Model Railroading > Hopefully Someone will know...

I'm after a HO version of the relatively short metal tubes that you sometimes see attached at an angle to the end handrail stantions on e.g. SD60s, but I don't actually know what they are or what they're called! Can anyone help?!

Sounds like probably MU cable holders?
JB

Sounds like the MU cable holders like on the front of this locomotive. That was a UP thing and I'm not sure if any other railroads used them. They held the loose end of the MU Cable when not attached to another locomotive. Railroads these days use MU "Dummy Plugs" on the ends of the locomotive. Don't think anyone makes that part, but you can make one from a short piece of brass or styrene tubing and fill in the bottom end with putty and file smooth.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

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Thanks guys, yes it should be quite easy to fashion a couple of those from some tubing! Thanks again.

funnelfan Wrote:
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> Sounds like the MU cable holders like on the front
> of this locomotive. That was a UP thing and I'm
> not sure if any other railroads used them. They
> held the loose end of the MU Cable when not
> attached to another locomotive. Railroads these
> days use MU "Dummy Plugs" on the ends of the
> locomotive. Don't think anyone makes that part,
> but you can make one from a short piece of brass
> or styrene tubing and fill in the bottom end with
> putty and file smooth.

Actually they were a WP thing and UP started using them after they assimulated the WP.
WP started using them in the early 1970's.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/12/22 14:56 by PHall.

PHall Wrote:
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> funnelfan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Sounds like the MU cable holders like on the
> front
> > of this locomotive. That was a UP thing and I'm
> > not sure if any other railroads used them. They
> > held the loose end of the MU Cable when not
> > attached to another locomotive. Railroads these
> > days use MU "Dummy Plugs" on the ends of the
> > locomotive. Don't think anyone makes that part,
> > but you can make one from a short piece of
> brass
> > or styrene tubing and fill in the bottom end
> with
> > putty and file smooth.
>
> Actually they were a WP thing and UP started using
> them after they assimulated the WP.
> WP started using them in the early 1970's.

You beat me to it. I have traced it back on the WP as far as June 72 on a silver and orange GP40.

I have made UP MU cable holders like that from a short piece of Evergreen styrene tubing.  I "chamfer" the ends with a drill or knife blade to get the tubing to look thin at the ends, paint the interior black and then secure it to the end railing.  I have used both ACC or a small dab of epoxy.  I haven't come to a firm conclusion on which is better at holding the can to the current generation of plastic handrails.  The holder does add a UP touch to your motive power.

Gary B.
Waverly, NE

binder001 Wrote:
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> I have made UP MU cable holders like that from a
> short piece of Evergreen styrene tubing.  I
> "chamfer" the ends with a drill or knife blade to
> get the tubing to look thin at the ends, paint the
> interior black and then secure it to the end
> railing.  I have used both ACC or a small dab of
> epoxy.  I haven't come to a firm conclusion on
> which is better at holding the can to the current
> generation of plastic handrails.  The holder does
> add a UP touch to your motive power.
>
> Gary B.
> Waverly, NE

I've used brass tubing that I soldiered to the brass handrail stanchion.