Wedge Plows -- "Standard" Designs


Wedge, or "V", plows are a mainstay of the snowfighting fleet. They are also among the simplest pieces of snowfighting equipment. Wedge plows may by symmetric, throwing snow to both sides (for single-track lines), or they may throw snow only to one side (for double-track lines). Most wedges have "wings" to allow them to clear a wider path, and many have flangers.

The plows in this section are the more-or-less "standard" designs. See Wedge Plows Part 2 for unusual, homebuilt, converted and very old plows.

 [THUMBNAIL] Missouri Pacific 186 wearing a Union Pacific herald at Villa Grove, Ill, on 11 August 1989. A perfect example of the conventional US Russell plow, the large wings are clearly visible, set into the body just behind the "V" blade.
Photo: Dan Dawdy

[THUMBNAIL] ex-Soo 261 on the Wisconsin Central at Stevens Point, 14 June 1989. Another typical US plow, this one clearly shows the wings cut away at the lower corners to clear trackside obstructions. A flanger is visible just ahead of the rear truck.
Photo: Dan Dawdy

[THUMBNAIL] Conrail 64524, 64570 and 64515 at Gangs Mills, NY, July 1996. These plows are part of Conrail's large snowfighting fleet; most of CR's plows seem to be of very conventional design.
Photo: John Stewart

[THUMBNAIL] Closeup of CR 64524 at Gangs Mills, NY, July 1996.
Photo: John Stewart

[THUMBNAIL] Closeup of CR 64570 at Gangs Mills, NY, July 1996. This is a double-track plow, throwing snow only to the right.
Photo: John Stewart

[THUMBNAIL] Closeup of CR 64515 at Gangs Mills, NY, July 1996.
Photo: John Stewart

[THUMBNAIL] Conrail 64513 at Rochester, NY, 14 Feb 1996.
Photo: John Stewart

[THUMBNAIL] Conrail 64525 at Rochester, NY, 14 Feb 1996.
Photo: John Stewart

[THUMBNAIL] Rochester & Southern MW2 at Rochester, NY, 12 Feb 1996. This is a very typical US plow.
Photo: John Stewart

[THUMBNAIL] Another view of R&S MW2 at Rochester, March 1996.
Photo: John Stewart

[THUMBNAIL] Western New York Chapter, National Railway Historical Society's plow at Hamburg, NY. The plow is in primer in preparation for painting. May 1996.
Photo: John Stewart

[THUMBNAIL] WNY NRHS's plow after repainting, at Hamburg, August 1996.
Photo: John Stewart

[THUMBNAIL] An Ann Arbor Railroad plow at Cadillac, MI, in September 1985.
Photo: Jeff Lubchansky

[THUMBNAIL] NYS&W plow #91
Photo: Jeff Lubchansky

[THUMBNAIL] Chesapeake & Ohio 914022 at Ludington, MI, 4 October 1986.
This is an elderly wooden Russell snowplow.
Photo: Dan Dawdy

[THUMBNAIL] Belfast & Mooshead Lake #74 at Belfast, Maine. #74 is a double-track plow; it throws snow only to the right side. This plow is a "standard" double-track plow, corresponding to the "standard" single-track plows above. Such a plow seems a bit extravagent for single-track coastal shortline.
Photo: Andrew Toppan

[THUMBNAIL] Chicago & Northwestern 6421 at Janesville, WI, 20 Feb 1994. C&NW's double-track plows throw snow to the left, due to C&NW's left-hand running.
Photo: Dan Dawdy

[THUMBNAIL] Milwauke Road X900103 at Sturevent WI in March 1988. This is another double-track plow.
Photo: Dan Dawdy

[THUMBNAIL] Left side view of MILW X900103
Photo: Dan Dawdy

[THUMBNAIL] New Jersey Transit plow #9931R at Summit, NJ, 29 March 1995. This is a relatively modern double-track plow. It is turned on wyes at West End and Denville so it can plow the double and triple track line.
Photo: Gary Kazin

[THUMBNAIL] Delware-Lackawanna wedge at Steamtown, Feb 1996. This is a Canadian-style plow.
Photo: John Stewart

[THUMBNAIL] Depew, Lancaster & Western 400783 at Lancaster, NY, May 1996.
Photo: Ted Cherry, courtesy of John Stewart

[THUMBNAIL] Algoma Central 10105 at Sault St. Marie, Ontario, 12 Aug 1992. The fold-out wings, meant to push back snowbanks beyond the plow's width, are visible just behind the cupola.
Photo: Dan Dawdy

[THUMBNAIL] Canadian National 55203 at Capreol, Ontario, 28 Dec 1993. A newly painted single-track plow of typical Canadian design, showing its wings.
Photo: Dan Dawdy

[THUMBNAIL] Canadian National 55204 at Capreol, Ontario, 28 Dec 1993. This plow appears to be identical to the previous one.
Photo: Dan Dawdy

[THUMBNAIL] Two CP wedges at St. Luc yard, Montreal, on November 13, 1997.
Photo: Jeff Lubchansky

[THUMBNAIL] Two CN wedges at St. Luc yard, Montreal, on November 13, 1997.
Photo: Jeff Lubchansky

[THUMBNAIL] Canadian Pacific 40065 being restored at the Monticello RR Museum, Monticello, IL, 16 Aug 1993. Apparently this is an early double-track plow, meant to throw snow to the right only, but not fully closed off on the left side.
Photo: Dan Dawdy

[THUMBNAIL] A line of CP wedge plows at Calgary, Canada, summer 1997.
Photo: Alan Radecki

[THUMBNAIL] Canadian Pacific 400777 with CP spreader 401200 at North Bay, Ontario, 29 Dec 1993.
Photo: Dan Dawdy

[THUMBNAIL] Canadian Pacific 401007 at Sudbury, Ontario, 30 Dec 1993.
Photo: Dan Dawdy

[THUMBNAIL] Ontario Northland 559 and another plow at North Bay, Ontario, 20 Dec 1993.
Photo: Dan Dawdy

[THUMBNAIL] Ontario Northland 554 at North Bay, Ontario, 20 Dec 1993
Photo: Dan Dawdy

[THUMBNAIL] St. Lawrence & Raquette River RR's ex-CP wedge plow.
Photo: Mark Laundry

[THUMBNAIL] St. Lawrence & Raquette River RR's ex-CP wedge plow.
Photo: Mark Laundry

This feature created and maintained by Andrew Toppan.
Copyright © 1997, 1998, Andrew Toppan. All Rights Reserved.
All photographs are copyright by the photographer.

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