I understand that, and, now recall reading something along the same
lines--the beeswax is used in a temperature indicator on each journal.
That may well work better than sniffing for hot grease.  It may also
work with the automatic hotbox detectors many railroads have beside
their rights-of-way, these days--the ones that count axles, and report
(usually) "NO DEFECTS" by radio to the crew.  It would be interesting to
know when the beeswax hotbox detector was developed.

D. Babson.


-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jim
Bowles
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2004 3:05 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Beeswax


Hello David and all,

jb} Thanks for the interesting rail-history .. we tend to forget these
things in the bustle of everyday.

re.,} Was {Beeswax} used as an ingredient, in a grease based in
petroleum or tallow?

Sorry, I guess I wasn't very clear .. Beeswax {as near everything else}
expands as it melts, and it can be compounded to melt at very closely
determined temperatures.

So when the pop-up {I'm done} turkey indicator came on the market .. it
was seen as a cheap, reliable way to indicate the temperature in the
"hotbox" or bearing end caps .. or where ever they put it.

Now crew members merely stroll down the tracks looking to see if the
pop-up {I'm done .. for} indicators show trouble.

jb
.