Can anyone give me the dimensions for the push pole that an NKP Berkshire would have had stored on the tender? I want to have one replicated for NKP 755. Thanks in advance.
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@Allegheny48 posted:Can anyone give me the dimensions for the push pole that an NKP Berkshire would have had stored on the tender? I want to have one replicated for NKP 755. Thanks in advance.
You might contact the Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society and ask them. If their real 765 has a poling pole on the tender, they would surely know the size.
Not sure if this would be of help... Searched on "Railroading Push Pole" and found this link...
Industrial History: Poling Railroad Cars
Scrolling down the article, there are a couple photos labeled "2" and "3" of Pere Marquette's 2-8-4, 1225. I believe this engine is a similar (same?) product of Lima Locomotive Works as #755...maybe not...I'm no expert is such matters.
But photo #2 clearly shows the pole hanging on the tender adjacent to the rear truck...which should give you a reasonable estimate of its length since there must be a bazillion published plans for this iconic engine. Or, even scale it from an accurately done model. Or make a visit to Owosso, MI...I'm sure the crew would be helpful.
Then, again, I'm not a member of the Pickers-of Nits Society...so what 'looks good enough' to me may not satisfy others. And that's not to say that the 1225 folks didn't do similar due diligence in restoring their engine.
FWIW....
Lucas Gudinov
I worked as a truck mechanic. Many years with my father. We often moved dead vehicles around the yard in the same manner as the link listed above. Involved 3 people. 2 behind the steering wheels and one to place the board and direct the running vehicle into position. Once set you got far enough away from the scene in case the board let go. As a youngster not ever having seen anyone else do this. I thought he came up with the idea. I guess he must have spent some time at the rail yard and learned from the pros.
I only went by a picture and tried to scale it as best I could. Pretty sure it’s a 1/8 brass rod which scales out to 6”. You could also find a piece of stock that fits inside the circle of the poling pocket on one of your freight cars. In one of Nimke’s books on the Rutland. There was a picture of a 10 wheeler transformed into a switcher that had one hanging on the tender.
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So, the poles were made of wood. I believe they also had metal straps to keep the pole from splintering. Most likely at least three straps, one near each end and the third near the middle.
Tom
