It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 8:59 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 4 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: P&LE caboose key
PostPosted: Mon Jun 06, 2022 6:16 pm 

Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2004 5:10 pm
Posts: 1182
Anyone have a spare key for a 500-series P&LE caboose? I only need it to open the door on one end of the car in question, and if you'd trust me to lend it to me, I'd return it within a few days.

Thanks.


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: P&LE caboose key
PostPosted: Wed Jun 08, 2022 2:55 pm 

Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 1:16 pm
Posts: 209
A little story.

I've still got the caboose key the MK&T railroad issued me back in 1976. It's brass, but other than that it looks just like any other skeleton key.
There is an MKT diesel locomotive at a local museum. They've got an MKT caboose, too. That key fits doors on both pieces of equipment.
I'm a current employee of the UP. Any more, they're hell on "lock the cabs of engines that you leave out away from a terminal, unattended. They've got a special key that fits the locks they've installed on the front doors. Everyone gets a key.
On the back doors, though, nearly every door is equipped with a sliding deadbolt kinda thing.
But, some of our engines have got an actual lock mechanism in the door handle assembly. It takes a skeleton key. My MKT caboose key fits it. I've actually used it to get in the back doors of engines before, to save me from having to walk all the way back to the rear, drop off and walk up to the front to open that door.

I was up getting a key made at the local locksmith place the other day. They have quite a selection of skelton keys, still, and while I was standing there I mentioned what my caboose key was... and gave it to the lady to compare with the keys they had hanging on the rack. Some were nearly identical.

All this to tell you that it isn't necessarily going to take a railroad specific caboose key to open that lock. Go to a locksmith type place, explain what you're doing and beg them to let you take a selection of keys with you to try... and bring the excess back and buy what fits.


Attachments:
555-crop.jpg
555-crop.jpg [ 199.39 KiB | Viewed 2648 times ]
Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: P&LE caboose key
PostPosted: Sun Jun 12, 2022 3:59 pm 

Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2004 5:10 pm
Posts: 1182
Thanks for that suggestion. I have already tried half a dozen caboose/coach keys fro the museum's collection, none of which did the trick. My next step is to call the lock manufacturer and inquire whether they still have the key in stock or can make one -- and at what cost.


Offline
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: P&LE caboose key
PostPosted: Mon Jun 13, 2022 8:52 am 

Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2004 7:19 am
Posts: 6399
Location: southeastern USA
If it's a rim latch you might be able to remove it and get inside to fit a generic skeleton key with some judicious filing. Mortise latches of course aren't as easy......

_________________
“God, the beautiful racket of it all: the sighing and hissing, the rattle and clack of the cars over the rails. These were the sounds that made America the greatest country on earth." Jonathan Evison


Online
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 4 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]


 Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 31 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: