Here is my favorite. Old thread from a while back. http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?101410-Weed-Burner
Those things were a bigger pain in the backside than the snow itself. The carrier would run that thing thru the coach yard to clear the switches and guess what happens when you run flaming hot jet exhaust over snow? You're right, some of it melts. Then what happens? You're right! it freezes into ice which then has to be chopped out to properly line the switch. Whereas a few good sweeps of the broom would clear the knife rail area, you now have to spend 1/2 hour chopping an inch of ice out, AND YOU HAVE TO GET EVERY SPECK OUT OR THE KNIFE RAIL WONT PROPERLY ALIGN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thats when you dont answer the yardmaster when he calls you on the radio wanting to know why you're taking so long and are blocking other trains entering the yard. He then comes out to see why you wont answer him and then he gets a total earful of profanity questioning his parentage, his education, his virility and competence. He then leaves you alone after determining that you are still alive and uninjured and telling you to just get your train in when you can. I LOVE RAILROADING IN WINTER!!!!!!!!!!! Charlie
I found one of those beasties that Charlie loves to hate..... [video=youtube;9OO94Bk1cgw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OO94Bk1cgw[/video]
That engine looks long enough to be a J-57, J-75 or J-79 with afterburner! I'm sure that's just a tailpipe to align the exhaust with the rails. Any idea what powerplants were used on those devices?
The Jets had a short life as they blew not only snow, but ballast and everything else not tied down. the damage bill to nearby autos and structures soon brought an end to the big ones like that although smaller types had a long life in the various yards. I had one Thanksgiving day at Elkhart on a weed burner when I worked M of W and both the foreman and I got a good dose of carbon monoxide as a result on closing the cab up to tight to try and keep warm.
