Illustration of a Jim crow from A Textbook on Civil Engineering — International Correspondence Schools published in 1899 by the Colliery Engineer Company.

A jim crow or rail bender is a tool for bending rails, consisting of a U-shaped or V-shaped armature with a hefty screw rod in its axis. Deluxe models are outfitted with rollers for continuous bending.[1] [2]

Practice

Railway rails are quite flexible and bend easily to radii of 400 m (440 yd) or more. The jim crow is needed to bend rails to tighter radii, especially near the ends.

References

  1. "KALGOORLIE-PORT AUGUSTA RAILWAY". The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1950). Perth, WA: National Library of Australia. 5 January 1916. p. 4 Edition: THIRD EDITION. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  2. Illustrations of rail benders with rolls


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