Jim crow (tool)
File:Track Work Jim Crow.jpg
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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>Template:Failed verification <ref>Illustrations of rail benders with rolls</ref>
PracticeEdit
Railway rails are quite flexible and bend easily to radii of Template:Cvt or more. The jim crow is needed to bend rails to tighter radii, especially near the ends.