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Maintenance of Way Equipment

Flanger	.	ATSF	369
Hopper	Offset Ballast	ATSF	86,500
"    "	"    :"	"    "	86,546
"    "	"    "	"    "	86,555
Jordan Spreader	Compressed Air	BN	972,621
"    "	Hydraulic	BNSF	972,665
"   "	Snow Crab	ATSF	.

Caboose

Caboose	Copula	ATSF	7,240
"    "	Bay Window	SP Railroad Police	4,709
"    "	"    "	"    "	4,762
"    "	"    "	"    "	4,766

Jordan Spreader

    Currently the Lone Wolf and Santa Fe Railroad has only a few pieces of maintenance equipment, a Jordan Spreader from Burlington Northern, another BNSF spreader which is being constructed, a snow crab, which is another type of spreader/plow, a flanger from Santa Fe and some ballast hoppers.
    The spreader is probably the most important piece of equipment to have because it has many uses.  It is the railroad's version of a bulldozer.  It cuts trenches, spreads ballast, and plows through snow.  Because of it's simple design and rugged construction, plus the fact that they are not in interchange service meant that these tough cars could last a lifetime.  Many older versionsare still in service today after 70 years because they still do their job.  They are basically a big thing of metal that pushes stuff out of the way.  Not too high tech, although many newer Jordans now have hydraulic systems which operate the plows. The older models used compressed air.
    The Spreader, as they're referred to, does most of it's work on Lone Wolf Pass, cleaning up rock slides which are a given, during every rain storm.  Winter storms can also mean snow at the top the pass.  The spreader is a great snow plow and easily handles the job of keeping the mainline clear.  Since Jordans spreaders have no tractive power of their own, they most be pushed by a locomotive.  The locomotive's air compressor supplies air to the tank which feeds the mnemonic plow wings.  The snow plow train is ran over the pass as an extra between the Foothill Siding and the High Desert Siding.  It then returns to the Foothill Siding and lets a few trains go by, then plows the pass again if needed. Another snow train which has a flanger in tow also does the same run. Flangers clear the snow from between the rails then spreaders come along and push it out of the way.
    The compressed air spreader model is a Walthers kit.  When I began building this kit, I looked up pictures of it on the internet.  I found pictures of a Jordan just like the model, then I found pictures of the actual prototype for the Burlington Northern Jordan Spreader with the same number.  I noticed that (of course) they were all built all a little differently from railroad to railroad.  I decided to try to match the actual prototype as much as possible.
    On the BN prototype the air reserve tank lies horizontal.  The kit gives you this option.  On the big front blade, the sides plates only go up to the height of the frame mount.  Above the mount they are removed.  A Bachmann coupler with a long shank is mounted in the front plow for clearance.  The self contained spring fits well where a Kadee spring won't fit.  A kadee #5 coupler is in the rear.  An MU air hose was added to the rear to connect to the locomotives air compressor.  The stairs up to the back door are narrower on the prototype and the handrails have also been moved in to account for it.
    One thing on the model that wasn't changed to match the prototype is the wings.  The model has medium length wings with adjustable wing tips.  The prototype has longer wings with no wing tips.  I might be able to custom make some new longer wings with no tips but I just going to use the other ones for now.  Besides, they look good with the tips.
    Maintance of way equipment is dispatched via car cards with 'work order' way bills.  See operation for miore details.
 
 

Railroad Police Caboose

    To combat theft, vandalism and other crimes, railroads have long employed security personnel.  From the great train robbery days and the Pinkerton's to the modern, high tech police force of today's railroads, security of the cargo has always been important.  Old cabooses have found a new lease on life as offices and sleeping quarters for the railroad police.  These refurbished police stations on wheels don't ride at the end of a train.  Instead the are cut into the middle of the train so they have quicker access to all of the cars.
    Usually these cabooses are guarding auto carriers containing new cars and trucks.  Thieves have been known to strip parts off of new automobiles while in transit.  They also like to hit containers full of consumer electronics from Asia.
    These cop cars on wheels patrol their beat all along the line.  Car cards with 'work order' waybills dispatch the police to their trains.  Since there is a limited number of officers and equipment they are usually assigned the most frequently hit trains and routes.
 

Pictures coming soon.

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