Can You Identify This Part

Looks to be something that clips into place using the hooked arms. Maybe the door of a small battery reservoir?

Check your engines and/or rolling stock for something that would receive the outline with holes for the arms, you might find the matching dimension of the footprint.

Since it was found between the rails, it has to be something that was operated recently.

Insulator for a roller pickup?

If you provide the operating environment you have, it might narrow down what it could be. Track type? Pre or Postwar? Any particular brand you operate? (Lionel-MTH-Atlas,Weaver, etc.)

Possibly an MTH drawbar retainer?

The drawbar retainer doesn't look anything like that.  FWIW, I found one of those in my parts box of stuff I just toss in if I don't need it or don't know what it is.  I still don't know what it is...

Didn't know. I don't recognize it either. Can't tell from the picture, but are those brakeshoes on the top side?

This might be a bearing cap of some kind for a truck.  It must have fallen off something you own while running.

Thanks to all those who have thus far replied. The best guess I read is something akin to a truck. I have been using a couple of different passenger cars as i have been wiring in LCS control over blocks (for turning on/off with BPC2s, or uncoupler control with ACS2). The cars i will check are three different Chicago Alton passenger form the 1980s, and one NYC Empire State Express.

FYI which I should have given earlier ... My environment is all Lionel (and some Kline) - no MTH - Legacy and some TMCC and post-war - all Fastrack - LCS - ZW(L) and two ZW(R) power.

If anyone has other suggestions i welcome them - like GRJ said ... "I don't know whast it is" but I bet I will find out when I least expect it.

Thanks, truly ...

-Ken

I remember seeing this in the past mentioned here, that's why I think it belongs on some truck.

Ken, can you post a pic of the part with the "ears" in a side view? I still think this thing clips into something else using what appear to be "horns" on the ends of the arms. And, are those circular dark spots metallic?

Here's a few other views - see extra pics.

The part is all plastic. Only one hole - a square hold in the center. There are four white dots surrounding the square hole.

_ken

You need to get a focused picture of the item.

OK, so the first picture confirms to me that this piece clips into place into the opening that it goes. You can see the angles on the top of the arms that would settle into a recess, similar to an automotive connector that can be undone to disconnect it. I would look at the underside of your rolling stock to see if the shape of the piece is there to be filled by it. I think it would be pushed in base-first.

Cup holder that bounced out of a ‘58 ford on a rough crossing.🤣

Hi 452 Card,

Thanks for the steer - I will look at the undersides of cars i had recently taken out.

All,

When I find the unknown part answer I will shout out to those who replied.

- Ken

The square hole looks like it would fit over an LCS reader on the bottom of a legacy loco or car.

Thanks Chuck. I will look into the few engines i have had out to see if i knowcked something off some how.