Signal case question

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

Date: Wed, 19 Jan 2005 06:41:18 -0800 (PST) 
To: "NWHS mailing list" <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> 
From: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org
Subject:  Signal case question

Hello all.

I have an N&W position light signal that I'm getting
ready to erect at my house this spring.  I have all of
the signal components at my house except for the relay
case.  It is a US&S class S (semaphore) case.  I still
have yet to move this very heavy component because I
can't throw it in the back of a pickup truck.  I'm
looking into getting something to move it but I don't
know how much this thing weighs.  Can anyone tell me
how much a US&S Class S case weighs?

Ben Blevins


January 20, 2005

Hello, Ben:

I think the style of relay case you mentioned is
similar --maybe identical-- to ones that were moved to
the RMS Library this Autumn from the Roanoke area to
Boyce.  The guess of Richard Shell, Kenneth Miller,
and Nathan Simmons was that it is about 1,000 pounds
when the relays and transformers inside are removed. 
I think that is pretty close because we loaded them
into my 1987 Chevy P70 step-van with a lift-gate that
can handle 1,200 pounds.  It strained but raised it to
the level of the vehicle's bed.  We got it onto a
pallet that I put six heavy-duty, four-inch swivel
casters on, which made it more maneuverable for
positioning in the truck, as well as off-loading.  Our
other consensus was that you need four strong backs to
assist in loading.

How road-accessible is the relay case and where is it
going to?  If you want to take this off-line, my email
address appears below.

Good night and good morning,

Frank


=====
Dr. Frank R. Scheer, Curator
Railway Mail Service Library, Inc.
f_scheer at yahoo.com
(202) 268-2121 - weekday office
(540) 837-9090 - weekend afternoons 
in the former N&W station on VA rte 723 
117 East Main Street 
Boyce  VA  22620-9639
 
Visit at http://www.railwaymailservicelibrary.org