Ok boys and girls, let’s play a guessing game. Name the machine, the railroad, and for bonus points the engine type. First prize is a pat on the back administered by yourself. Have fun super slueths!
Jet blower for clearing snow from switch points.
What the heck is that thing? Looks like a Jet Engine!! [;)]
I’ll guess… It’s name is “the blow torch” used for melting snow, and thawing tracks. RR is U.P.
I wonder how fast it runs at full throttle…
I’m going to guess that it is a fan-jet heater used for M of W work area heating during winter derailments or other work, and for thawing coupler knuckles. it looks like catenary in the back so I’d guess NE Corridor - either CSX M of W or maybe NJTransit…or MTA
HeritageFleet1
Good so far! You guys are getting “hot”…
Conrail has or had one, maybe the same one, but here it is in Conrail MoW paint
What do you mean ‘hot’? It IS a snow melter.
–Randy
It’s a jet powered snowblower. While the device does not pick and throw the snow, it does blow hot exhaust air down at the rails to blow and melt the snow on the tracks. It looks as if it is missing an attachment that would create a funnel that could reach down to the track level. This is probably good for getting rid of the snow that is below the top of the rails to reveal electrical or mechanical equipment that would still be buried after a snowplow had come through (i.e. drag detection equipment, greasers, etc).
My first thought, before all this chatter of snow, was just a jet blower like NASCAR uses to blow debris from the tracks. In this case it would blow loose ballast away from the working parts of turnouts?
Here’s a youtube video of one of those things in action on CSX:
Yeah, but it pushes you AWAY from the snow. Looks more like a budget version of that B-47 powered RDC that NYC had.
Ed
I was thinking the same thoughts. Here’s a pix.
Snow melting jet engine, maybe Pratt&Whitney, a North Eastern railroad by the trees.
Eric
It’s a rocket powered arc welder. It can lay down mile of bead weld in under 15 seconds.
Nah! It’s the mother of all weed-burners. Fire that puppy up and you can scorch acres of right of way in a matter of minutes. Best of all, it’s self-propelled! [(-D]
I would name it “Monica.”
That looks like a good use of the heat generated by the previous years campaign promises. Either that or it’s a snow blower that was designed by a committee for the use of old jet engines.
So THAT’S where the laser beam generator to fight off the aliens went to…
Hello it could be the first try at a high speed loco or the guy that had the jet Kenworth got board with his truck and is moving into trains. Have nice day Frank
It looks like a jet-powered snow melter, although it’s missing the vacuum cleaner-like attachment that directs the hot air down to the tracks. The steel plant where I worked had one, and, yes, it will blow the ballast around, along with any scrap wood, steel, or other debris laying nearby. Motive power was provided by a plant diesel, and the noise was audible above the usual steel mill din.
Wayne