back from the shop

[cn nutbar]

hello everyone---whenever the CN sends it's locomotives on lease to the EG&E,they know the equipment is in good hands---as a matter of fact,all the locomotives return in better shape than before they left---the boys from the Lowbanks' shops are all craftsmen and the pride they take in servicing their locomotives is legendary.So it comes as no surprise that when CN 4100 needed a snowloader installed,they called the experts.Here's a few pictures of the 4100 fresh from the shops

 

[rogerw]

keep in mind there is no such thing as a stupid question just stupid people that ask questions but what are snowloaders?

 

[Nomad]

Hey Roger, don't feel lonely. What is a snowloader?

Loren

 

[doctorwayne]

Well, what was installed on the 4100 was the large pipe running from the engineer's side of the steam dome, along the upper side of the boiler, and terminating in a plug on the smokebox front. Both Mister Nutbar and I thought that this was for a snow "melter" - the original version of the jet-powered one that came later:

However, the term used in the CNR SIG Magazine called the device a Barber Green Snow Loader, although no explanation or photo of this device was offered. I googled "Barber Green Snow Loader", and it came back with a description of the device used to clear snow from city streets - it picks up the snow, then uses an integral conveyor to transfer it to waiting trucks. We are guessing that the railroad device was a steam-powered version that was pushed by the locomotive, gathering snow in yards or urban areas, and transferring it to gondolas, most likely between the loco and the loader. However, this is just a guess: we would welcome comments from anybody with more info on this machine and its operation. A photograph would be nice, too.

Wayne

 

[Sarge_7]

Doc Wayne, I found a couple of pics of snow loaders(the street version)

The first is of a Barber Greene Snow Loader add.



It is an add for sale on ebay.
1952 Barber-Greene Model 544 Snow Loader Ad - (eBay item 320197811337 end time Dec-24-07 20:07:05 PST)

Next is a snow loader used in Portland Main, circa 1927.



I know these are not exactly what you are looking for, but I thought they showed the concept of what you are describing.

 

[doctorwayne]

Thanks for posting those photos, Sarge_7. That looks more-or-less how I had pictured it would. I'm still curious how it was used by the railroad, though. I wonder if they simply used it to place the snow where they wanted it, rather than using a wedge or rotary plow, which puts it all over the place. Or did they use the device to pick-up the snow from urban-area tracks, then melt it before disposing of it trackside?

Wayne

 

[UP SD40-2]

Well nutbar, you know your #4100 is my favorite steamer that you have:winki: , and just when i thought it couldn't get any better, Wayne did his magic to it and made it even more AWESOME then it already was:thumb::mrgreen: .

GREAT ENGINE nutbar:thumb: , and OUTSTANDING JOB Wayne:bravo: .

:deano: -Deano

 

[cn nutbar]

Thanks Deano---I am very lucky to have such a talented friend in Doctor Wayne who,as you well know,is the true talent as far as my collection goes---and thanks again to Sarge 7 who has solved the mystery of the snowloader---here's another shot of the 4100 rolling into Elfrida on the EG&E