Re: flanger indicator

487 ran for several years in the 1980's without a plow. It was removed in 1981 and was replaced about 1988. The CMO at the time removed it because he didn't want to deal with removing it every winter for boiler tube extention work. 487 was on flue extention and every winter the smoke box had to opened up, all the draft appliances removed, and the 2 bottom flues removed. Having the plow in the way added about 3-4 days worth of work.
When 487 was reflued in 1988, we returned the plow. Recent CMO's thought it was a good idea to keep it on.
487 got a plow installed around 1955. It's had a plow in it for nearly 40 years. The plow has cut-outs on the surface against the smokebox to clear a K-28 pump.
For one year - 1981 - 488 wore 487's wood beam plow, until it went on flue extention.
The DRGW appears to have removed the flanger indicators from the then operating locomotives in the mid - 1960's after they stopped running in the winter.