A question about snow plows

[dbduck]

I have recently been watching videos of snow plows being used to remove snow from the right of ways. both rotary and wedge type plows In all of the videos, the plows are being pushed by two or three locomotives

My question is, are the locomotives being controlled by a person in the cab of the plow, or is the plow operator just in touch with the locomotive engineer, via radio or other type of communication

[caldreamer]

The opeator in the plow is in contact with train crew in the lead locomotive by radio.

[gmpullman]

The plow operator will have a brake valve available to him or her at the minimum.

Good Luck, Ed

[AEP528]

In the steam era, plows also had whistles and the plow operator and engine crew would communicate via the whistles, same as they would with helper locomotives.

["JaBear"]

While not quite what the OP was asking, I see in the Canadian Rail Operating Rules, effective 24 June 2020, refer to 14. Engine Whistle Signals;

 14(t) When a snow plow is operated ahead of an engine, the employee in charge of the snow plow must sound engine whistle signals 14(f) and 14(l). All other engine whistle signals must be sounded by the locomotive engineer as prescribed by the rule.

 

14(f) Succession of short sounds (#) Alarm for persons or animals on or near the track.

 

14(l) ___ ___ o ___

(i) (#) At public crossings at grade:  A whistle post will be located 1/4 mile before each public crossing where required. Whistle signal must be sounded by movements:

• exceeding 44 MPH, at the whistle post

• operating at 44 MPH or less, in order to provide 20 seconds warning prior to entering the crossing.  Whistle signal must be prolonged or repeated until the crossing is fully occupied. 

EXCEPTION: Not applicable when manual protection is to be provided, or when shoving equipment other than a snow plow over a crossing protected by automatic warning devices.

  

https://legacy.railcan.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/CROR-English-June-24-2020.pdf

 

Cheers, the Bear

[gmpullman]

While I don't have any documentation to back my hypothesis, I wonder if the reason the snow plow operator is not commanding the control of the locomotive because it isn't in his union contract to do so?

When a snow plow extra is called I'm sure there has to be a full 'operating' train crew on board and perhaps few, if any, of the regular enginemen are qualified to operate the plow and associated equipment. Would the plow and flanger operators be part of the maintenance of way craft? 

Some of the former steam operated rotaries were converted to diesel electric and they were 'mated' to a diesel B unit for power but these B units were incapable of movement as far as I recall.

Good Luck, Ed

[zugmann]

gmpullman

While I don't have any documentation to back my hypothesis, I wonder if the reason the snow plow operator is not commanding the control of the locomotive because it isn't in his union contract to do so?

You also need a locomotive engineer license to operate a locomotive on the main.  I know there's locomotives that have been modified to be MOW equipment movers (or some such term) to get around that, but it's a very gray issue that I think will eventually need to be addressed. 

[cx500]

The snow plow operator will be from the track forces on that specific territory, which he will know intimately from the track point of view.  In particular, where there are obstructions between the rails such as at turnouts, motorcar set-offs, dragging equipment detectors, Jordan rails and crossings that will require the flanger blade to be raised.  These will not necessarily be visible in deep snow!   There will also be side obstructions that require the wings to be pulled in.  While the engineeer or conductor will be aware of many of these things in general, their focus has to remain with operating the train.  Trying to do two things at once can be a recipe for trouble.