tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10315500.post3259235918773808421..comments2012-01-07T10:19:40.220-08:00CPRR Discussion Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08466597080538318283noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10315500.post-24091260835171101292012-01-07T10:19:40.220-08:002012-01-07T10:19:40.220-08:00From: &quot;Kyle K. Wyatt&quot; kylekwyatt@gmail.com<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.csrmf.org/" rel="nofollow">California State Railroad Museum</a> has a nice long drill bit, with star end, on display in the Chinese exhibit in the Transcontinental Gallery. There has been ongoing discussion about whether it is a hand drill, or if it was for a machine. I don&#39;t have a conclusive answer (and would welcome comments), but I observe that the drill steel does not have a lubrication hole in the center (as I would expect if it was for a machine), so my suspicion is that it is a hand drill. The bit is about the right diameter for black powder (2&quot; - 2 1/2&quot;).<br /><br />The best Central Pacific photo of drill steel is <a href="http://CPRR.org/apa/images/rail2.html" rel="nofollow">Hart 119 showing a group of Chinese workers outside Summit Tunnel, with drilling equipment</a>. A nice copy is available from the <a href="http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/stereo.1s00510/" rel="nofollow">Library of Congress</a>.<br /><br />On the Union Pacific there is a nice closeup of a driller and his shaker with drill in hand.<br /><br />—KyleCPRR Discussion Grouphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08466597080538318283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10315500.post-40692151077262125322012-01-05T15:53:19.845-08:002012-01-05T15:53:19.845-08:00I am not aware of any &quot;star drill&quot; instruments used on the CPRR during construction. The only relics that I have seen are all the flat chisel type; these can be found along the old grade from time to time, usually broken or totally worn.<br />G J Chris Graves, NewCastleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com