Thoughts on the Lionel Rotary Snow Plows Both Postwar Version and Newer Versions

Lionel has a new one. Well it's the post-war one, but with command control. I think the blades spin.

Lionel has a new one. Well it's the post-war one, but with command control. I think the blades spin.

Maybe, maybe not.
The Post war and the older modern era rotary snow plows had a Pulmore (universal) motor, and an electromechanical e-unit. The blades were turned by a pully / belt arrangement. The rear couple could be opened on an uncoupling track.

Later modern era units were similar but they had electronic e-units.

I don't know whether any came with an electromagnetic uncoupler.

I have a question on another thread about the blade drive.
I am fairly certain that I've seen a Lionel explosion diagram that shows the plow being powered by its own can motor. I have not seen one in the wild.

The current models are listed as having some sort of command control, and may have been converted to a can motor for the main drive.

The postwar #58 rotary plow has been considered a fairly desirable item, and has always commanded a good buck if its in nice shape. Be careful of broken window struts. Replacement struts are on the market. They look good, and it can be hard to tell if they have been used. So look carefully.
In the Modern era, Lionel beefed up the window struts on the plows, and all other locomotives that use that same shell, so they are less fragile. In fact, I have not seen a model era shell with damaged struts.

I am very fond of the rotary plows and have several.
Recently I've seen the 8459 DRG and 18400 Santa Fe rotary plows sell for $75 in boxed, like new condition.

I have the new Rio Grande TMCC model.

The blade and motion motors are independent, you can run around the track with or without the blade spinning (in forward only) and if the engine is stopped, but set to forward (as can be determined when the front headlight is lit), you can set the blade in motion while stationary.

I'm pretty sure the motion motor is also a can (doesn't growl like a Pulmor), but it's a little difficult to see far enough into the shell to see for sure (I'm not yet prepared to remove the shell since I have no need to yet ).  For the PW or older modern units, you could see the Pulmor inside mounted vertically by looking in the cab window, correct?

It does have a relatively limited top speed, IMO.  I didn't set it up to compare closely yet, but I think the conventional Christmas Snowplow I had (made sometime on the last 5-10 years, I believe) was able to go a little faster.  (I pulled a couple of cars with it around the Christmas Tree a few years back)  I did not yet try a factory reset to make sure there was not a low TMCC top speed set up, but I did not set one (I find it unlikely that feature may have been set at the factory).  I suspect maybe it's a function of the gearing for the motor.

Operationally, I think it's decent so far.  Mine did unfortunately have what I considered a bit of a defect in the graphics on one side, but I realize I am pretty demanding in that department.  The only  duplicate my dealer had was worse, so I kept the 1st one he gave me, deciding I could live with the small flaw.

-Dave

C.W., They have been available with TMCC since, at least, 2000; but with the old pullmor.

Gas Turbine style > 6-18456 "Lionel #59 Minuteman motorized unit is equipped with pullmor motor, TMCC, traction tires, die-cast frame and trucks, electrocouplers, operating directional lighting." (2001)

Vulcan style > 6-18458 #53 Rio Grande snowplow TMCC (2000)

Dave

I have a older AC Motor Silver UP one that is quite nice,  you can purchase the LCRU & coupler and turn a Pullmor non TMCC into a TMCC one.  I did that and made mine lot better. 

Still interested to see the new Rio Grande. 

Is there any speed control on the blade?  Or just on/off?

Jim

Jim Sandman posted:

Is there any speed control on the blade?  Or just on/off?

It's on/off only.

-Dave

C.W., They have been available with TMCC since, at least, 2000; but with the old pullmor.

Thanks.

I went with theSP plow from MTH.  May not be exactly the ones use/d on Donner, but better looking.  Of couse the MTH one you need a loco to push it.

I have a GN Rotary Snowplow #18446 for sale in LN condition in original box. If interested, please contact me at lioneljohn@verizon.net