Okay, stupid question time... What are the white, curved pieces on the side of the caboose, next to the steps? Are they some sort of hand rail, or stylized diagonal brace, or what? Why are they curved? Stupid minds want to know...
They are handrails. I don’t know why they are curved. A straight vertical handrail would seem to work fine.
That's what I would assume too, but I still can't figure out how they are better than a vertical handrail on the side of the caboose, next to the steps. I don't understand how their curvature away from the steps would help for that.
I also don't see how the curved handrail helps in any way. There must be a reason for it since, to the best of my knowledge, most cabooses have those curved handrails.
perhalps when they grab that there hand can slide upwards as they get on board while its in motion......
Best explanation in the thread: When the train is moving and the conductor or trainman is getting on, you always get on the end of the caboose after it has passed you, not the front as it approaching you. If you fell getting on the front you might go under the wheels. The long horizontal part of the curved handle gave you a place to start grabbing the railing before the steps reached you, so that you could slide your hand along it and pay more attention where the steps were and not where to be putting your hand. https://www.mylargescale.com/threads/why-do-cabooses-have-those-long-curved-handrails.6122/
Thanks MK, that makes sense. I’ve known for years that cabooses had those curved handrails but never knew why.
But, do you have FerroMex? Or did I miss that? I always liked the old NdeM paint job on a GE, that would look nice alongside these!
got the ferromex covered now need to work on the kcs im hoping some one will trade these norfolk southern for kcs units if not I’ll paint them got the paint and decals
