Library - "M.O.W. Equipment" Magazine Articles

Category Description: Maintenance-of-way equipment for railroads.

A Modernized Russell Steel Snowplow

Model Railroader 1984-12 pg. 88     Scale: (none)     Author: Chuck Yungkurth

As of the publication of this magazine issue, Conrail still used this plow in upper New York state. The Russell company made two models, one for single track cleaning, and one for multi-track cleaning. The accompanying prototype photos (including many close-up details) and the HO-scale drawings are for the multi-track snowplow.

A Simple M.O.W. Boxcar

Railroad Model Craftsman 1991-10 pg. 93     Scale: HO     Author: James L. Haney

The author converted a LaBelle Woodworking Pacific Coast Ry. boxcar kit into a D&RG m.o.w. car. Includes a model photo and a scale drawing.

A Tale of Two Rail & Tie Cars

O Scale Trains Magazine 32 May 2007 pg. 38     Scale: O     Author: Tom Houle

This installment of the article describes how the author scratchbuilt the a steam/transition-era rail and tie car. These cars were used to haul ties and rail to the track laying work site. Includes a drawing of the various parts and a parts list.

Big Tools for Big Jobs

Model Railroader 2006-09 pg. 26     Scale: (none)     Author: Carl Swanson

Large lifting and wrecking cranes are needed to deal with problems on the railroad, and with railroad construction. This article describes the various hooks used. Includes one prototype photo.

CNR Section Car

Railroad Model Craftsman 1972-04 pg. 43     Scale: (none)     Author: Julian Cavalier

Scale drawings and prototype photo accompany this short article about this Model-T-like car and a flat car.

Class GS Work Equipment

The Keystone Modeler 04 November 2003 pg. 0     Scale: (none)     Author: Al Buchan

A brief article about the GS gondola as work equipment.

Denver & Rio Grande Western Spreader OU

Narrow Gauge And Short Line Gazette 2008-11/12 pg. 44     Scale: HOn3     Author: Eric Bracher

The author built models of all four versions of the D&RGW spreader OU.

Kitbashed Wheel and Hoist Car

Railroad Model Craftsman 1973-09 pg. 38     Scale: HO     Author: Robert K. Aaberg

Using an outside-braced wood boxcar, the author created this unique M.O.W. car with detailed hoist. Includes photos of the finished model.

Kitbashing a Shortline Sand Car

Railroad Model Craftsman 2008-12 pg. 65     Scale: HO     Author: Jeff Moore

The author followed the prototype and created a model of a the tank of a tank car welded to a flat car, as was done by the McCloud River Railroad.

MTH PRR Work Equipment

The Keystone Modeler 03 October 2003 pg. 0     Scale: HO     Author: Nicholas P. Nagrant

This article covers the PRR's Jordan spreader and Russell Single-Track snow plows. Includes model and prototype photos.

Make a DCC Wrecking Crane

O Scale Trains Magazine 32 May 2007 pg. 30     Scale: O     Author: Ed Reutling

The author describes how he converted a Lionel wrecking crane from 3-rail TMCC system to 2-rail DCC.

Modeling Rio Grande's Dynamometer Car 10

N Scale Railroading 2003-11/12 pg. 39     Scale: N     Author: Mike Danneman

Copying the prototype, the author took a Micro-Trains Troop Sleeper car and converted it into a dynamometer car, used by the prototype to evaluate the performance of new locomotives.

Modeling a Pair of DL&W Snowplows

Railroad Model Craftsman 2009-01 pg. 92     Scale: HO     Author: Tom Schmieder

The author built one single-track snowplow using the existing Walthers kit, and one double-track snowplow using a brass Overland Models kit. Many construction photos as well as some prototype photos are included.

Narrow Gauge Snowplow

Railroad Model Craftsman 1980-12 pg. 82     Scale: HOn3     Author: Bob Bennett

The author kitbashed a snowplow from a Northeastern kit.

Narrow Gauge Track Cleaner

Railroad Model Craftsman 2006-12 pg. 61     Scale: HOn3     Author: Herbert Koenig

The author took an N-scale Life-Like GP18 diesel frame work and build a HOn3 self-propelled track cleaner. Detailed discussion and photographs describe how the wheels were adjusted to gauge, how the trucks were modified, and how the cleaner was installed. Finally, the car body was made to look like a doodlebug.

Narrow-gauge Rotary

Railroad Model Craftsman 1977-08 pg. 60     Scale: HOn3     Author: Paul Scoles

Rotary plow model on the author's Pelican Bay Railway & Navigation Company layout. The model was made from an Athearn rotary blade and a Roundhouse side-door caboose body.

O-M Rio Grande's Rotary Plow Part 1

Railroad Model Craftsman 1977-07 pg. 48     Scale: On3     Author: C. Langdon Campbell III

Prototype photos of this machine are included in the article. Many close-up detail photos. Full-scale On3 fold-out drawing of all side (including top and bottom) are in the article.

O-M Rio Grande's Rotary Plow Part 2

Railroad Model Craftsman 1977-08 pg. 52     Scale: (none)     Author: C. Langdon Campbell III

The Denver & Rio Grande rotary plow, O-M, is basically a boxcar with a locomotive stuffed inside. This last installment covers the tender and auxiliary water car. The article contains prototype photos, scale drawings, weathering drawings, and close-up detail photos of the prototype.

Scratchbuilding a Milwaukee Road Snowplow

Railroad Model Craftsman 2007-02 pg. 70     Scale: O     Author: Charles C. Purin

MILW X900109 is shown in this article using prototype photos and modeled in O-scale. Includes many scaled drawings.

Scratchbuilding a Niagara, St. Catharines & Toronto Line Car

Railroad Model Craftsman 2002-02 pg. 90     Scale: HO     Author: Bill Sharpe

Completely built out of styrene, this car features an adjustable platform used for working on overhead catenary. Includes prototype photos, scale drawings, and model construction detail photos.

The Modern Image

O Scale Trains Magazine 33 July 2007 pg. 24     Scale: O     Author: Gene Clements

Heavy-lifting cranes, and how to find models of them on eBay.

Work Equipment Class GR, GRa, and FGRa

The Keystone Modeler 03 October 2003 pg. 0     Scale: (none)     Author: Al Buchan

Prototype photos of these cars as work equipment.