Railroad Torpedo's

[displayfireworks1]

I came across these in my collection of pyro stuff and figured I would post some pictures for those not familiar with them. I think it is safe to call them an Article of Pyrotechnics.
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[Big Mark]

Very interesting item Dave. I kind of see how they may be used but for what.

[Big Mark]

Ok just watched your video lol thanks Dave for posting.

[displayfireworks1]

Here is a good video of the torpedos. An old timer told me they used to put these on the street car tracks in Pittsburgh back in the day
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2neuHr4bwI
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x-FKMYJYP8

[pyromustang]

Very interesting item Dave. I kind of see how they may be used but for what. The were used to stop a train when something was wrong up the track like a bridge was washed out or a car was on the track. Back when they used them they did not have all the warning lights or radios we have now.

[displayfireworks1]

If I remember reading the story correctly , they would setup three in a row or a series of multiple three in a rom. Setting up the sound this way would differentiate it from common noise like gun shot, firecracker car backfiring ETC. Even though these are dated , my guess is some trains still have them. I always wanted to shoot one with a 22 but never got around to it. As you see in the picture I got that one ready for my wife this morning. I took the light bulb out so the bathroom is dark. Yea, yea don't worry there will be enough weight to set it off. LOL

[nayslayer]

Lol too much Dave. Hope you can run.

[PyroJoeNEPA]

As you see in the picture I got that one ready for my wife this morning. I took the light bulb out so the bathroom is dark. Yea, yea don't worry there will be enough weight to set it off. LOL


Let us know what hospital you end up in so we can send you cards & flowers~~~~

[countryboy7978]

Many years ago (10+) a buddy of mine hit one of these with a sledge in his driveway. His father in law worked for the railroad and had a few in his garage with the lead straps. That will go down as a do never again. Not only was it about as loud as a good cherry bomb but it burned his leg from what was burning material (a yellowish crystalline substance most likely chlorate and sulfur) that was ejected from the torpedo or molten sand used to sensitize the mixture to shock. Either way it is not a good idea to set these off close. A .22 or even a pellet rifle should set this off from a safer distance.

These also have not been discontinued for that long. A friend of mine owned a fireworks company that made these in the 1990s in Indiana.

[countryboy7978]

They are classified as signaling devices just like flares btw. I'm not sure what the shipping classification was but I'll ask my buddy.

[displayfireworks1]

It looks like the company that made these is gone and may have sold one of their other products to the Orion company. Here is the old address
STANDARD RAILWAY FUSEE CORP
EPA Registry Id: 110030548389
MORRIS AVE & FANNY RD
MOUNTAIN LAKES, NJ 07046
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It was actually located in Boonton New Jersey. If you look at the intersection now you see new home construction. It looks like the product they sold to Orion was called "Chimfex" Used to fight chimney fires. Chimfex is a pyrotechnic product that has been around for about 40 years.

[Big Worm]

Saw this in the news this morning.
http://www.wowt.com/content/news/Nebraska-officials-dispose-of-grenade-railroad-explosives-477805673.html

[jknepp1954]

Good find. Always wandered what these railroad torpedoes were used for. Never could figure out why they even put that language into the various state fireworks laws....so antiquated.