|
Denver & Rio Grande Western flangers
|
|
These flanger cars were used when a simple pilot plow on a locomotive was not enough to clear the tracks, especially to remove snow or ice packed between the rails. They were run in special trains (flanger trains) consisting of two locomotives pulling a flanger, sometimes the Jordan spreader OU and two cabooses (including one for the track gang). To pass switches and other specific points, the blades of the flanger could be raised by air with a valve operated from the locomotive. A pivoting target on top of the flanger indicated the position of the blades (up or down) to the locomotive crew.
Ten wooden flangers were built by the Denver & Rio Grande (Burnham shops) between 1885 and 1888. In 1907 they were numbered OC to OL according to the new maintenance-of-way cars numbering scheme. They were rebuilt first in 1913 and again during the thirties or forties with a steel frame. Rebuilding after rebuilding, each flanger became different from the others, especially regarding the shape of the snow-clearing blades. Another flanger, OT, was bought used in 1920, it is now preserved on the Georgetown Loop Railroad (picture on Dave Dye's website). In 1951, three of the 1885-88 built flangers were scrapped, but the others survived until today, OC at the Colorado Railroad Museum, OF on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (picture on Dave Dye's website), OJ, OK et OL on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. OD is on display in Gunnison (picture on Dave Dye's website) and OG at La Jara (picture on Dave Dye's website).
D&RGW flanger OC, preserved at the Colorado Railroad Museum. It was built in 1885.
|
|
Rear view of flanger OC. It is displayed in the boxcar red livery used for MOW equipment before World War II.
|
|
D&RGW flanger OK in Chama, sporting Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad markings.
|
|
Flanger OK during its restoration by the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad in Chama in 2002.
|
|
Flanger OJ in Chama, in the light grey livery applied to D&RGW MOW cars during the forties.
|
|
Seen here during its rebuilding in Chama in 2002, flanger OL has articulated snow-clearing blades.
|
|