Is this a railroad lock?

[Charmin]

I went to a garage sale today and found this old lock. The man who had the sale said it was a railroad lock. It is made by Yale and has on the hinge part of the lock: MADE FOR S.T.-L. & S.F. RY. (also has these letters on the old key). The lock kinda hangs up and you have to just turn the key 1/2 way to get it to open .
What railroad was this from or is it even a railroad lock? The lock measures 5 1/2" x 2 1/2".
I looked on eBay and couldn't find any other locks like this. The only thing on there was a "switch" key(what is that?).
Thanks for looking and any help!
kind regards~~sandcreek4

 

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[stoney56]

I think that is a Saint Louis & San Francisco railroad lock. They call them switch locks as they lock switches that allows trains to change tracks (change lanes per se).

 

[Charmin]

I think that is a Saint Louis & San Francisco railroad lock. They call them switch locks as they lock switches that allows trains to change tracks (change lanes per se).

Thanks so much Stoney! That's just what I needed to know .
regards~~sandcreek4

 

[stoney56]

You're welcome. The Frisco operated until 1980 and then the name was changed to Burlington Northern.

The main use of the switch is to channel one train over onto a siding, either to pick up and drop cars or to pull over while a train going the opposite direction goes by.

 

[dozer dan]

I think that is a Saint Louis & San Francisco railroad lock. They call them switch locks as they lock switches that allows trains to change tracks (change lanes per se).

i just gotta ask ..................................are ya sure?


are ya just absolutly sure its not st. louis & santa fe R.R.?


chugga, chugga, cugga, toot!, toot!

 

[stoney56]

I think that is a Saint Louis & San Francisco railroad lock. They call them switch locks as they lock switches that allows trains to change tracks (change lanes per se).

i just gotta ask ..................................are ya sure?


are ya just absolutly sure its not st, louis & santa fe R.R.?

693 SLSF BN St Louis-San Francisco Ry %1980.9 BN %

http://cta.ornl.gov/transnet/wconv.txt

 

[dozer dan]

yer a hard man mc'gee! sounds like you been around them a bit.

 

[IronSpike]

Here's a yale RR lock that looks much like yours.

http://www.mccullohantiques.com/pict1822.jpg

 

[Charmin]

Here's a yale RR lock that looks much like yours.

http://www.mccullohantiques.com/pict1822.jpg

Yes, that does look just like it! Except this one of mine has been painted silver.
Thank you IronSpike for the link !!
kind regards~~sandcreek4

 

[Monty]

They're calling these switch locks, but all the ones I've seen don't have a chain. No doubt a RR lock, but possibley to lock something besides a switch. My wife is a retired RR employee & is the only way I know this. Some switches could have use a chain device I suppose, I've just never seen one. Monty

 

[Charmin]

They're calling these switch locks, but all the ones I've seen don't have a chain. No doubt a RR lock, but possibley to lock something besides a switch. My wife is a retired RR employee & is the only way I know this. Some switches could have use a chain device I suppose, I've just never seen one. Monty

Thanks Monty! I meant to ask in my original post what the chain was for ?
Maybe someone will see this post and can tell me for sure what the lock was used for.
Kind regards~~sandcreek4

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I have a book full of padlocks and every lock with a chain is called a railroad lock. I dont know exactly what the chain is for.

 

[stoney56]

I believe the chain is just something to keep the lock on the box or switch and not walking off. LOL There are different styles of locks being used. There should be a lock on every switch you see in the background. I call it a switch lock as that's what I've mainly seen them on. It can also be called a railroad lock as it's used by the railroad. Here's some pics I just took a few minutes ago. sandcreek4, I apologize for overrunning your thread.

 

[Charmin]

No need to apologize, stoney56--you helped me understand how and what these were used for so I thank you very much!!!
And I appreciate you going and taking the pictures .
Kind regards~~sandcreek4

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Im not trying to build up my post count, I certainly dont need to do that,
but if you think this is solved,

Go back to your original post and click on modify

Click on Message Icon down arrow

Click on Solved

 

[Charmin]

Im not trying to build up my post count, I certainly dont need to do that,
but if you think this is solved,

Go back to your original post and click on modify

Click on Message Icon down arrow

Click on Solved

Sorry--I forgot to do that, BCH! I'll fix it right now .
regards, sandcreek4

 

[Monty]

Hmmm, well, I'll be darned. The railraod I am most familiar with is a shortline and maybe they are just too cheap to chain them to the switch! M nty