The Greer Spike is an unusual double-headed spike designed and patented by Mr. Howard Greer of Lake View, IL, in the late 1880s. The design is covered by US Patent 378068, issued 31-Jul-1888. Some of the spike's unique features, such as its flat shank, build upon earlier Greer patents for spikes.

The design is primarily associated with its widespread use on the Rio Grande Southern narrow gauge of southwestern Colorado. The spikes were originally ordered in 1892, in conjunction with relaying the railroad with 57 pound rail.

While these spikes are most commonly found along the RGS, there were other installations. Known reports of Greer Spikes:

  • The Lake City Branch (Robert Harmen, D&RGW email list, 0257h 19-Jul-2003)
  • On the C&S narrow gauge (Dave Dye, NGDF, 1749h 27-Feb-2008)
  • On the standard gauge Colorado Midland
    • One spike found outside the west portal of the Hagerman Tunnel(Matt Hudson, D&RGW email list, 1639h 18-Jul-2003)
    • One found on the east side towards Leadville, CO? (Skip Luke, NGDF, 1759h 27-Feb-2008)
    • Also reportedly used on the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis Railroad and Silverton Northern. (Ron Keagle, NGDF, 1523h 1-Mar-2008)

The design is often (somewhat erroneously) referred to as a "Jeffery Spike". The exact origin of this name is not clear, but it clearly refers to the president of the Denver & Rio Grande at the time, Mr. E.T. Jeffery. Jeffery became the appointed receiver of the RGS during the 1893 bankruptcy, and suspicion is that this dislike of the new design lead to Mr. Jeffery's name being permanently associated with them.

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  Last modified on September 14, 2008, at 07:03 PM
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