Truckee California

Mark,

Nice images of the Jordan Spreaders. They are often run in sets, two geeps with a spreader on each end. 

 

I was at Reno a few years back, seems that Truckee had little snow until that weekend, the highway closed. A day or two later rented a car and went to Truckee to see what was around. about 5 or 6 feet in that time. Flangers out running, but two at Truckee at the time I got there. I was told a Flanger runs ahead of every passenger train when snowing. They are quite the contraption. I toured one, was recently built, very neat. The crews stay at Truckee, bid on those jobs when the snow flies!

 

http://www.rrpicturearchives.n...ture.aspx?id=2555563

 

http://www.rrpicturearchives.n...ture.aspx?id=1672681

 

The working snow blowers (is there more than 1 at Roseville?), are kept down at Roseville. They don't get used every year, but were rebuilt a few years back just for service over Donner Pass.

 

Seems that Donner Pass must get its big snows in February and March.

 

Dan

 

 

Jordan Spreader at work  Dan

 

http://www.railpictures.net/im.../6770.1144515600.jpg

I was up in Truckee the week before Christmas. Visited the Donner Pass Monument and museum.
It was snowing a ton that day and traffic on 80 was really messed up.
Did not see any trains running that day

Hello Diesel Dan, thanks for the photos.

With the wings on this spreader pushed out against the snow while traveling can you imagine the force that is being applied to the hydraulic cylinder and bracing for each wing.

 

I would have to think no matter how careful the operators are when operating the spreader, things are going to get bent.

 

Thanks again for the info.

This was the driest January in recorded history in California... not like the climate's changing or anything.

Ah yes, Truckee....remember it well - lived there for a few years way back when.  Bought this postcard when I lived there with the intent of sending it to my Grandmother.  I put it away and couldn't remember where.  Found it a few years ago between the pages of a book.

There is a film called California Rotary all about UPs diesel plow and the work train behind them and Steve Lee telling how they made the thing from spare parts. very cool  Mark

Back in 1993 VideoRails produced an excellent video "The Battle For Donner Pass" about one of the worst winters in modern history and the So. Pacific'snow-fighting efforts. It is currently on back-order at Pentrex as part of a Donner two-pack.

Nice pics - thanks for sharing.

-Greg

Here is a link someone sent me a while ago.

 

http://video.pbs.org/video/2365218614/

 

 

Jerry Davis

The spreaders I have worked on had pneumatic, not hydraulic, cylinders. The air gives some cushion to the wings.  

Good evening everyone, sorry for the delay in replies ,been away from the computer.

 

Bob, I have heard of this video set but never seen it for sale at train shows.

I will have to look a bit harder for it.

 

Jerry,I have seen this show before, and watched it a few times,thanks for reposting this.

 

David, a pneumatic cylinder makes sense so the wing cylinders could collapse if they were struck.

Another thing about hydraulic is the leaks and cylinder or hose failures.

Some folks would or could be upset with snow that was coated with hydraulic oil.

 

The down fall with air would be control lines freezing up but I am sure the spreaders were equipped with Tanner Gas or some kind of a deicer for the air lines.

 

Thanks for all the responses on this issue.

I've seen photos of Jordan spreaders the the supports for the wings bent way back from wet snow banks. I can't imagine the force required to do that.

If I remember correctly, the National Geographic show, "Love those trains" aired on PBS in the 80s showed this as well...