Preparing for Winter

[Anonymous]

I live in Los Angeles and I have never had any snow, but I was wondering how you guys prepare for the snow. I love seeing trains plow through snow . Do you use aristo's plow or other brass products or is there something else up your sleeve? It's almost the season so if you get a big snowstorm you better be prepared![:D][:D][:D]

[vsmith]

I've heard of people putting straw down over the tracks to help prevent freeze damage to the rails and plastic ties, Has anyone done this?

Like Pablo, I am in the land of perpetual sunshine and for us snow is only something seen at the ski resorts.

[Anonymous]

Dear Warm Weather GRR's:
What I do is have my 2 gallon garden sprayer handy. I fill it with hot water from the tap and spray down the rails to melt the snow and ice. I tried it last winter and it worked fine. I did it last year for Thanksgiving Day.
Peter

[Anonymous]

C'mon Peter. No snow plow? There has to be someone who gets rid of snow the "fun" way on this forum. If I had snow on my garden railroad I would shovel snow on the tracks just so I could plow it off. That would be the fun part of having snow for me.

[Anonymous]

Seriously-
You have to have that light fluffy snow to be able to push it out of the way with a snow plow. That type of snow usually never falls around these parts (New England). Once the snow settles its solid ice on the bottom. I have seen video on the internet of working GRR snow plows, they are neat. But believe me, you really don't want snow, ice or cold. Enjoy your warm weather. If I had no snow on my garden railroad I would a happy guy.
Peter

[Anonymous]

A snow plow won't work for me either up here in Minnesota since the snow drifts off my garage roof and lands on the layout about 3' deep. Peter has the same problem we do the snow packs into ice so nothing is going to run untill spring.
Plowing snow looks romantic in photos but in reality the right conditions are not all that common...sorry if we spoiled your day dream.

Frozen up north...OLD DAD

[bman36]

Hi All,
Here in the real "Great White North" I pretty much pack it up for winter. As OLD DAD says ideal snow is not all that common. A fence lines one side of my layout and my garage another side. If a storm blows out of the north...that's it...buried. There is an occasional "right" snow, but unless it is the first snowfall it is too late. Winter here in Canada is my building season.
To answer the original question: I prepare my layout by putting all the buildings away, trimming back all the plants and clean out the pond. That is it. I have an indoor layout as well so next it is time to decorate for Christmas. Interested in hearing some snow plowing stories so I'll be watching this one. Later eh...Brian.

[vsmith]

What about them cool powered rotary snowplow models. I've seen them work on video, They actually DO blow the snow off the tracks. The spinning blades are really cool. Doesnt anyone have one of those?

[Anonymous]

This is what I was talking about:

http://antiques-internet.com/colorado/rgsrrhobbies/dynapage/IP42.htm

Also Vsmith heres a rotary that blows snow right off the tracks.

http://antiques-internet.com/colorado/rgsrrhobbies/dynapage/IP74.htm

[Anonymous]

pablopicatso:

Very cool!

No pun intended.

[Anonymous]

Here's another railway which is ready for the winter.. check out this link
http://www.trainweb.org/pcsrr/Trains_in_thex.html

[Marty Cozad]

DON'T,,,,EVEN,,,,get me started on snow.[;)] I LOVE snow[:p]
http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/NTCGRR/snowjan23%20002.jpg

and lastly
http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/NTCGRR/febsnow%20003.jpg
OH, did I tell you ,,I LOVE snow. Garden RRing is a year round ,,"sport"[^]

[Anonymous]

Marty
The absence of footprints and other signs of giant beings makes those photos quite nice. I think the 2nd photo is an award winner isn't it!!?
Peter

[Anonymous]

Wow. Nice stuff you guys.

pablopiscasto:

I take it the "Rotary" runs on Track power? or is it Battery operated?

Track power would let me out for the rotary, but I'm sure the Aster C&S will bully the D&RGW 09271 with NO problem. Since it's a Gunnison prototype, I could probably ba***he kit to be more prototypical of the turn of the century to fit into a C&S Narrow Gauge theme quite well.

I haven't thought too much about "Winter" running since I started in Hawaii, but now that I'm in NM, once the layout is finished, winter will then be a fun environment to play in.

[Marty Cozad]

Peter
Yes , thank you. I deleted it. I was not thinking along those lines. I was just going through shows that looked fun.[:I]

[Anonymous]

vettbass,

I believe the rotary is track powered but upgradable to battery power. It would be great for all narrow gauge lovers.

Marty,

You have pictures coming from out of your sleeves! Great pictures yet again. Also the plow looks like a bash from a Aristo snowplow and a modern gondola. I take it the snowplow was to "narrow gauge" for your modern railroad so you made it suitable. It looks great!

[Anonymous]

Marty-
Didn't intend to make any trouble for you by mentioning the photo. Only complimenting your fine work.
Peter

[Marty Cozad]

Vettbass
Yes the wedgeplow can fit on many other cars. I've seen guys who have made caboose with it. I did very little cutting and beings I run battery power I use a 9 volt battery and LED head light for it. Kind-of a one evening project.
http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/NTCGRR/newplow2.jpg

A friend got the parts from the factory gon and made a boom car for his crane. Just goes to show you, never through away parts, someone somewhere can use them[;)] I'd like to go to a show where everyone can bring their own junk boxes and set on a table and I bet they could sell it all off.

[Anonymous]

Marty & Pablo:

Thanx.

I think I could ba***he wedgeplow with little problem and a little homework on what a possible NG prototype would have looked like. They HAD to have had them.

[Anonymous]

Here is a link to see a wedgeplow. http://www.nemodel.com/nng/index.shtml Plans for this piece were featured in a Garden Railway Magazine not to long ago.