Wooden handle

[NW Mailing List]

 On Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 09:17:49 PM EDT, John Baldwin asked: "I recently ran across a wooden handle of stick supposedly used in railroad work. Was told it was used as a handle for throwing switches. 30 inches long and possibly made of oak. Just wondering if this is railroad related in any way?"

It is a brake club. See: https://www.reddit.com/r/railroading/comments/13takmg/brake_sticks_back_by_popular_demand/ It also makes a handy weapon for self-protection against a threatening hobo.

Good night,

Dr. Frank R. Scheer, Curator
Railway Mail Service Library, Inc.
f_scheer at yahoo.com
(540) 837-9090 - daytime cell
In the 1913 former N&W Railway depot along Clarke County route 723
117 East Main Street
Boyce, VA 22620-9369 

  
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