why would that railway have snow plows on their locos? I saw them inthis months trains mag.thanks rambo1…
Well you never know, do you?
I suspect that they are standard equipment, and a plain pilot would be an extra cost option. Everyone else has ordered their GEVOs with them. Also, plows tend to do better in inevitable grade crossing collisions.
If they have or believe that they may someday establish a run through power agreement with someone else, it’s likely going to be a requirement by the other party that the locomotive has to have this feature.
So that may be another factor.
All they have to do is not attach the snowplow, correct? I don’t think there’s anything special there in order to not have a snowplow attached.
You may be on the right track. Could the plows be a structural part of the frame since every RR seems to have ordered them?
blue streak you are bouble right rambo 1…
sorry about my spelling blue streak you are right rambo1…
I doubt it. They can be changed out, and some of our yard power don’t have plows.
Often, snowplows have to be replaced when they hit something, so they are not a part of the frame. However, the plows do have mounts on the pilot to hold the plow that I think are constructed on the frame, and those would need to be cut off to avoid spearing anything in a collision.
As an aside, Tri-Rail’s BL36PHs have snowplows, and they are the only purchasers of that Brookville model.
Are not they useful if something else lands on the RoW? Abandoned baby carriage, old tires, an old piano?
Yes, they tend to deflect debris, as they hang lower to the railhead than plain pilots.
+1
They are not structural.
There are regulations on what constitutes a pilot. I suspect that GE is using the plow to meet the regulation and a plain pilot would be an extra cost item.
+1
Probably the thing they do best.
.
In 1967, in a post-derailment, to which I had responded, a conversation with an Assistant Supt. I was told the snowplow-pilots were more for deflecting deer, cows, sheep, people, motor-cyles, cars, trucks…you get the (snow) drift…
That was SPT in the mid 60’s.
The end sheet is flat and the plow bolts onto it. The brackets are part of the plow. Plows in southern states are more for keeping most debris, cars, etc from balling up under the locomotive. The earlier plows bolted on where the old pilots with foot boards bolted. I’ve replaced/repaired many of them on the FEC engines.
While Florida doesn’t get snow, they get hurricanes. Any tropical storm that goes through probably leaves a to of branches and sticks on the right of way, which the plow will push aside. If the locomotive hits a log, it is most likely better and easier to replace a damaged plow than a pilot. Plus, wasn’t there a blog awhile ago complaining of the idiots in Florida that get on the tracks?
Why don’t we call it a cowcatcher?
Has anyone observed snowplows built the last few years?. May be that all are the same except for those that have to traverse third rail territory? GE & EMD the same?
Most cows have been caught and shipped to McDonalds. Trains catch trespassers and vehicles at road crossings these days. Besides, what would a train and engine crew with a cow that they caught?