Western Railroad Discussion > BN 972502 Plow

Saw a picture of a BN Plow on another RR site, can anyine tell me the history and general info on this plow still in BN Green..
Will post image when I get permission from author. The picture is dated 12-08.

Mike Keithly
Kimball, NE

I believe that recently painted plow with the BN logo is based in Wenatchee, WA it has a similar design like the other green one based in Skykomish, the Skykomish plow was a shop built by the GN and i'm assuming the 972502 is a GN shop built as well.

I have a picture from 12-26-08 at Wenatchee.

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BNSF sister snow dozer 972504 is based at Essex, Montana in more traditional BN/BNSF maintenance of way boxcar reddish brown scheme. The 972504 was built December 1936. It was noted from passing GrandLuxe Express on August 11, 2008.


Green scheme is a nice change.

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it looks like a first generation Genset loco.

Interesting how different the two designs are. The Wenatchee dozer has the side wings, where the Marias Pass equipment looks like flangers with front plows. Not sure what the equipment on the rear corner of the Marias equipment would be for, doesn't look like a common design for a side wing. Of course the armour plate on the front windows suggests different conditions.
Do these have engine stands in the dozer cab or are instructions passed to the engineer in the trailing power set?
Thanks.

TCnR Wrote:
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> Not sure what the equipment on the
> rear corner of the Marias equipment would be for,
> doesn't look like a common design for a side wing.
> Of course the armour plate on the front windows
> suggests different conditions.
>
The things in the back are cut widers, i think instead of pushing out they drag it in so the next one can throw it out.

Sounds like it shaves down the wall of the cut, maybe also for ice in the tunnels and snowsheds? Then the next plow pushes it down the tracks and out of the cut or structure.
Curious, I'm gonna have to check this stuff out.
I found I have a few rosters from the Skykomish trips in the mid-80's. I'll need to scan them and take a better look.


> -----
> > Not sure what the equipment on the
> > rear corner of the Marias equipment would be
> for,
> > doesn't look like a common design for a side
> wing.
> > Of course the armour plate on the front windows
> > suggests different conditions.
> >
> The things in the back are cut widers, i think
> instead of pushing out they drag it in so the next
> one can throw it out.

Caught the BN 972539 "Snow-Dozer" at Sioux City Iowa a couple of years ago. It is also ex Great Northern, GN X-1668.

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Very interesting, this is the most of these that I've seen for comparison, each seems to be different. The GN example has a rear walkway, hadn't seen that before.
Can't help but think of the OC&E 'plow' that was homebuilt out of wood. Very similar cab and carbody. I'll have to dig those slides out as well.

Here is the rear view with walkway..

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Those pictures show the evolution of the design as built by the Great Northern's car shop at St. Cloud, MN. Here is a photograph of one of the last built GN Snow Dozers;

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/bn972516.jpg

Yeow, definitely a face only a mother could love. Very cool thread thanks.

There were numerous high blade Jordan Spreaders on the ATSF, and into the merger. Also BN 972666 is one of many examples....658,674,678 etc
http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=54009
Roger Beckett

We put a Jordan Spreader to the rip tracks last night here at Northtown. About to become razor blades.

GNR1938 Wrote:
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> We put a Jordan Spreader to the rip tracks last
> night here at Northtown. About to become razor
> blades.

What number?

I will check at work today and let you know.