What Did I Find?

Looks like a modern air shocks for a hi rail vehicle hood. Doesn't appear to be anything related on a train or railcar.

That is a gas filled cylinder used on millions of cars and SUV's.  It is typically used in pairs on the rear lift gate/hatch.

Yep, lift gate air shock sold on most vehicles today... 

Looks more like it's off a storm door to me, but essentially it's what everyone says. It controls the closing of a hatch, hood, door of some sort.

Simon

Possibly of a gang /tool box cover on a MOW machine, but is a gas strut. 

Welcome Ashlyn, gas strut. The real question is how careful are you being on the tracks.TOO often we read of accidents here caused by folks not being careful enough while doing things along the rails. Seems like the train always wins

Adriatic posted:

Welcome Ashlyn, gas strut. The real question is how careful are you being on the tracks.TOO often we read of accidents here caused by folks not being careful enough while doing things along the rails. Seems like the train always wins

Haha thanks! I'm always very careful around the tracks and never go alone. My boyfriend's son was killed by a train, so I tend to be extra careful and only go in the middle of town. Otherwise I'm never on the tracks. Thank you for the concern!!! That is very kind, and I appreciate it so much.

Sorry to hear that  

The tracks cut 20min off my long walk from school.

I've had the noise from walking on ballast mask the sound of a train behind me. Thank God for horns and alert engineers. I mostly stayed off the ties after that.

Before that I hopped a slow roller only to have it speed up (well over the speed limit). I jumped rather than travel for a few hours to northern Michigan. I got lucky there too My bloody hands, elbows, knee and a twisted ankle soothed buy  some remaining spring snow after removing the embedded rocks from my skin. Up north was still much colder at the time is real reason I jumped.

The worst part is I knew better, but thought "hey, it's slow and they only do 25 max the next 2 miles." 

My Great Grandmother was killed by a trolley. My best pal lost his dad that didn't hear one. My uncle and four others died at a crossing. My cousin lost her new husband train surfing in New Zealand on their honeymoon. (Ok, that was just plain stupid) and I grew up rail fanning with Lionel collecting Grandpa.

Walking off ties on ballast sucks, but we want some Cajun railfan pictures out of you, don't screw up OK