Rotary Snow Plow/Blower's

Brandy posted:

Well it's getting into that time of year (Snow) that is.

I was watching Tommie's post, and was wonder if the Big Rotary Snow machines are ever use anymore, on American Railroads any longer?

Yes they are, mostly when the flangers & Specially modified spreaders are no longer able to keep up on the former Southern Pacific (now UP) Donner Pass line. The two rotary snow plows (driven by electric traction motors now) are headquartered in Roseville, CA. and thus work eastward up the 2.2% grade. What with all the forecasted heavy wet snow this year, from the "super El Nino", I would suppose that the rotaries might be used this season. 

I've seen some flangers/spreaders I believe that they are called, in winters gone by, but I never ever seen a Rotary in operation other than on films or video's.

One thing for sure they are truly a magnificent operation!.............................................Brandy!

http://www.alaskarails.org/ARR-potw.html

Spreaders are out in Alaska.  After digging out a freight that was hit by a snow slide, the Spreaders started clearing the tracks.

Not my pics or website, hope the link works.

I remember seeing some spreaders come thru Southern Indiana on the Southern Railway back during the winters of 76 and 77.

I haven't seen anything working on the CSX or NS since moving to Eastern, Ky in 83! I figure that both of these railroads have some of this type of equipment, just haven't seen em!.............................

I think CSX may own one rotary ( which they keep up in the northern parts ) and don't know about NS.  UP and BNSF  both own several rotaries.  

I remember seeing two rotaries on a siding in Hermiston OR back in the early 1990s. They were HUGE!