Lubrication of Tracks, Switches and Signals - 1947

Univis 40 for all the Mechanical Switchmen on your railway!

This interesting book was put together after World War 2 to bridge the gap between railroaders and sellers of petroleum-based lubricants. 

For the railroader: Read this book and understand that we understand YOU and your business - may we suggest these products ...

For the Imperial Oil detailer: You know our products ... here is the vocabulary and knowledge you need for railway customers ...

Today, just in the field of track-to-wheel-flange lubrication, there are many specialty lubricants ... and a selection of computerized internet-monitored devices which can be used to effectively apply them to decrease wear, improve safety and save money. Light rail operations, with their tight city curves naturally constitute an important segment of today's greased-rail market. An interesting featured specialty is glorified cross-tie carpeting near lubrication machines to prevent the lubricants from straying from the roadbed ... if that matters for a particular operation and the 'civilians' who may notice fugitive lubricants on nearby waterways.

However, when I looked for specialty lubricants for locomotives today, I encountered lubricants formulated and sold primarily for diesel-powered highway trucks, construction equipment and oil drilling rigs. 

Of course, those non-rail machines existed in the late 1940s. However, the focus of a Canadian lubricants producer to primarily serve two massive Montreal-based customers must have made a specialized railway marketing document like this desirable. In 1947, the CPR and CNR had massive rosters of steam locomotives which constantly consumed and shed lubricants all over the countryside ... and some new diesels. Their cars generally had eight journals which all contained oil. They also had thousands of miles of bolted track, the joints and switches of which also required the application of lubricants.

April 1963, recently lubricated joints photographed by LC Gagnon.

As always, interesting diagrams are enlarged so you can see the details.

Here is the entire product line of railway lubricants mentioned in this book:

The locomotive lubrication section of this book can be found in Index 04, Railway Technology & Systems (press the 'radio button' at the top of this page) and scroll down to Lubrication. It showed switchers and quaint non-Budd rail diesel cars - but nothing larger.

1947 Diesel Electric, Gasoline Electric & Electric Locomotive Lubrication

Imperial Oil put out a well-illustrated 300 page 5x7 inch book which looked at all aspects of lubrication on railways. Petroleum product tradenames: Gargoyle B.R.B. No 3 is my favourite, followed by Van Hymelt 2 ... they are probably both available for video game names if anyone is interested. 

Both the lubricant vendor and the railroader would learn about each other's work by reading this book cover to cover. As you'll see, the railway technology is first described in detail, followed by the desired characteristics of lubricants for its various elements and (considerately) the trade names of specially-formulated Imperial Oil products to meet the railroader's needs. 

Around 1870, the addition of galena (a form of lead oxide) to Pennsylvania petroleum resulted in the enduring Galena brand name in railway lubrication (used by Imperial Oil in Canada in 1947). With the unprecedented high friction and high temperature characteristics of components in steam locomotive service, lubricants like the Galena product line were indeed needed. Smooth, machined metal parts have protrusions and pits at a microscopic level and it is necessary to maintain an optimized film of lubricant to prevent the surfaces from seizing. 

The days of the 'tallow pot' had long ended. However, sheep still kept their hand in the lubrication business, as you'll see - through the use of their wool in diesel electrics! 

Electric locomotives even had their own unique lubricants. How might one lubricate the main working surface of a pantograph? Hint: Using a compound which included the same 'special crystals' used to lubricate main line switches today.

When this book was printed, road freight locomotives were not yet firmly established in Canada. An interesting array of Canadian gas and diesel car photos is shown. Steam fans will be interested to see a big 60% on the cab of a little CNR yard switcher. All the lubricating points on an Alco switcher are shown - be sure to buy each type of special lubricant recommended for best results! Many will recognize a small Wabash unit at St Thomas, Ontario.

Sheep!: