Forgive me for posting this trifling. It’s not as cool as the layout and other photos displayed here, but I’m just getting started.
This is my latest project, made from a Walther’s kit. I thought it would be a nice addtion to my work train. It needs to be lettered, and I plan to add Kadee couplers and upgraded Bettandorfs. The problem is, to best of my knowledge, Great Northern never operated Jordans, and had they, I doubt this color scheme would have been employed. But, what the heck!
I do have photos of similar GN-built equipment. I’m currently trying to aquire another Walther’s Jordan, which I intend to kitbash in a somewhat more prototypical fashion.
GN did indeed have Jordan spreaders. There’re photos of five of them on pages 105-106 of “Great Northern Equipment Color Pictorial–Book Three” by Scott R. Thompson. Ed
Very similar to GN snow dozers X1634, X1671-X1675, and X1680-X1698. The GN units lacked the AW cab windows but had a cool running board extending unicorn-like over the headlamp. See pp. 101-104 of the aforementioned Thompson book.
Shilshole, thank you so very much. I’ve seen a brass model of the one you describe (with walkway protruding forward). Unfortunately, I didn’t feel like spending $400 on it. At the time, I didn’t realize it was a Jordan. I’ve seen photos of several more recent GN Snow Dozers. They’re cool looking machines. I believe BN still operates some of them.
At any rate, now that I’m armed with more information, I think my next stab at building one will result in a somewhat more realistic outcome.
My pleasure, especially in support of another Rockyphile.
I should have noted that all of GN’s snow dozers like the one pictured were home built of wood or steel at their St. Cloud shops between 1919 and 1947, and were not purchased from Jordan. (GN did purchase 2 Russell snow plows; I think they were used on Lines East only.) At least two GN-built steel dozers from a later (1966) series did make it into BN paint to at least 2002, and may be in BNSF colors.
Yes, your Jordan model on the GN would likely be seen in Vermillion or mineral red (or even BSB), depending on the date. On the other hand, SP&S had two Jordan spreaders, X-4 and X-19, that were identical to the one you’ve modeled, including the style of solid-bearing trucks. While theirs was a single color (no black or ‘silver’), your predominant color is almost dead on for theirs, perhaps a little lighter. I can envision several scenarios in which a spreader in your paint scheme wouldn’t seem out of place in a GN MOW string.
Lynda, the GN had one Jordan spreader with this particular type of high blade. It was the X-1705. You can find it pictured on page 105 of Scott R. Thompson’s “GN Equipment Pictorial Vol. 3”. You will see that the cab portion is longer and the air reservoir is a vertical mount rather than horizontal, but this is the prototype you seek. I know, because I did one. While Mr. Thompson’s book shows the X-1705 in weathered vermillion paint, I backdated mine to as it would have appeared in mineral red. I wish you luck on your project, and, by the way, hello from another GN fan(atic). [swg] If there is anything else I can assist you with, don’t be afraid to ask.
That works for me. I’m modeling a freelance line based loosly on SP&S, with an imaginary relationship with GN similar to GN/NP/SP&S. As I haven’t lettered the Jordan yet, perhaps I’ll use it on the secondary line.
Oddly, this is one of the reasons I decided to concoct the freelance. I thought it would provide me an opportunity run some nonstandard equipment and hand-me-downs. My freelancer is the AL&D (Alpine, Laramie, and Denver); though, like the SP&S, the line won’t actually go to Denver. Alpine is my made-up city, which is located on the edge of Alpine National Park (also made up). I’m modeling the 1955 era, and tourist trade for skiing and other outdoor activities is booming. [:)] Alas, the area is too mountainous for large-scale air operations. Yeah, I’ve got a vivid imagination! I’ve even gone so far as to write a history of Alpine and the AL&D.
I appreciate your input very much; and, it’s very good to meet another goat lover.
