Some time in my travels I aqcuired a Bowser model of a PRR icebreaker hopper -- basically an H21 in appropriate paint with an "aftermarket" ice-breaker rig.
How were these used?
I mean, I know they were used to break ice *g* but I can't find any info online as to how they ran. Paint on the car indicates used between Cresson and Altoona, on Horseshoe Curve. Would they have been cut into a train? Run alone? Ahead of the loco or behind?
I know western roads ran icebreakers to protect dome car glass, but I don't think Pennsy ran domes. What was the purpose -- protect locos? Keep coal from getting knocked out of the cars?
Thanks all!Aaron
From what I can gather on a quick search, it was basically the same reason other railroads did it, to knock down ice hanging down in tunnels and under bridges and wherever. Even if a railroad didn't run domes, you didn't want icicles hanging down that could smash into the windshield of an F or E unit, or smash the headlight of a steam engine. Some railroads used boxcars, some used hoppers, I don't think the kind of car mattered that much.
https://www.trovestar.com/blog/article/537
Well if Cresson and Altoona is the area of concern the only tunnels are under the town of Galitzen just before Cresson. there also was a tunnel to the 50 miles to the east of altoona at Spruce Creek. I am somewhat surprised that the tunnels at Galitzen would generate enough ice to warrant an ice breaker due to the heavy traffic there that would keep the ice knocked down. i would suspect that the car would be used with the helpers used on horseshoe and cut off at Cresson.
AutonerdI know western roads ran icebreakers to protect dome car glass, but I don't think Pennsy ran domes. What was the purpose -- protect locos? Keep coal from getting knocked out of the cars?
On some lines they were to protect autos on the old open tri-level auto carriers.
MidlandMikeOn some lines they were to protect autos on the old open tri-level auto carriers.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
They would be picked up by a train on one side of the area and set out on the other.
The railroad doesn't want any equipment to hit a heavy ice piece. They can damage any type of car. If you look at the way the ice breaker is built, that's not something you want any car to hit.
If you look at pictures of ice in cuts, you will see it's not icicles, its huge chunks of ice a foot or two thick. That's enough to damage roofwalks, handbrakes, car ends, auto racks, TOFC, cupolas, etc.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com