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Individual Jordan Parts
On each Spreader, there are a number of parts that help the machine function properly. Here is a listing of those different parts and a description of them.

Telescoping Wing Braces
On the Jordans, to hold the wings steady were telescopic wing braces for each side. These braces each have a gear rack locking device on them, which is a gear rack of groves, with an Air lock ( hydraulic on Type Js ) on top, which will securely lock each brace at any angle or condition. Each brace can hold well over 100 tons each. Also on the braces is a small diameter gear and an air jet line to blow off debris off of the racks. Each brace is locked at all times and is only unlocked when you step on a pedal ( in the air operated machines ) or a lever in the hydraulic ones. On the original folding wing spreaders, there were no telescopic braces, and the wings were supported by large folding beams, which were opened by a small air cylinder, and needed to be closed with a hand winch.


Air/Hydraulic locks
On each Jordan, the majority of the moving parts are held in place by locking boxes. This boxes have a plunger which lock into a rack or a hole when they are applied. When they are released, the part will move freely. Each lock is very solid and works off a small amount of air pressure. On the later Type Js, the locks are still present, but are operated by a sliding wedge operated by Hydraulic fluid.


A cutaway view of an Air Lock.

Main Wing Diagonal Braces
The main connection holding the wings up is the Diagonal Braces. These braces run from the vertical posts to the wing ends. The braces on the original spreaders were small, steel beams with an air cylinder in the back, which was used for movement, and a small air lock built into it. On the Standard line of Spreaders, the brace was built around the air cylinder. The brace also had the gear rack built into it with an air lock on the top. The air cylinder did not use any pressure to push the wing down, as it was pulled via the shear weight of it. The only pressure needed was to raise the blade and to power the air lock. On the later model A spreaders, the Diagonal brace was built off the vertical post a little on an A frame, and used a similar air cylinder to the standard models but it was a tube with a plunger, instead of the box like construction of the Standard line, although in later As, they used the same box series way of construction. On the type J, it was also built off an A frame, but this one has no lock, and has a cylinder mounted behind the frame. It is of a box like construction also.


Nose Blades
Jordans had a wide range of nose blades, each could be used for a different application. There was the low, ballast blade which was used for ballast work and can be used in ice service. This blade was very short and came to a small point. One step up was the Low blade, which was triangular shaped, and one half could be swung forward at a time, allowing for spreading to one side. This was also good for spreading, ice cutting and moderate snowplowing. A larger blade that appeared on some standard series units and Type As was a medium height boxy type plow, which has all the features of the low plow but has a larger upper half and can handle more snow. Then there was the High Plow, which was featured on Type Js, Later Type As ( with front cabs ) and also a few Roadmasters. This blade could easily take 16 foot drifts, but like the others, the lower half can be swung to either side for spreading to one side only. The other style of high blade was on the Standard Series 2-200 and 2-210, and was a large wedge plow, but this kind could not be swung at all, although the upper half could be completely removed for summer ballast work and such, or a double track extension could be added. There was also a Medium blade, which was not used as much as the others, and was adapted by Southern Pacific for snow service, but this blade, the entire thing could be swung to either side. Chicago and North Western also used this blade. Each blade is raised and lowered by an air cylinder ( hydraulic on Type Js ). The cylinder is mounted vertically for most blades, but for the 2-200/2-210 plow it is mounted on an angle. To help raise and lower it, a steel cable runs from the cylinder to the very rear of the blade, or a chain or the older models and the 2-180s and 2-150 spreaders. On each of the Spreader nose blades, later ones had had adjustable shoes, which were the actual piece that rode on the top of the rail, Early ones had fixed shoes.
Spreaders with upper nose removed.


