Railroad Bar

[petertay]

We have a five-foot long pry bar, round at one end, square and tapered on the other. Is it really railroad related, we don’t know. But my question is, Why does it have a serial number stamped in it? Why would such a tool need to have a specific number?

 

[Jim.ME]

We have a five-foot long pry bar, round at one end, square and tapered on the other. Is it really railroad related, we don’t know. But my question is, Why does it have a serial number stamped in it? Why would such a tool need to have a specific number?

is it a serial number or a part number? Pictures?

 

[Gambles]

But my question is, Why does it have a serial number stamped in it? Why would such a tool need to have a specific number?

Theft prevention or aiding in prosecution?
I know a few railroaders and it’s amazing the mass amount of tools they have..that suspiciously looks like may have once belonged to the railroad.

 

[used red MN]

is it a serial number or a part number? Pictures?

Might as well say, here put on these handcuffs! In reference to the photo “I know nothing”! That hammer has given persuasion to many a pieces of stubborn iron.

 

[ss55]

We have a five-foot long pry bar, round at one end, square and tapered on the other. Is it really railroad related, we don’t know. But my question is, Why does it have a serial number stamped in it? Why would such a tool need to have a specific number?

Sounds like an inching bar, originally used for moving boxcars by hand. The angled end goes against the rail and is wedged under the wheel. Lift up on the handle so the square shank contacts the wheel to start the wheel rolling slowly. Repeat quickly to build a little rolling momentum. Two people working together with two bars helps a lot.

Also used to inch heavy factory machinery into position.

 

[Gambles]

Sounds like an inching bar, originally used for moving boxcars by hand. The angled end goes against the rail and is wedged under the wheel. Lift up on the handle so the square shank contacts the wheel to start the wheel rolling slowly. Repeat quickly to build a little rolling momentum. Two people working together with two bars helps a lot.

Also used to inch heavy factory machinery into position.

My brother used to work for the railroad many years ago and he gave my dad a super heavy jack and the OP is describing the handle that went to it.
I don’t remember it having any serial numbers.

 

[Tony in SD]

You are describing an alignment bar used to move the rail back into proper alignment. I don’t ever recall a serial number on any I used when I worked on the rr 50 years ago.

 

[Vito]

We called them pinch bars.

Vito

 

[Blackhole49]

I have a couple and every underground contractor around here had them back in the day. We always called them railroad bars. They probably don't do it any more, but here is a crew.

 

[Watthour]

Like this?

 

[kencombs]

I've got one of those too, but didn't know it was rail related. Just used and seen used to move heavy stuff, which I guess describes rails.

 

[Mule Meat]

Could be numbers used by a tool room when handing tools.

 

[Brian G. NY]

Could be numbers used by a tool room when handing tools.

Sounds logical......part of a formal inventory system maybe.

 

[Russ from MN]

We had those most everyplace I worked doing industrial maintenance, most everyone just called them crow bars. If you google crow bar you find True Temper has one called a wedge point crow bar, 60 inches long. The one in our shop had (Bob's 30-06 ) stenciled on the side, Bob had a 30-06 and Jim said it was nothing but a crow bar. We had fun at the paper mill sometimes!

 

[chvet73]

Still use one all the time. We have very rocky soil. It’s great for digging out rocks and moving them.

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

I have a couple and every underground contractor around here had them back in the day. We always called them railroad bars. They probably don't do it any more, but here is a crew.

Pretty sure they were called gandy dancers.

 

[Oregon Tractor Jack]

Spud bar to me. We have very rocky soil also and with out one of these you would not be digging any holes.

OTJ

 

[Watthour]

And I always thought a "railroad bar" was where the gang ended up after a long day of laying 4 miles of track by hand.

 

[Leroy]

I've got one of those too, but didn't know it was rail related. Just used and seen used to move heavy stuff, which I guess describes rails.

I have a bar that fits the description but no numbers and was told by my family over 50 years ago it was made from a drive shaft from a model T Ford.. No way to confirm as all family is now gone. I am last one of family and now 81 years old.

 

[Steve in VA]

We have a five-foot long pry bar, round at one end, square and tapered on the other. Is it really railroad related, we don’t know. But my question is, Why does it have a serial number stamped in it? Why would such a tool need to have a specific number?

I just looked at mine and find no numbers of any kind. It's been around since I can remember.