[PRCo] Re: Spring Hill snow photos -1961

[Derrick J Brashear]

On Fri, 26 Dec 2008, Bob Rathke wrote:

> Ken,
> The MAD Magazine snow melting machine reminded me of a couple of similar
> devices in Pittsburgh:
>
> - In the 1960's the City of Pittsburgh had a snow melter - probably just a
> large portable boiler heated by gasoline, and also probably experimental. It
> was on the Monogahela wharf in winter, and as the City trucks dumped snow on
> the wharf, front-end loaders put it in the melter which turned the snow to
> water and it simply ran into the Mon.

Toronto still has one. I get the idea it still snows there.

http://www.toronto.ca/transportation/snow/torontomelt.htm


> - At the 1964 Pittsburgh Railroad Fair at the P&LE station, the NYC
> demonstrated its jet snow blower which was constructed from a surplus jet
> aircraft engine.  The Fair was held in May, 1964, so there was no snow for

NYC loved the surplus jets, didn't they?

> In the 1960's the NYC also experimented with a jet powered RDC. Two surplus
> jet aircraft engines were mounted on the roof of the RDC which I believe was
> tested on the NYC in western Ohio.

Between Butler IN and Stryker OH.
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/wacky-races/the-soviet-union-vs-us-jet-train-race-293010.php