Buffers

[Ignatieff]

Not of the 'old' variety....Does anyone have info, or even better pics, of train buffers from the RCW period, ideally in central asia, but anywhere from that period will do?  Just trying to upgrade my terrain around my railway stuff.

[Michi]

better pics, of train buffers from the RCW period

[Etranger]

Presumably you mean buffer stops? They can take many forms, from none at all, to a sleeper across the track, to rail or timber built constructions pf many forms, right up to massive hydraulic constructions on skates, weighing many tons. In the BoB they're likely to be somewhat minimalist I suspect. There are some views of stations here http://www.transsib.ru/Gallery/index.php?LNG=EN&AUTHOR=Book%20'Early%20postcards%20of%20the%20Tr.-Sib.%20Railway' It actually looks as if a lot of the sidings (where you'd find a buffer stop) are actually laid out as double ended loops, with no need for a stop.

Although this won't answer your specific question, these links give something of the atmosphere of the Trans Siberian Railway in it's early years http://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/STSIB.Html http://www.digitalhistoryproject.com/2012/10/a-ride-on-trans-siberian-railroad-in.html https://www.flickr.com/photos/smu_cul_digitalcollections/sets/72157644738433261/

[Ignatieff]

Yes, sorry I wasnt clear.  Buffer stops.  Thank you both

[sukhe_bator]

The simplest I've seen in shunting yards is a stack of timber baulks spanning the track, sometimes chained to the rails, often with a red flag close by!
Next up the construction family tree are rudimentary timber frames with a beam acting as a buffer stop.
http://www.fadingvictoria.com/image/20120405XF9N2028.jpg
Better equipped versions actually have buffer blocks or actual spring buffers bolted on. There are also frames bolted to the rails made out of bent rail.
The option I went up for is the combination buffer stop/obstacle. The simplest is a timber box made up of sleepers or planks with wooden cross pieces bolted together filled with earth/sand/ballast.
All usually look long neglected...

[sukhe_bator]

Not much to look at w.i.p. shots of the simple builds at the undercoated-pre texturing and detail stage