Snow Plow Trains

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Getting ready for winter .
I like trains though I wouldn't consider it at an obsession.
But these trains are on a whole other level.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaqRgDN1SxM

Nice. Ours are made from converted coal tenders from the old steam trains. All ordinary trains carry mini snow ploughs which can be lowered at the depot when the snow comes. They also have a glove to go over the centre coupling (BSI or Delner types etc) to protect them from the snow as there are at least 50 electrical connections there. Brake pipes are also a concern.

I have seen your posts before and I think you know a lot about trains.
Are the trains in the video just regular trains with snow plows attached or are they the type that is only brought out to clear the snow and then they get out of the way until needed again?

some of both.

Some seem to be just a locomotive, or two locomotives hooked up back to back, pushing the plow.

Others in the vids seem to be actual trains with cars behind the plow.

Regular trains. The snow ploughs are raised slightly and act to protect the train from hitting objects on the track. When the snow comes the depot staff can lower them. They are not large.

Usually for heavy snow here we have proper ploughs made from coal tenders. At least two locomotives will be used to push them, not because one loco does jot have the power, but because they need the traction on the wet rails at slow speed. They take a snow plough either end which can require very good route knowledge as visibility while pushing a plough is very limited, hence they will only be used if really needed and by that time one will usually have to de-ice points (Turnouts) as their heaters struggle to cope. When the point heaters first automatically come on, they shoot big yellow flames up in the air! Frightening if one is walking down by the track as part of ones duties and one of them suddenly goes off!

One of the mane concerns when using a large snow plough through heavy snow is compacted snow which can de-rail the plough. The ploughs are weighted with ballast, but even then it has been known. I have a book which shows our ploughs in action where one has left the rails, as a local council cleared a road and deposited the snow on the track which was compacted snow, so the snow plough rode over rather then ploughed through. Level crossings are a point where this can happen.

Another concern if the track has been blocked for a day or two is that a thin layer of rust on the surface of the line will prevent the track circuits working with the first few trains to pass, so special instructions will be given to the driver. Sometimes this requires men with flags or a bardic light at every signal to signal the passing trains (Usually lines that have automatic or semi automatic signals). In some areas with differwnt signalling methods like Absolute block with the addition of track circuits, they simply go back to the absolute block only working method where the signal boxes effectively run blind but they will know there is a train between point A and point B (If that makes sense? In other words, they are using the traditional block instruments rather then the big panel indicators. They use both anyway, as well as the signalbox to signalbox bell codes). But some signals the driver may be given permission to pass at danger if they rely on the track circuits to clear them and the circuits are not operating effectively. The driver will pass them at caution and sound his horn.


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Great info! Thank you.
Love the flames.
But I had no idea that there is “steering” involved in driving trains or did I misunderstand?

The only real steering of trains comes from the signalman in the signal box who plans the route of the train. Train drivers and conductors (Guards... The one in charge of the train who issues the tickets but also instructs the driver etc. Used to be called guards but now conductors here in the UK) need to know and have signed the route and they need to also have signed for the train they are working so they will know if it is allowed on that route or not. (I have refused to take certain trains on certain routes where we had to get the passengers off etc and they had to send us another train) just because someone in the depot some 70 miles away sent us the wrong train which was not allowed on the route we were taking. This was a unit which we normally worked daily, but were not allowed to take it on that line, as there are at least one platform which is higher and the doors design is such that they catch on the platform and won't open. If the ones in charge of the track would raise the track up a few inches it would have solved the problem. Also other units on that line, if we took them up we would have to swop passengers when we reached the point when we met the train coming down (The driver and I (Guard) would usually swap trains with the other traincrew leaving the passengers and train to continue their journey), as certain units would not make it round the sharper curves further up the line. For this reason, with the other depot up north from us were not allowed to sign for those trains so mistakes would not be made. I believe I had signed every type of train we had.

Steering like steering an automobile or boat, no, not involved.

However ...

the concept of steering and the word steering are very much used within the trucks/bogies on which locomotives and train cars ride;

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/869987

While I'm not a personal fan of snow, I do like trains in snow.

And then there are the big rotary plows used for deep snow in the mountains and for drifts on the plains.
https://youtu.be/xpi_XjW64Yc


People have even built functional models for outdoor garden model railways, but I am not one of those people;
https://youtu.be/9NT6gEiqpWA

And a look at the interior of one of those rotary plows,
https://youtu.be/NTpKizlTO6A

Really enjoying learning about trains.
Thank for the wonderful information about steering and guards and conductors.
I want to take a trip into deep snow and see them in person like at Emigrant Gap - had to laugh when the photographer got doused.
The tour was amazing- that is recycling at its best.
Loved the model train - now when will they have one of those to clear off the sidewalk in winter!
Thanks for the fun posts

I am enjoying these videos. The many varieties of train plow fronts are fascinating.

Wedge plow:



Rotary: