Where does this part belong?

Hi Alex. I checked the engine parts diagram on the Lionel web site and could not see such a part. Do you think it can be from another engine or car? It looks like a wire holder or one side of a battery holder.

 

http://www.lionel.com/Customer...da-a0f3-5fa08dfaec18

 

I have found a variety of parts over the years on the track....most of the time I can't find where they came from so I keep loading them in the back of a truck/pickup on the layout.  I have quite a load in that pickup bed now....!!

 

Alan

Alan, that is funny about the pick up...I've been doing the same thing.

Don,

I looked at the cars that were there before the engine went through, and that part definitely does not belong to any of them. Next, which engines have I taken through that track? Not many, actually; but I looked at three with no luck.

 

Perhaps I'll just chill out a la Alan & Keith , put the part in a special 'homeless box', and let it go a that.

 

Thanks!

 

Alex

Keith...perhaps you and I can go into the junk business......??

 

Alex....that part resembles something like a passenger truck assembly I have seen..??  Have you run any passenger cars through this area?

 

Alan

Do the holes look like they have ever had a bolt or screw through them?  Just a guess, it could be part of a diesel front end assembly that holds the snow plow or front steps on.

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Dennis

the club made a magnet car to run around while cleaning the track.  we usually pick up small screws and metal shavings.  everyone should run a magnet car around their layout. the car is homemade using a piece of wood longer then a  flat car but the same width.  mount trucks on each end and two magnets before each truck.

Did you find any screws in your track? I would take a look at the engine you ran just before your Northern. It looks like a front truck retaining bracket.

Dennis -

Yes; there are tell-tale bolt head imprints on the 'inside' of the plate; i.e., the side opposite to the side that can be seen in the picture above. 

 

Alan - 

Yes; the part does look like it could belong on a car.

 

BigDodgeTrain, Chuck -

Those are good ideas, and no; I have not found or looked for screws. I'll rig up a car with a magnet and go screw-hunting!

 

THANKS!

 

Alex

Wild guess:  Possibly not from a train at all, but from a power tool?

 

Pete

This keeps nagging at me like I've see it before.  As I study it, it appears it may be a clip to hold something else i.e. the screws hold it tight while the tab end fits through a slot to hold on something else at one end like a lid that would swing up into a retainer on the other end of the lid or object.  Look above and see if you have a light fixture about to fall down.    The fact that it is black though, makes you think of trains.

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Dennis

Dennis, it's driving me crazy too. I've been looking at so many diagram's of engine's and tender's, but so far no luck. Maybe it's from something else like you said.

 

Alex

 

I found it!  It does go on the front of a diesel.  In my case it is the front walk-out from an MTH GP20.  I didn't put the snow plow on mine but maybe you remove it when you do.  That may be why your's is off.

 

 

 

 

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Dennis

The loco crew won't need that walkway except on a lash-up.

 

Well, don't think so. I checked my MTH GP-20, look totally different, plus the body hold it in place. If it shows signs of screw marks on the other side, it would have to point up, as it couldn't point down, it would hit the rails. Could have it possibly come from the  box? I know some Legacy engines have retainers as part of the packing to keep the loco/tender from shifting in the box.

Hee, hee.   That isn't it for sure. However, I think what I found was what was bugging my noggin making me think I had seen it before.  The gauge of the metal and painted black makes me believe it belongs underneath rolling stock or an engine.

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Dennis