I found this out on a walk tonight. It is copper... was attached to a long-discarded (and buried in some dirt) tie by two square-headed bolts. It says: 51-0 SPL-8 What is it?
I can't seem to find anything like this. I've found date-nails that some lines used to mark when the ties were put down etc... but I can't seem to find anything like this.
It was found, bolted in the middle of a discarded tie, along the UP/BNSF line here just south of Marysville, CA. I think the "SPL" might be Southern Pacific Lines? Just sitting here looking at it, on the back (the part that was against the tie), there is a set of numbers "50-8" that have had an "X" stamped through them.... like it had been made for one use and re-stamped for another date?
Not that I know of. The territory is single-track line... and arrow straight for about 15 miles in either direction. There is a river crossing by bridge about 3/4 of a mile away to the south.
Sure could be. If it is specifically for the tie, they may have used various codes for date, type of wood, treatment, and re-lay. Watch your PM. I'm going to give you an e-mail address to contact. Boxcab E50
No luck, Boxcab. He doesn't know what it is. I went out and walked about a mile up the line, where there are some other tie piles of old ties. None of them have a similar marker, nor do they have holes where the screws would go. I wonder if it's a mile-marker?
Boxcab, I think that it might be a phone box marker or a telagraph pole marker. The first set of numbers is the box number and the seconed set of letters and a number is the railroad and the track section in that division. That would be my guess I have seen something simmilar on Western Maryland poles and boxes. Lee "Still Training After All These Years"
That is a new idea.... but this was definately bolted in the middle of a tie. It was on so that you would have to be on the tracks between the rails looking up the line to read it. Is that where the WM markers you saw were?
No, I saw a simmilar marker on a wooden phone box lyeing off to the side of the right of way up at Thomas/Coketon, WVA. I will ask one of my buddy's in MOW at YD Tower this weekend.
I'm surprised that the fellow I sent JKD to, as a possible resource, might not have guessed. As date nailers often also collect pole nails, and the ID tags sometimes used. Boxcab E50
Would you know if it was on a switch tie? Nine foot plus. Any wire staoled to it? Id guess some inspection tag or referance to a crossing light shunt etc. installed at the location.
I'll head out and measure the tie tonight and take a couple pictures of it. I don't know of any locations along where I live that would have swtiches... but it might have come off the bridge (this is just a guess) about 1/4 of a mile south of us.
