[CBQ] Dutch Drop

["cvlk" <cvlk@comcast.net>]

I checked a couple of good general references I have on railroad folklore and 
they don't have any explanation for the origin of the term "Dutch Drop".

There is a reference to a "Dutch clock" which was a speed recording mechanism.  
 The illustration was for the Santa Fe, which had installed the device in 
waycars and set it to 18 miles an hour, which was the speed that freights were 
to be operated at... not under, and not over.   The crews figured out that by 
slamming the waycar into the standing train at exactly 18 miles per hour it 
would record that speed from then on no matter what speed the train was going.

Probably nothing to do with the switching manuever, but interesting.

Charlie Vlk

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CBQ/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CBQ/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    CBQ-digest@yahoogroups.com 
    CBQ-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    CBQ-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/