Historic Rotary Snowplow Cuts a Path in the Snow for Trains

While it's still summer for many of us, we can't help but think about the upcoming cooler temperatures. This historic and impressive piece of machinery is the rotary snowplow, and it's used for clearing train tracks after a heavy snowfall. The large, circular set of blades on its front are rotated by an engine that's held within its frame. But although it contains an engine, the snowplow isn't a self-propelled vehicle. This means that one or more trains must follow behind to push it along the tracks as it cuts a path in the snow.

Canadian dentist J.W. Elliot originally designed the snowplow in 1869, but he never built a working model. His invention was later expanded upon by Orange Jull, who tested prototypes using sand, and eventually had a fully-functioning machine to use during the winter of 1883 and 1884.

Nowadays, most railroads have eliminated their rotaries due to the high maintenance cost. They prefer to use fixed-blade plows and bulldozers that are significantly cheaper to own and operate. Still, the rotary snowplow hasn't been forgotten. In 2001 it was inducted into the North America Railway Hall of Fame in the “Technical Innovations” category with “National” significance.

Above photo via Freekee on Wikimedia Commons

Photo via David Gubler

Photo via Totala on Wikimedia Commons

Photo via John Peeken on Wikimedia Commons

via [Twisted Sifter]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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