SP Rotary Snow Plow Walk Through
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- čas přidán 29. 08. 2023
- This video is a descriptive walk around both inside and outside the MW206 with Tim Fitzpatrick who worked for SP from 1959 until 1998 when he went to work for UP. Tim operated this model Rotary Snow Plow as both an Engineer and a Fireman for over 50 years between Colfax and Truckee, California, keeping Donner Summit open. If you are interested in the actual operation and how the stuff in the MW206 work, then this video is for you.
The Southern Pacific MW206, Built by ALCo (Cooke), 11/1923, was used to remove snow from the track between Klamath Falls and Eugene, Oregon. It was moved to Train Mountain on November 16, 2008, where it continues to be on display. SP owned several of these units, most of which are famous for keeping the SP track and now the Union Pacific track open over Donner Summit in California.
Train Mountain (at lat. 42.55741 lon. -121.88707) is half way between Klamath Falls, Oregon and Crater Lake National Park. The small City of Chiloquin, Oregon, is just to the east of Train Mountain. Located between and with access from both US Hwy 97 and Oregon Hwy 62. - Auta a dopravní prostředky
What an informative and valuable video from an actual retired operator describing the various equipment necessary for operating this incredible machine. Thanks Tom. Well done. CZcams needs more videos like this documenting history.
Thanks, I also found it really interesting hearing this description from an actual operator.
Thanks.
We need creatures to get ahold of the old operators before they are all gone!!
He says this one came from the Cascades. It must be the one I examined here in Eugene Yard, where it was stored. It was staged up the hill in Oakridge, along with the crew cars, during
big snows. SP days - completely different operations than today’s UP!
You are correct. This is the one that operated between Klamath Falls to Oakridge.
Wow, these retired gents are a national treasure
I am so glad to have listened to his experience and now that its recorded his wisdom will live on
Thanks for the comment
I always knew there had to be something inside of those old behemoths. What a tour. Thanks Tom, very enjoyable walk around. Happy Labor Day.
Thanks.
They have to get her ready for the 1000-year snowstorm that's coming! Every snow plow will be needed.
Thank you very much for a wonderful tour and some seldom-seen views of the interior!
Thanks for the comment.
One of America's Greatest Generation. Thank you Sir for keeping this nation's railroad moving.
Thanks for the comment.
Good video. Thank you Tom and Tim. Nothing like hearing from an experienced operator.
Thanks for the comment.
This piece of equipment was self contained, right down to an electric coffee pot. When I saw the vestibule at the rear, I suspected it pulled passenger cars as it bore through the snow, as this gentleman confirmed. This machine was well thought out and updated over time. It’s a fascinating piece of equipment.
Yes, considering the length of time these units have been in service, it is very well designed.
The old fellow spoke very fondly of that electric coffee pot. I think he mentioned it not less than five times! Clearly he spent many, _many_ black and cold nights fueled by caffeine aboard one of these things.
I do not think that these were used to pull passenger cars, though. He said it would have been attached to a locomotive (or a 'power unit' which is a locomotive but without controls). A lot of the locomotive noses would have had some kind of doorway in them, and presumably the vestibule would attach to those. It doesn't seem that this thing can move under its own power, and he said it was limited to 25 mph even when not plowing; I don't think they'd have passengers trailing a maintenance-of-way unit like this.
Okay, so, having looked into it a bit more, here's what's going on. The snowplow itself has traction motors, but only for the blades; not for the trucks. It cannot move on its own. It's hooked up to a 'power unit,' which is basically a locomotive motor and generator, that provides power to the snowplow, but _it also does not have its own powered trucks_ normally. The snowplow and power unit together are pushed by an actual locomotive. I'm _not sure_ if the controls in the cab of the snowplow can be hooked all the way back to control the locomotive, or if they're basically required to just keep in radio contact with a crew in the loco to give them instructions on when to push it forward or not.
Either way, what a hell of a machine!
I used to hang out in that plow on cold wet rainy days in chiloquin
Thanks for the comment
For those who don't know there are two working units in Roseville. Tied down near the engine shop. You can see them from Amtrak Depot in Roseville.
Thanks for the good info.
I love watching the videos of these In action. I really like the steam videos.
Hearing the steam engines is a great sound. I hope before I die I can ride a steam train. Seems like the sound of the steam loco would be soothing and put you to sleep
Thanks for the comment. You should be able to find one to ride as there a many steam parks still operating. There are still some engineers around that can really play a steam whistle. Look for one of the videos on my YT channel of the 3-Truck Heisler for lots of whistle sounds.
Very interesting and informative video. Thanks for uploading!
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Very interesting. Thank you. Glad we have this eyewitness report preserved.
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Excellent video presented by a true Old Head!!! Thanks for providing!!!
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Amazing. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. What a great video.
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This was awesome, I have always been curious about these beasts. Thanks for the excellent information.
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Cool walk through. Thanks!
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Excellent video. Thank you.
