The Car Department needs YOUR help! The item pictured below was recently brought into the shop - the problem is, nobody knows what it is! It looks like a very short stool, about 6" high and 1' x 2' give or take, made of pine, with "CNSMRR 252" painted on it and a slot cut through the middle. North Shore 252 was a combine similar to our cars 251 and 253 but it's not obvious what purpose something like this would have served. Any ideas?
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
What is it?
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3 comments:
I think the idea that either Rod or Nick had is the most likely answer...that it was put under heavy cargo (like a steamer trunk or crate), then centered under the cargo to lift both ends up off the floor so two guys could lift it.
The only reason I can see why it would be numbered to a particular car was to keep them from migrating around at baggage terminals, leaving one car with none and another with two. If it was marked with a given car's number, it probably went back to that car when the work was done.
2 guesses:
1. Did the CNS&M ever take mail as a courtesy - could this fit over a mailbag?
2. Could it be a short stool for the operator - to keep his feet out of snow/slush in winter? The slot to allow a scraper or to allow water to drain more efficiently?
Just two guesses out of the blue by someone who hasn't any real information. The idea of using it for heavy "stuff" is good - but - why so small - and wood?
The idea that this was used in freight shipment makes sense. Are there scratch marks on the underside from use by a 2-wheel dolly? Could it have been used by newspapers in shipment? The slot might have been part of a way to rope the load to the little pallet.
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