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Modern snowplows.

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  • Member since
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  • From: NS(ex PRR) Mon Line.
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Modern snowplows.
Posted by Jimmy_Braum on Thursday, October 30, 2014 10:47 AM
Besides UP using the giant plows they do, what do the other modern railroads use for plows? I have the chance to purchase a Jordan spreader, and would like to know if any railroad uses it for snow service, (like NS, BNSF,Wheeling and Lake Erie,etc)

(My Model Railroad, My Rules) 

These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway.  As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).  

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Posted by mlehman on Thursday, October 30, 2014 10:59 AM

BNSF, definitely.

http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=45120

Use the Search and there's at least one more listed for BNSF under Car Type "MOW-Jordan Spreader." Try MOW-Snow Plow and with other reporting marks for more.

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

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Posted by carnej1 on Thursday, October 30, 2014 12:29 PM

CSX has some Jordan Spreaders and also a unique German built rotary (which is mechanically more like a huge driveway snowblower than a Leslie rotary) originally bought by Conrail in the 80's:

http://www.aebi-schmidt.com/en/products/84

 

 

BNSF has Leslie rotaries,Jordans, and "Snowdozers" which are railroad built (GN&BN) Jordan type plows.

UP just had some Jordans rebuilt (by Relco,IIRC). They also had some of their former SP Leslies rebuilt recently..

Harso rail is the corporate successor to the Jordan company and is once again building an improved version of the Jordan Spreader for the North American Market:

http://www.harscorail.com/equipment/ballast-maintenance/spreader-ditcher.html

They've sold 2 in the last year.

There are also a number of the old Russell wedge type plows still in service in the U.S.;Pan Am Rail (formerly Guilford) has(or had) at least one:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=240967

 

"I Often Dream of Trains"-From the Album of the Same Name by Robyn Hitchcock

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Posted by Kyle on Friday, October 31, 2014 5:53 AM

I have seen a photo of a CSX Jordan spreader before, and it had been recently painted.  I have never seen a HO scale model of a Jordan spreader before. What company makes them?  I have thought about the Conrail Russell wedge type snowplow, but I am not sure if CSX has any of them still.  I could always get the undecorated model.

Does NS have any Jordan spreaders?

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Posted by Jimmy_Braum on Friday, October 31, 2014 6:26 AM

If its still there, one of the old Walthers kits. 

(My Model Railroad, My Rules) 

These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway.  As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).  

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Posted by wabash2800 on Friday, October 31, 2014 11:38 AM

Overland made a number of brass versions of the Jordan Spreader and snow versions too.

Victor A. Baird

www.erstwhilepublications.com

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Posted by DavidH66 on Friday, October 31, 2014 12:19 PM

found this on google maps a while ago.

 

MNN 999 in Grafton, ND

 

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Posted by tomikawaTT on Friday, October 31, 2014 12:48 PM

Granted not USA, but interesting.

The JNR and its successor companies have special locomotives with PTO arranged to power a snowblower that is only installed during snow season.  The snow remover is like the kind used by highway departments in deep snow territory - two augers pull the snow to a central high-speed rotor, which then tosses it over the right-of-way fence.

When there's not much of the white stuff present, the only giveaway that this isn't an ordinary diesel-hydraulic are the hatches over the attachment points and power takeoff shaft.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

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Posted by doctorwayne on Friday, October 31, 2014 11:59 PM

Kyle
....I have never seen a HO scale model of a Jordan spreader before. What company makes them?.....

 

Walthers offered a Jordan spreader as a plastic kit, although I don't know if it's currently available.  It came with either a high or low plow, I think, and could be built so that the wing blades were positionable.  I found that feature not especially well thought-out and modified mine using music wire and parts from disposable lighters.  Here's my version of it:






Walthers also offers a Russell plow, with positionable wings:


Wayne

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Posted by Kyle on Saturday, November 1, 2014 6:37 AM

doctorwayne

 

 
Kyle
....I have never seen a HO scale model of a Jordan spreader before. What company makes them?.....

 

 

Walthers offered a Jordan spreader as a plastic kit, although I don't know if it's currently available.  It came with either a high or low plow, I think, and could be built so that the wing blades were positionable.  I found that feature not especially well thought-out and modified mine using music wire and parts from disposable lighters.  Here's my version of it:






Walthers also offers a Russell plow, with positionable wings:


Wayne

 

 

 

 

 

Your Jordan Spreader looks great!! The work you did on wings is excellent. Walthers says it is discountinued, too bad, it was only $25 bucks (a good price).  I will have to look on eBay.

I might get a Walthers Russell if I can't get the Jordan.  Either the Conrail one (and change it to CSX reporting marks), or an undecorated one (and paint it for the Kyle RR).

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Posted by jjdamnit on Saturday, November 1, 2014 11:34 AM

Hello All,

Wayne, great work on the spreader plow!

It’s not a wedge- or spreader-type plow but I bought an Athearn RTR rotary plow with dummy tender. The plow blade actually spins as it moves down the track. They come in several road names.

These Rotary Plows are still in service today.

Unfortunately it’s an analog unit. I’ve powered the dummy tender and installed a decoder. I am now working on the Rotary Plow to convert it to DCC.

Hope this helps.

"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"

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Posted by wabash2800 on Saturday, November 1, 2014 3:18 PM

I wouldn't doubt if the the Walthers Jordon will be back and improved. But when it is also the question. They have done that on a number of structures and rolling stock.

Victor A. Baird

www.erstwhilepublications.com

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Posted by mlehman on Saturday, November 1, 2014 4:52 PM

This is about the coolest modern snowplow I've seen. It's even got it's own built-in turntable...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFT7SxZwze8&feature=share

BTW, it is narrowgauge (meter gauge).Big Smile

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

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