SP Steam-driven Plows

[Attuvian]

I'm interested in modeling an SP rotary snowplow in the late 40's to early 50's.  The transition from steam-driven plows to electrically powered ones occurred in the 50s and was necessarily accompanied by a switch from fuel oil/water tenders to modified F7B units for snails.  Are there any photos out there of the plows with the tenders?  All static or action photos that I've found so far on SP-dedicated websites seem to be post-60s.  Perhaps this item is more appropriate for posting on a Trains magazine forum or elsewhere.  If so, please advise.

[RR_Mel]

I'm unawear of the SP using tenders for snow, the SP had steam powered rotary snowplows early on and converted them to diesel traction motors in the late 40s and early 50s.

 

This is my SP go to site:

 

http://espee.railfan.net/sp_rotaries.html 

 

I kitbashed an Athearn Snow Plow closer to SP specs.  The Athearn is too long so I removed a section from the middle to obtain a total of 45’.  I motorized the blower with a low speed gear motor controlled from an Athearn F7 B Snail.

 

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/2010/10/october-19-my-sp-snowplow.html

 

 

 

Mel

 

Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[hon30critter]

I found some pictures of steam powered rotary plows with tenders, but none with SP history.

This one is looking pretty sad but according to the website it has been restored:

http://www.hazegray.org/rail/snow/rotary/np02.jpg

Here is a picture of a wood bodied rotary plow which gives a bit of a view of the tender. The plow probably isn't useful for you, but the tender picture might be. It shows the slanted roof which I have seen on other early coal powered rotary plows:

http://www.hazegray.org/rail/snow/rotary/rg01.jpg

Judging by the rivet lines, this is a coal/oil tender, not a B unit:

http://www.hazegray.org/rail/snow/rotary/li01.jpg

Here is the site where I got the pictures:

http://www.hazegray.org/rail/rotaries.htm#up

I hope this has been at least a little helpful.

Regards,

Dave

[gmpullman]

Hi,

I have this Pentrex video that has some views of steam rotaries. If it is within your budget, it is a pretty neat film. The DVD quality is much better than what you see here on this YouTube teaser:

Maybe there's something here that will help.

Unfortunately, this film is a bit dark but it has a few views of SP steam rotaries and a few minutes of the stalled City Of San Francisco!

...and if anyone wondered, here's what's under the hood.

Regards, Ed

[7j43k]

Here's a shot of the insides of the very plow that Athearn modeled:

 

 

 

Note the twin Shay engines.  Not a surprise, considering Lima made it. 

Ed

[Guy Papillon]

Here is a photo of a White Pass & Yukon Route Steam Snowplow with tender. Sorry no SP.