CPR Jordan Spreader

CPR #402846 JORDAN SPREADER

This strange looking piece of equipment, which truly appears to have been designed by a committee, serves the purpose of spreading snow away from the track. It accomplishes this by spreading its wings by use of compressed air cylinders. The wings can be extended up to 12 feet on either one or both sides. The air is supplied from the train line and stored in the tank on the back of the spreader.

Spreaders had a cab and were operated by a separate crew. They were placed behind the snowplow and both were then pushed by the locomotives when used in snow fighting service.

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In balmier weather the Jordan Spreader was used to spread new rock ballast along the tracks during maintenance work or on the construction of new lines. The spreader would be placed behind a string of hopper cars equipped with special bottom doors for ballast work. The hoppers and the spreader would be pushed along at a very slow pace by a locomotive. The ballast would be unloaded a car at a time and the Spreader, with its plow front and wing blades canted out would smooth and level the ballast along the track.

This procedure would be followed by a track tamper which would tamp the ballast in place between the ties and line up the track. The function of "spreading" ballast is still required but it is accomplished nowadays by more modern machinery.

Grant Ferguson Photo