scoot ahead to 11:30 in (although you may want to watch the whole thing!) to see it.
To try to show you how unsafe it was to use that curved handrail, in the photo below, with the train moving right to left, when mounting the caboose , you were supposed to grab on to the handrail with your left hand while planting your right foot into the bottom right corner of the steps. even with my 6'1" frame that stretched my wingspan to its absolute limits. Take into account that you had your grip and that heavy radio hanging on your shoulder didn't help things any! Mid-way up that curve and you are way too far away from a safe landing!
It was much easier to grab the vertical handrails, both left and right (even though the left rail was a bit in from the edge of the carbody) when mounting the cab. And I'll tell you another secret that the RR didn't want you to do, but, was much safer to me. Catch the front of the cab where both handrails were wide open to being grabbed!!!
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@wjstix posted:This wonderful 1946 GN safety film shows crewmen getting on a caboose - scoot ahead to 11:30 in (although you may want to watch the whole thing!) to see it.
Found this interesting. Especially the part where they mention 1/4 of their casualties resulted from falls. It reminds me of a company that had us consult with them on Safety. They had a goal of only 1 death that year. They had 4 the year before, they thought it was a good goal. It took a while to convince them that the only good goal was 0.
I suspect when getting onto a slow moving caboose, most guys just grabbed the top part of the curved handrail with one hand and the outside handrail with the other. They wouldn't stretch out to reach the bottom of the curved handrail.
Nobody that I knew!
Keep in mind that there were very few places that were high enough to have had perect footing! Most places were at the foot of the ballast or worse and reaching up that high would have a real stretch!
@Big Jim posted:I used it once and never again!. Too far away from the steps and would really stretch your arm out trying to use it. Dangerous in my opinion!
Did you not run along the train, for a short while, before grabbing the handrails or launching yourself. off the ground?
I grew up in India, jumping in and out of moving trains and buses, and I always attempted to match the speed, for a moment, before grabbing the handrails or jumping on.
These are just my opinion,
Naveen Rajan
Yes, many times running beside the train to catch on...and not just on the caboose!
