GM EMD Locomotive Reverser Keys

[Wexford70]

Hi guys,

Can someone advise whether there keys were used on the Class 071 and Class 121 as well as Class 141/181?

Are examples of these hard to find?

[Garfield]

It's a standard EMD loco key, so would work with all those types. Like carriage keys, you need a good reason to be entrusted with one so they're not easy to get hold of.

[Wexford70]

Were these always in metal? 

[exciecoachbuilder]

Hi, these were a later version, the original handles of these keys were made from a type of resin or plastic. I'm not 100% sure, but some of these brass replacement keys could have been manufactured in the foundry in the works??  I can't remember to be honest. Paul..

[skinner75]

I picked up one of these last year on Adverts.ie - sitting proudly on my mantelpiece now. 

Edited March 3, 2021 by skinner75
Added pic

[WRENNEIRE]

Living in Raheny

[jhb171achill]

Believe it or not................

There was one of those, years ago, kicking about in one of the RPSI dining cars, long before the RPSI had any interest in diesels. As far as I know, it went into the rubbish at one stage, as nobody knew what it was!

[hexagon789]

9 minutes ago, jhb171achill said:

Believe it or not................

There was one of those, years ago, kicking about in one of the RPSI dining cars, long before the RPSI had any interest in diesels. As far as I know, it went into the rubbish at one stage, as nobody knew what it was!

Should have flogged it on eBay!

 

You see BR "T" keys appear on there all the time, sometimes for a pittance, sometimes for stupid money. I often wonder who buys the things

[jhb171achill]

25 minutes ago, hexagon789 said:

Should have flogged it on eBay!

I know!

I don't know what became of it, but ebay wasn't in existence in those days!

[Blaine]

Easy to jam a piece of wood into the slot, serves the same function too.........old drivers tales

[hexagon789]

39 minutes ago, jhb171achill said:

I know!

I don't know what became of it, but ebay wasn't in existence in those days!

Fair enough! 

6 minutes ago, Blaine said:

Easy to jam a piece of wood into the slot, serves the same function too.........old drivers tales

The same can be said for "T" keys. Various 'bits and bobs' can function as a substitute.

[exciecoachbuilder]

16 minutes ago, Blaine said:

Easy to jam a piece of wood into the slot, serves the same function too.........old drivers tales

That's interesting, never heard that before, or never heard any of the fitters mention that? , The notch on the end of the key was a kind of release mechanism for safety reasons. Maybe the piece of timber worked? If I see some of the oul drivers that I knew, I will ask them. Paul....

[Wexford70]

4 hours ago, skinner75 said:

I picked up one of these last year on Adverts.ie - sitting proudly on my mantelpiece now. 

 

Willing to say how much it was going for?

 

[minister_for_hardship]

On 17/02/2021 at 7:31 PM, Garfield said:

It's a standard EMD loco key, so would work with all those types. Like carriage keys, you need a good reason to be entrusted with one so they're not easy to get hold of.

Have two. I'm very trustworthy.

[skinner75]

8 hours ago, Wexford70 said:

Willing to say how much it was going for?

 

I paid €90 with postage for it

[Westcorkrailway]

I got one of these for Christmas and was wondering what it was…thanks to all in this thread who helped identify it for me