Just out on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fgcp0PNxOs4
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Finally found my January issue...
Looks like everything that's been said about double track plows applies in that image, even if they are plowing a single track line.
It appears the firemen's side wing plow is out as well.
I'd opine that they need to run a flanger through there, too.
adkrr64That would be a tow plow: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UljZPp0hZsY
That's delightful -- perfectly logical 'adaptive reuse' of the steering used on long or heavy specialty trailers... and it looks as if the company that makes them has set up to spread anti-icing material from the trailer to go along with 'salt spreading' from the towing vehicle.
Wouldn't this be a perfect application to refine autonomous-guidance algorithms for unusual or emergency climatic conditions?
MidlandMikeA couple of years ago I was driving on I-88 in New York between Binghamton and Oneonta, coming up behind a highway plow truck towing a trailer. Suddenly its lights started to flashing and a sign indicated to stay back/do not pass. Then the trailer, attached to the truck with a long arm, started to vier into the adjacent lane, and stayed in that lane for several miles. Eventually it viered back into the lane behing the truck, and let quite a few cars pass. I figured they were testing some new double lane capable plow system
That would be a tow plow: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UljZPp0hZsY
They make superb rolling road blocks.
A couple of years ago I was driving on I-88 in New York between Binghamton and Oneonta, coming up behind a highway plow truck towing a trailer. Suddenly its lights started to flashing and a sign indicated to stay back/do not pass. Then the trailer, attached to the truck with a long arm, started to vier into the adjacent lane, and stayed in that lane for several miles. Eventually it viered back into the lane behing the truck, and let quite a few cars pass. I figured they were testing some new double lane capable plow system.
SD70Dude CN double track plow photo partway down this page: http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/photos/cnr_rolling/one.htm
CN double track plow photo partway down this page:
http://www.trainweb.org/oldtimetrains/photos/cnr_rolling/one.htm
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Just re-looked at the photo published in TRAINS....My firest look seemed to be a pair of snow plows that were sandwiched front and rear; with the power in the middle(?)
My frirst thought, was that it was an arrangement to plow a branch line; to clear it, the plows entered into the line, plowed to one end then reversed, and plowed to the other end; after which it was able to exit the plowed line(?)
Back about 1960 I remember being impressed watching the yard being cleared in Houghton Michigan using a V with a wing on each side. One wing was extended as they cleared 3 tracks. The engine pushing the plow sounded as if it were idling as they pushed 4 feet of snow.
tree68 CSSHEGEWISCH The Illinois Tollway Commission has wing plows in their fleet, they look like Jordan spreaders when the wings are extended. The wings seem to be used primarily for clearing the shoulder from the adjacent lane. Many of the Interstate plows have wings on both sides - and if traffic allows they may well have both of them out.
CSSHEGEWISCH The Illinois Tollway Commission has wing plows in their fleet, they look like Jordan spreaders when the wings are extended. The wings seem to be used primarily for clearing the shoulder from the adjacent lane.
The Illinois Tollway Commission has wing plows in their fleet, they look like Jordan spreaders when the wings are extended. The wings seem to be used primarily for clearing the shoulder from the adjacent lane.
Many of the Interstate plows have wings on both sides - and if traffic allows they may well have both of them out.
One of the joys if retirement - not having to frequent the Interstates when the white stuff is falling.
Locally the public works people have been pre-treating the highways a day or so ahead of prediced snow events by spraying a brine solution on the highways. They have been doing that for the last 5 or so years.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Lithonia Operator It seems we may have a difference of opinion on what "double track plow" means. If it means not that it plows two tracks, but rather that it just doesn't compound the problem on a second track, then I think the photo in question shows one. It's a little hard to tell for sure, since the angle is dead straight on. But at least one of the plows also has side blades on both sides, and the plow extra is launching snow in both directions. A really nice element in the photo is that the crewman is leaning outside the window of the cupola, looking straight ahead. Great photo.
It seems we may have a difference of opinion on what "double track plow" means.
If it means not that it plows two tracks, but rather that it just doesn't compound the problem on a second track, then I think the photo in question shows one. It's a little hard to tell for sure, since the angle is dead straight on.
But at least one of the plows also has side blades on both sides, and the plow extra is launching snow in both directions.
A really nice element in the photo is that the crewman is leaning outside the window of the cupola, looking straight ahead. Great photo.
That sums it up pretty well.
A single track line would use a "push it both ways" version - by far the most predominant version. Here's another view of a double track plow:
A double track line plow would throw the snow off to one side only.
Those who live in snow country see this every day - most highway plows throw the snow off in one direction only. The vintage "vee" plows are more often seen as signs out in front of the highway garage.
