At Merrillan, configured for summertime operation.
         
        
        Bob Gile photographed GBW X190, the line's Jordan Spreader. 
        This piece of maintenance of way equipment saw service year round. 
        In summer, it was used to maintain drainage ditches and in the winter it
        was used as the railroad's snow plow. 
        These two photos from April 1980 shows the plow configured for summer
        service, with a small blade on the front.  Compare it to a photo
        from when it was heading up a
        plow train to see the larger blade used in the winter months. 
        The plow was painted black, with a yellow cab. The air horn and
        headlight on the X190 plow were from one of the  400-series Mikados. 
         The plow's horn was upgraded from a single chime to a full three
        chime Nathan P-3 around the same time it got red paint in the 1980s.  |