Carrier Wing
Another feature of the Jordan was the carrier wing. The carrier wing enabled the user to swing the Bank Sloper portion of the wing ( On broken wing units only ) to be swung forward and attached to a brace. This could be used to form a pocket and drag material along when ditching allowing fill to be spread in low areas. On the early spreaders, it was a simple beam attached to the front, and had limited adjustable points. On the Standard line, the new brace was air operated and allowed the user to set up the wing in different angles. This brace also featured an air lock to hold it, and was a simple tube like construction. The upper portion of the blade was attached to the Vertical Post and stored on a bracket on the Diagonal Brace when not in use. A similar setup was used on late Type A and Roadmaster Spreaders. On the Early Type A machines, The carrier wing was mounted on a large framework in the front of the car. This limited ditching as it would get in the way and many roads removed theres. On the Type Js, the carrier wing is used in the same way, although the brace is now attached to the top of the wing instead of the Vertical post, and also uses a hydraulic cylinder instead. The Carrier wing could be setup easy, all that needed to be done was disconnected the Bank Sloper Diagonal Brace, which would be rested on a bracket attached to the chassis, and the carrier wing brace would be attached to the Bank Sloper, Although on the Type Js, the carrier wing brace was actually the same cylinder the bank sloper used, but it would be removed and remounted to be used for the carrier wing.

Ditch Cutting Castings.
One of the summertime uses of the Jordans were to Cut Ditches. To do this, Jordan came out with custom castings would would be built to any railroads roadbed specs. These castings bolted right onto the main wing on the older series. On the Type J, the casting was mounted in a cavity behind the wing, and was hydraulically raised or lowered from the cab of the spreader. This also held true for Type A machines although with an air powere motor and screw

Ice Cutting Teeth
One thing that has not ultimately changed on all Jordans were the Ice Cutter Teeth. On the original Spreaders, these were a solid one piece steel casting, with many manganese teeth witch were adjustable. This casting bolted right onto the front blade. The teeth are able to rip out solid ice up to 24'' thick.

A close up view of Ice Cutters mounted on a Knuckle Braced machine. From the collection of John C. LaRue Jr.

Main Wings
The part that made the Spreader a Spreader was the main wings. Each wing is constructed from welded steel and are 3.5'' thick on the Standard Line and up to 8'' on the type Js. Each wing features telescopic braces to hold it from behind, and to open and close them a 12'' air cylinder mounded on the deck ( for Standard and Type As ). The 2 main types of wings are Broken and Straight. The straight wing spreaders are good for spreading large snow drifts, and also spreading large amounts of ballast or rip rap. The broken wing spreaders could do virtually anything. The end section had the adjustable Bank Sloper which was adjustable in 6 different positions and an air lock in the rear to hold it steady. Articulation is by a air cylinder with a cable attached to it, or a solid mounted rod on later machines. The Type Js used a hydraulic cylinder instead. The bank sloper could be used in a wide range of duties including spreading snow and ballast, and cutting uniform ditches and roadbeds. At the front of the blade, was a fully adjustable ballast toe line cutter, and when lowered could cut ballast away to the end of the ties. Also a Ballast Carry Wing could be added so as to not disturb ballast when ditching.


Operator Cabs
Jordan used a few different cab designs over the years. On the original spreaders, there simply was no cabs at all, and the controls were out in the open. Jordan introduced a cab on the Standard series, which was a large box like structure. This cab was 3 feet above the deck, which increases visibility in all conditions. The cab is insulated, and all welded construction. Also featured are sliding windows on each side. The control manifolds were now protected from the elements and were neatly lined on each side. Select machines also have heating stoves in them. This cab was used on all Standard Series Spreaders, and Early Type A Spreaders. Later on, Jordan introduced the new Front Cab. This cab greatly increased visibility all around, and had the wing controls at each rear corner, and a separate one for the nose blade mounted in the front. This cab was used on later built Type As, Roadmasters and all Type Js. Original front cabs used fold out style windows, and look have more paines then the later ones with sliding windows. Since the cab was so spacious compared to the old ones, some rail roads chose to add control stands in them. A few railroads also built there own cabs for there Jordans. Southern Pacific ordered 3 Custom Spreaders, which featured the front cab, and also another cab in the center for more crew members and supplies. Southern Pacific also added enclosures onto most of there Type A machines, and the Alaska Railroad added one to a Type J after a derailment.

Vertical Posts
On each Jordan, the main upper beam is the Vertical Post. This post is what holds the wing to the chassis, and also the carrier wing on older machines. This post had a large air cylinder in the rear ( hydraulic on Type Js ) which provides the Vertical movements. This cylinder is mounted at the bottom of the brace, or at the top on the older machines. On Type A Machines the Vertical Post was of a cylinder like construction, unlike the square type of all the others.

See the Jordan photo detail guide for photos of many of these parts.

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