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Nice work, very important equipment.
Thanks
OUTSTANDING VIDEO. ! WELL DONE. 🇺🇸
Thanks.
Very informative, thank you.
Thanks for the comment.
Great job, Tom!
Thanks for the comment.
That was fascinating. I saw those many times when i lived near Roseville, Ca
They are still there in Roseville.
great vid
Glad you enjoyed it.
: OUTSTANDING All Aboard : May the snow be with us.
🐢 🚂 🐢 🚂 🐢 ❄️
We definitely need more snow to plow.
Thanks for your tour! We have one here in Ogden Utah and I've wanted to know how it all works 😊
Hopefully, now you know.
Super interesting! Cascade concrete, 4-traction motors, what a beast of a machine -- so great it's preserved and Tim Fitzpatrick is a national treasure!
Any chance of video of the SPMW Jordan spreader if it's still there at Train Mountain?
That's coming. Tim also narrated some video footage of both the Jordan Spreader and the Flanger. I just haven't got it ready to upload yet.
@@twatson703 😁 thank you and Tim!
I'd love to see her running. What gorgeous machine!!
Unfortunately, the shaft to the rotor is bent, so it is no longer capable of operating.
@@twatson703 that's unfortunate, is there a way we can make donations for it's repair?
If it had of been economically feasible, one would think that UP would have repaired it. Now, it is a museum piece.
@@twatson703 gotcha, didn't think of that. She's still a beautiful piece I wish I could own lol
I love your videos and appreciate the time you take to make them. I'm not sure if you are aware, but your videos look very flat colored. I believe your camera shoots in LOG format, and thus needs to be color corrected to appear as bright as it is in real life. Carry on the good work.
Throw the snow 300 yards?! Holy cow!!
The power in these units is amazing.
Amazing video, this gentleman is an absolute wealth of knowledge.
One thing of note though, might want to check the format your camera is filming in, the whole video was fairly desaturated color wise.
Thanks for thew comment. The video is filmed in Panasonic 10Bit vlog at 80MBPS HDR and shows full rec 2100 color on the scopes. I looks great when watching on a HDR capable viewing device. If you are only watching on a SDR viewing device, you are at the mercy of whatever CZcams converts to for SDR viewing. There was a lot of smoke in the air that day which also makes it look- well "smoky."
I just got done watching on of your video's. It looks like a lot of fun. I would like to know where your located so I can experience your Railroad & see first hand your train yard and equipment. I've been a train fan since I was a child thanks to my dad. I love going to different train yards & crossings to catch a train passing by to video for future viewing.
Train Mountain (at lat. 42.55741 lon. -121.88707) is half way between Klamath Falls, Oregon and Crater Lake National Park. The small City of Chiloquin, Oregon, is just to the east of Train Mountain. Located between and with access from both US Hwy 97 and Oregon Hwy 62.
I bet must hell job.i live calgary alberta one day i saw cprail clean snow banff to golden main line and avanlanche cause front end buried with snow and dirt the crew was ok but very crazy see this.i heard crew told me sp and bn sometimes have hell job keep up line open due lot coming down.thank you video😊
Anyone who has spent a lot of time plowing snow, no matter what the equipment, will have experienced many 'adventures."
Nice
Thanks for the comment.
I wish we could have a video like this for the rotary they have at IRM (Illinois Railroad Museum).
That one was not converted to diesel.
I want to know how the shay engines where geared to the blade.
Maybe you can find someone that was around when yours was operating. We were lucky that Tim Fitzpatrick found us and agreed to the making of this video.
I worked for our railroad museum for a year, I never looked int our snow removal units.
The MW206 has been at TM for 15 years, and I have taken a lot of pictures of the outside over the years, but not the inside, so I know what you mean.
@@twatson703 I worked at a different railroad museum.
IIt doesn't matter where you work, it just seems that we all get complacent with what we see every day. @@KurtElliott
I would Love to see and hear the story
of the six dome tank car
That is in the back ground ....
Here is the link to the Wine Car story:
czcams.com/video/s0XIXL8WYDg/video.html
I saw the donner pass video and seen this animal belchin steam and blowin snow and snortin out diesel exhaust and had to look into it further. More on the steam would have been cool. Highly suggest the donner pass video where this (mw 207) is in snow desruction mode. The MW designation comes from where?
I have no idea where the "MW" comes from, but all of the SP Rotary Units that I am aware of have that same designation. Maybe some viewer will be able to answer this question.
Quite interesting. What has gone on to take the place of these old lads? Does anyone build ready-made snowfighting equipment, or are the railways left to their own devices to figure out and build their own solutions to weather challenges?
UP still has some of these in Roseville that they used to keep Donner Summit open.
My volume works on other video’s just not this one . Anybody else having issues ?
no sound?
There have been no other complaints of no sound. You might want to check your settings.
W koncu wystekales dziadek, a mozna to bylo powiedziec w piec minut.