Do they keep things like a fire axe on Trains?

Question

Do they keep things like a fire axe on Trains?

Answer 1

hmmm.

You are asking this for what reason ..... ?

Answer 2

I think yu have to bring your own axe

Answer 3

Only on a fire train.  No joke.

In the high Sierras over the Donner Pass route, the Southern Pacific Railroad had over forty miles of wooden snow sheds built to help keep the line open year round.  These same snow sheds and the tunnels along this route are precisely what caused the famed "cab forward" steam engine design, unique to the Southern Pacific.

In summer months, where it gets quite warm, even at the 7000' level.  Being largely timber these sheds were quite a fire hazard.  For that reason, the SP maintained fire trains at Norden and Colfax, manned around the clock, until the critical fire danger passed, which is when the Colfax train would be canceled until the next year.  The Norden fire train stayed put.

So, yes these trains were equipped with fire axes as well as other fire fighting apparatus.  But as a matter of course, these axes were not usually standard equipment.

Cabooses usually were equipped with one or more "brake clubs", which were kind of an over grown ax handle, made of hickory wood.  These were used so that the brakeman could get an old "staff" brake tight, as these were not gear driven, as are modern hand brake wheels.

Answer 4

Sure they do, although nowadays they're secured in a locker not hung openly on walls.

Answer 5

I once heard that if you were married you were allowed to bring your very own battle axe.. but that was sometime ago.. rules may have changed from the 1950's..

But I do know for a fact that most of the trains still run on coal and large amounts of wood.

Answer 6

In the U.K they do keep axes on trains,They are kept in compartment called an 'emergency cupboard' as well as an axe there will be a large crowbar,a large saw,handsaw,rope and a sledgehammer,these tools are mainly for removing debris from the track or caught underneath a train such as trees/branches.