Earl Wrote:
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> The blade on the flanger is controlled by the
> engineer of the locomotive ahead of it. There are
> a pair of air valves below the automatic brake
> valve. One controls the pilot truck flanger, the
> other valve sends air to an air hose on the back
> of the tender that operates the flanger blade. It
> is the engineers job to raise the blade to clear
> crossings, cattle guards, switches etc.
>
> The Jordan Spreader uses air from the same hose on
> the back of the tender, but in this case the air
> fills a reservoir on the Jordan. The Jordan has a
> separate operator in the cab to control the
> operation of the spreader blades.
>
> As I mentioned above, the auxiliary air line to
> run the snow equipment does not go through the
> flanger or the Jordan to the rear, so it is not
> possible the put the two together and operate them
> at the same time. Also remember there are no
> operating valves to operate the blades on the
> flanger. That is done from the locomotive ahead.
When the Jordan Spreader was new it was operated in front of the locomotive until they determined it was not the best way to operate it. I have a couple photos of this. Also Bob Richardson caught the 483 and 487 flanging and spreading Cumbres yard in 1948 and they used the OU in front of the 487 for some of the clearing moves. Will dig out a pic of that too.
William
aka drgwk37