Switchers with plows?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I have done some googling online and I have seen very few photos of SW1500’s with plows. Now I’m curious if this was a general practice on certain railroads or if anyone else models thereie Switcher fleets with a large plow such as the larger diesels have? If so please feel free and post photos.

I ask thus due to I was thinking about doing this to my Freelanced railroad and I dont want to look to stupid doing it lol.

2

I’m sure it would be fine. I might hazard a guess that since switchers tend to sometimes stay more local to a location that they might not have plows regularly added such as a road unit would.

3

Since you are freelancing, is it possible that one or more of your switchers might have to buck drifts to reach a shipper on the far end of a long spur?

I have a wedge plow to keep the JNR clear, but my freelance line is snowplow-free so far. Maybe I should equip one of my teakettles with a big wedge plow on each end to keep the line running through the winter blizzards that won’t start for a month or so…

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

4

If you’re freelancing, I don’t see why it would matter to you what anyone would say about your switcher wearing a plow. If it’s your road, your creation, then go for it and add the large plows like the larger diesels have. If you’re concerned about how the plow will look, then maybe using a plow that’s not too overpowering would be a good idea. You can use low profile plows such as the DW weed cutter plow or the DW low profile plow. Just do what makes the hobby fun for you, enjoy.

5

Burlington Northern SW1 #91 had plows on both ends. This switcher spent pretty much its entire existence assigned to Deadwood, SD and had to deal with a lot of snow on its way to switch the local power plant. Eric

6

I think a "Weed Cutter’ Plow would look appropriate. To my knowledge all WC SW1500s had the Weed Cutter Type.

http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php

7

Here are some photos of a Alco RS-1.

http://www.danbury.org/drm/alco/alco3.html

Here is a HO scale model with optional snow plow.

http://www.atlasrr.com/HOLoco/homp15c.htm

Details West has a plow for diesels.

Rich