With all the snow this week, and more to come tonight/tomorrow, I thought we’d take a peek at snow on the railroads.
This pic was titled “proper snow plow” but it’s actually a Jordan Spreader, often used to clear snow off the tracks and the immediate roadbed. We’ve talked about the multiple uses of these at the club – not just for snow. We need one on our maintenance equipment track.
This is a Jordan Spreader clearing snow at Donner’s Pass. Snow drifts can reach 20’ high up in the pass. Looks like the extended blades are pulled in.
Here’s a snow plow with a spreader arm to further push the snow aside. The photo is of the Canadian Pacific plow extra in British Columbia, 1974. The locomotive is a GMD SD-40.
Here’s a steam loco pushing a plow – the plow built in 1902 is probably older than the loco.
This plow is appropriately named “Bertha” – Grand Trunk Western.
…another traditional plow on the east coast. I like the shape of this common style of plow.
This is another CP pic – a rotary plow at Rogers Pass.
This is a rotary snow plow pic from 1894.
Here’s a nice view of a rotary plow for an electric line (part of the Milwaukee Road).
This is a pic I found of a…I assume a version of a rotary plow. The blades are arranged quite differently from the rotaries we know of.
This is a Great Northern snow plow, 1970. Again, quite a bit different design – I guess you’d call it a rotary (??).
…uhm…yep, that’ll clear the tracks! I like the “Do Not Hump” sign!
…a more traditional plow – can’t get away from the CP!
When it gets frigid and icy, Chicago often times has to light fires at turnout points to keep the turnouts operable. This is from our recent storm, Feb 16th, 2021.
We’ll finish off with an 1875 pic of the Union Pacific – a plow mounted to the front of a (I think) 2-6-0. Note the tarp/curtain that protects the fuel in the tender – probably a necessity when plowing. Also – safety violation – the plow seems to have covered the headlight.
Have fun in the snow! (Or stay inside and have fun looking at the snow!)
Kevin
