Rail washers on steam locomotives?

[NW Mailing List]

from *6. Locomotives on the Madison Hill 
*http://hometown.aol.com/ma393/railroad/locomotives.htm

About 30 paras. down the page

'They also had rail washers to clear fallen leaves from the rail.'

Dominic. London

NW Mailing List wrote:

>

> What are the “rail washers” that were on steam locomotives? When were 

> they used or what exactly were they used for? Is there an equivalent 

> “rail washer” on diesel locomotives?

>

>

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