Our DOT plows that handle the Interstates have a plow that will throw either way, so they can plow either lane.
As for the wings, those serve to help get the snow further off the track, not to clear adjacent tracks. They are more or less analogous to the wing plows on a highway snowplow - although those are actually capable of clearing the road surface.
Semper VaporoThat doesn't plow two tracks at once, it has a baffle on the left of the plow that discourages snow from falling to the left, and posssibly covering track on that side that might have already been plowed.
Correct - it plows one track in double track territory - another plow of the same construction operating on the other track in the opposite direction will clear it.
If 'center' plows were used, each time they would be putting about half their 'spoil' onto the other track - creating more work when going in the opposite direction.
Remember, when these 'double track' plows were created - most double track installations had current of traffic signalling in one direction only. On the B&O West on #1 and East on #2. Anything authorized to operate against the current of traffic was running on specific train order authorization.
That doesn't plow two tracks at once, it has a baffle on the left of the plow that discourages snow from falling to the left, and posssibly covering track on that side that might have already been plowed.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
Double Track Plow
Lithonia Operator Dude, I see a double-ended plow, but not one that's obviously a double-track plow. Can you reference it with a car number?
Dude, I see a double-ended plow, but not one that's obviously a double-track plow. Can you reference it with a car number?
CN 55501.
A sister (CN 55500) is preserved at a museum in Wainwright, Alberta.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
It's right above the double ended plow, and right below the two standard plows.
timz I don't have the pic -- does it show spreaders? Doubt any RR has ever had actual double-track plows. On Donner Pass, SP might sandwich an engine between eastward-facing and westward-facing plows or spreaders, or it might send a single spreader west on the eastward track followed by another spreader west on the westward track, plowing snow that had been shoved aside by the first spreader.
I don't have the pic -- does it show spreaders?
Doubt any RR has ever had actual double-track plows.
On Donner Pass, SP might sandwich an engine between eastward-facing and westward-facing plows or spreaders, or it might send a single spreader west on the eastward track followed by another spreader west on the westward track, plowing snow that had been shoved aside by the first spreader.
The CNW had a left hand plow made out of an old Alco road switcher. It was at the Boone & Scenic Valley, but they traded/sold it to the Iowa Northern a year or two back.
Those double track plows can be dangerous. Since the snow is pushed off to one side, sometimes hitting a large drift the force of the snow building up can shove the plow off the track. Of course, there are videos of regular plows hitting drifts and being derailed, too.
Jeff
Deleted, duplicate post.
Lithonia Operator tree68 Now I've got to find my January issue... It's the current issue. At least the latest I've received.
tree68 Now I've got to find my January issue...
Yep - It's here somewhere....
tree68Now I've got to find my January issue...
Railroad plows frequently have wings, too... They may not clean down to track level, but they can push back the snow just plowed a little further.
Now I've got to find my January issue...
I think a double-track plow is one that is angled to throw all the snow off to one side, rather than to 'both' -- this being like a typical power angle plow except fixed to the 'off side' of directional running. For right-hand running this would angle to the right, for left-hand running to the left, and the same would be true of a rotary's throw.
If you were the 'first' plowing in deep snow, a certain amount of snow might tumble over from the unplowed track 'cover', and it might be helpful to have a second plow catch and move this.
There is a terrific photo on pages 56 and 57. It's quite dramatic, one of the best shots I've seen in the mag in a long time.
But there are a couple of things I don't get. The caption says the engine is sandwiched between two "double-track plows." Now, I had never heard of a double-track plow, but I can imagine a plow with regular blades in the front and some type of outrigger blade that would reach a second track.
But that's not what it seems we're seeing. I can see in the foreground that a train has previously been by on the track the first plow and engine are on. There is no second track visible in the foreground, but maybe it's totally covered with snow.
I wish the editors had not chosen to drop another pic on top of that one (a pet peeve, btw), because I think that otherwise we might be able to see if two tracks are plowed behind the train. (You can barely make out that the track curves out from in the woods. Quite a long lens was used, really compressing the perspective.)Based on plants I see poking out of the snow, I think there's no room at this location for two tracks. ??
So, are the just mentioning it's that sort of plow, but really only one track is being plowed?
And why have the second plow? I can't tell for sure, but the 2nd plow seems to be facing forward also. Now, I could see where a 2nd plow facing aft would be useful if the plow train needed to back into a siding and clear it. But I'm not sure I get the purpose of a second forward-facing plow behind the engine.
Can anyone explain to me what's going on?
In any event, it's a kick-a$$ shot!
Still in training.
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