A couple of things this newby would like to know

[jacon12]

What is the snow scoop looking thing on the front of this locomotive where the front coupler is..
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=96596

What is meant by a "house" line or track?

Is there a reference somewhere in the internet or in a book that lists locomotives by when they were made and how long they were in service and what companies bought them?
Thanks,
Jarrell

[Anonymous]

Well, I can answer the first question - it's a pilot plow. These seem to be dual-purpose, they deal with snow and also other obstructions on the track. Details West have a good range of them in HO - www.detailswest.com - hope this is of help!

[ndbprr]

You have it correct. Both engines have snow plows on them. It is a fairly common practice as it adds weight low on the engine to help with rail adhesion when not being used. Even here in Chicago it is difficult to see one actually pushing a lot of snow since nearly every engine has one. It is more common to see an occasional puff as just the top is removed by each train down the line.
A house track is a track that the railroad uses and does not have an industry per se. The IHB had a siding in Alsip, IL at 127th where a brick dealer would get box cars of brick and he would bring his truck and a pallet jack to unload cars. A tombstone dealer used it when he got a flat car of granite. he would send a truck and a crane. I used to see tank cars there also but never saw anybody offload to trucks. Often a house track will also have a ramp to a platform or large concrete block like 25' x 20' that can be used to unload cars also. Every time I have seen one it was for those kind of people who didn't want to pay for a siding yet wanted to use the railroad and didn't mind the inconvenience. Sidings are very expensive. A company I worked for in the early 60's wanted a siding installed on the REading rairoad and just the switch and signaling was almost $50,000 then and the company ahd to hire a contractor to bring thesiding the rest of the way.