Let's see your snow removal equipment!

I have some railcars with plows somewhere but not handy. I always have this plow truck next to my Sinclair station. I do have a fall themed layout and here in the Midwest you never know when the first snow is coming.

My winter roster…

Here is a short video of my snow plow!!!

I made this blower/tender combo earlier this year for a customer.

James

A couple of "old" rotaries:

Plus an MTH Russel wedge plow and an MTH Jordan spreader/ditcher with a plow on the front.

MTH New York Central Jordan Spreader

(---Yes, I know it's off the track, OK?)

Anyway, couldn't help posing this here.

You see, kudzu is a Japanese plant/vine brought over to the US as erosion control and cattle feed, back in the 19th or early 20th century. It loves the climate of the US Southeast, which has a climate much like that in parts of Japan. It can look like it's taking over (it's not, really). It's like Tojo's Revenge.

So...some snow removal equipment was bought in the 1930's to help control it. Sure.

I've got an armada of snow fighting machines, mostly if not all MTH products.  It started with the D&RG rotary destined to be sold to the Alaska Railroad after a cupola was added.  The deal was never completed as the ARR landed a heavy duty plow, a Russell and and a rotary direct from the manufacturer.  MTH also provided a rotary to the Great Northern and a Russell to the NYC to keep the Water Level Route clear form the 20th Century Limited and a Jordan Spreader to the UP. Lionel kicked in with a couple of Jet Snow blowers, one for the ARR and of course that jet aged railroad the NYC.  Alas pictures are not currently available.  In do have some photos of an ARR Jordan Spreader being delivered on a flatcar.  This spreader was cobbled together from parts won at auction and placed on a home made chassis.

I'll try to get some pics of the rest of the fleet before the snow flies here in South Carolina.

Here are mine.

Jorden Spreader.  More than a snowplow., they are designed to spread or shape ballast profiles, remove snow, build banks, clean and dig ditches, evenly distribute gravel, as well as trim embankments of brush along the side of the track.

Russell Snowplow and Flanger.  This is the single track version that pushes snow off to both sides of the tracks while hinged “wings" can fold out from the sides to push the snow further away.  Because of the height of the plow, the engineers in the pusher engine cannot see over it requiring crews in the plow's cab.  Flangers, used to clean between the rails, were an option.

Bangor & Aroostook and Maine Central.

CN plow waiting for some action!

Here's my Jordan spreader in action.

Trumptrain,

Very nice job with the snow. Looks very real!

Chris

P&O

It also appears to have gotten the better of the Jordan Spreader!!!!

@trumpettrain, Patrick, I've been meaning to ask you if this year's "winter' pictures were taken when your turned your layout onto the Great White North for the article in the OGR magazine or have you once again brought winter to your layout?

At one point, I had quite a collection of snow fighting equipment.

I've since thinned the herd a bit.

That said, here are two the more unusual pieces, both of which I kept.

First up is a kitbash/scratch built double track plow. The left side is blind, and the plow can throw snow only to the right.

Next is an early style single track plow of unknown parentage. The plow blade is metal, while the body is wood. I suspect it is scratch built.

Upstate New York is famous (infamous?) for its snow belt, which is caused by lake effect from the nearby Great Lakes Erie and Ontario. The NYO&W had many a battle with piled high drifting snow. Here is a plow extra powered by F3s trying to force open a snowed in cut. Even deeper stuff lays ahead.

Chris

P&O

Small but mighty.

And the 24" 2-stage Craftsman got a tune up today......

No snow in the forecast but it's gonna get COLD!

Bob

This little D&RG Vulcan switcher is ready to handle whatever Mother Nature can throw at it!

John

Those guys over at The Central are always coming up with stuff.  Here they MUed a DFB-2A to a Russel Plow so the plow crew can control the power.  No need for another crew.

Good-looking plows!  Here’s an MTH plow done up like Maine Eastern’s ”Pac Man” plow:

@tnkMarx posted:

Did you add lights to this?  I have the MTH PRR version and don't think it came with any interior or headlight. 

@RadioRon posted:

Did you add lights to this?  I have the MTH PRR version and don't think it came with any interior or headlight.

No, I did not add the lights.  They came stock on my MTH model.

@tnkMarx posted:

No, I did not add the lights.  They came stock on my MTH model.

Mine NYC is lighted also.