High how it going. Im planning to take some SP locos and adding some Ice breakers. Im not looking to go tottaly Prototype seening as Im going to turn an SD45 in to a dual Purpuse Loco that could be used to push a snow plow up a mountain in the winter and use it for local switching and thrue friet assignments wich im planning to do with some older 4 and 6 axle locos like SD40’s GP 40-2s and maybe a SD40T-2 or two. So if any one knows where I could get some that would be nice.
I can give you some limited information on how and what engines used them. The web site below shows a GP38-2 that was used in the winter on snow duty over Donner. The ice breaker is in the down position most of the year, but that device you see on the top of the cab raises up and locks into postion over the cab. Several of the GP38-2 had this and you can also spot the special front window heater type windshield wipers that are round. They were copies of units used on ships.
During the late fifties and sixties, the FP7’s also had ice breakers on them for passenger runs so any ice would be knocked down before the passenger cars hit the ice.
I am sure some of the SD9’s also had the ice breaker and were used before the new GP38-2 were puchased for snow duty.
The Union Pacific still has several of the GP38-2’s painted in UP colors and numbered in the 600 series that do snow duty to this date. The ice breakers are still on them along with the special round type heater window with wipers. One picture belows shows the 4839 with the ice breaker in the up position coming down the hill from duty.
Now I see it ! ! I was looking at the loco with the ice breaker folded DOWN, Here in Canuckada, the breakers are usually on a boxcar behind the locos in a permanent position, that fold down unit is great.