Steam engine tires as fire gongs

[hondajohn]

I frequently drive between CT and Albany along RT22, and noticed, in front of the Fire House in Dover Plains, a round, suspended "fire ring" that I presume can be used as a triangle or bell when hit. It dawned on me recently, that the contour and lip on its circumference perfectly match the standard profile of a rail wheel. I believe what we have here is a steel "tire" from an unknown steam locomotive drive wheel. Can anyone shed light on this situation? I know these parts were designed to be easily replaced and were considered consumables, so its likely that a single locomotive would go through multiple sets throughout its lifetime. Does this have some significance, or was it simply a conveniently shaped piece of scrap metal that they found? This isn't the only instance of this that I have seen, but I can't remember where the other one is.

http://www.bing.com/maps/#JnE9LmRvdmVyJ ... U1MTA1NTg1

[DutchRailnut]

Mahopac fire house on route 6 has simular wheel tire, the were very common in yesteryear and are still used by european railroads

[med-train]

There is one in Lyndonville, NY. The NY Central "Hojack" Railroad went through Lyndonville.

[RichM]

These were common "fire alarms" along the West Shore towns in New Jersey and Rockland County as well. Now I'm wondering if it was a railroad "community assistance" program for its time, and way to dispose of used material.

[Alek9997]

Until as late as the 1930's, the original fire station here in Brookfield, NY used a steam locomotive wheel as a fire gong. Used to cause some nearby windows to rattle from what I was told...

Alek S

[mwichten]

There is one still standing on Fire Island in front of the Fair Harbor Fire Department. The sign on the support states it was erected in 1931 at 5th and Central Walks before being moved to its present location in 1960. There is no mistaking its origin. I have a second photo of one that I found off the beaten path along a trail on that same trip.

[k9bucket]

Firehouse on ST-9W in Port Ewen (just south of Kingston, NY) has one out from, right on the road.

[GSC]

Hamilton FD in Neptune NJ has one on display in front of their newer firehouse, moved from the old house some years ago. It is just for decoration, and a nice display of flowers and landscaping surround it.

Many Jersey Shore firehouses still have them.

Notice that the tires are cut, giving them that gong / huge tuning fork sound. If they weren't sliced, they would sound like a cement block when struck.

Also notice how thin most of them are, worn down and practically unusable on locomotives. Scrap them or give them away. They had to be useless, as railroads didn't thrown anything away that could be used somehow later, recycling long before it became the thing to do.

[clutch]

The City of Torrance CA Fire Dept used a steam engine tire as a fire gong. Wheel is from a Southern Pacific steam engine. This tire has been on display in front of fire station one for over sixty years. Pacific Electric Railway had there main shop in Torrance and it was owned by SP. Live about a mile from the station and will stop by and get more details.

[snitkofj]

Fuller Road Fire District (Corner of Central Ave and Fuller Road in Colonie NY) still has there's statically mounted on their property along Fuller Road, as does the fire house on the property of the Mohonk Mountain House.

[CarterB]

Still one in Sussex County NJ
www.njherald.com/story/.../fire-gong-a- ... an-history

[Marty Feldner]

For some reason the link doesn't work. Is this any better?

https://www.njherald.com/story/23632439 ... an-history

[TrainDetainer]

Selkirk (home of the NYC/CR/CSX hump yard) has one. https://www.google.com/maps/@42.5316216 ... 312!8i6656