Re: Caboose 0505 in Durango?

Jordan Spreaders are air operated. The D&RGW had three home-built standard gauge snow spreaders that had manually operated wings like flangrers OL and OF. Jim Ozment, who was a senior D&RGW manager, told me that opening and closing those manually operated wings was dangerous and very difficult. In later years he used the small air operated wings on the front but not the wide wings on the side. He told me he used a Jordan Spreader when he could.

Spreader 044 was based in Helper, Utah for use on Soldier Summit. It is on display at Hot Sulfur Springs.
Spreader 043 was based in Minturn for use on Tennessee Pass. It was scrapped.
Spreader 042 was based in Denver for use on the joint line and on the Moffat Line. It is on display at Helper, Utah.

The D&RGW had a significant amount of snow fighting equipment. 2 standard gauge rotary plows, 8 standard gauge Jordan Spreaders (including the D&SL Jordan), 14 flangers, 3 snow spreaders, and a number of home built wedge plows. 4 narrow gauge rotary snow plows, 11 narrow gauge flangers, 1 narrow gauge Jordan Spreader, 1 home build wedge plow (09271).

042 at Helper, Utah



043 at Minturn, CO.


044 west of Helper, Utah