Western Railroad Discussion > Rotary at the Ready

Southern Pacific rotary snowplow MW208 and its snail companion have been receiving some mechanical checks and TLC at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum at Portola.  It has been cleared for service and we are awaiting the next big snow when we will perform our second Rotary Run where visitors will have a chance to ride and photo a working rotary plowing snow.

SP MW208 was the last steam rotary converted to diesel power by the SP and the last rotary to work the Western Pacific before the UP merger.  Having scrapped their own wood bodied rotarys, the WP borrowed the 208 for a few winters.  The 208 was regularly loaned out during the late 60s and early 70s.  In addition to the WP, it also ran on the McCloud River Railway and the Santa Fe.  More info on the 208 and 8221 snail: https://www.wplives.org/mow_pages/spmw_208.html

The WPRM currently has a fundraiser going on.  The top donors get passes to ride the cab of the 208 during the Rotary Runs.  Go to https://www.wplives.org/news_items/2020_WPRM_Winter_Fundraiser.html for more info.  Offer ends February 16.

Z


video by David Elems - January 29, 2020
photos by Greg Elems

 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/03/20 19:07 by zephyrus.

---

---

You must be a registered subscriber to watch videos. Join Today!

That’s pretty impressive! Had no idea there was a working rotary at your outfit, and that you used it to for your “Rotary Run” — neat !



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/04/20 06:57 by IC_2024.

I believe the agreement to have the rotary from the UP was to have it available for the UP to use if it was ever needed. 

czuleget Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I believe the agreement to have the rotary from
> the UP was to have it available for the UP to use
> if it was ever needed. 

Yes, UP has the option to borrow it if needed. 

Plus it is quite a thing to share an operating rotary when we can.

Z