Jet Engine used as 'blow torch' to clear away snow

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Intresting looks fun but setting behind a jet engine and a screamin jimmy runing all day is not my cup of tea LOL

Trent
 


That's a variation that I haven't seen. Around here CN has a bunch of the snow melters, but I've never seen them in action. Their jet engines are fixed, and there is a funnel type nozzle that goes in front of the exhaust, and it moves from side to side. I have an HO scale model by Custom Finishing that I want to build, but I've lost the instructions, searching for them.
 
Neat, but I wonder how effective it really is. Sure it works, but it strikes me as not being very cost effective. Why not just use a guy with a pick-axe? Much lower employee training costs and equipment maintenance.
 
Dameon said:
Neat, but I wonder how effective it really is. Sure it works, but it strikes me as not being very cost effective. Why not just use a guy with a pick-axe? Much lower employee training costs and equipment maintenance.
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Probably time is the main reason. How long would you think it would take a man (or several) to clean out one turnout? The machine can obviously do a whole lot of them a whole lot faster or the railways wouldn't buy and use them.
 
I was waiting for them to kick in the afterburner and for it to lift off the rails. If only!

Would make an interesting model
 
How long would you think it would take a man (or several) to clean out one turnout?
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Well if it were solid ice for the entire length of the switch points.. a few minutes at most. I'd be surprised if it took 1 man more than 5 minutes. I've had to smashed thick ice off plenty of machinery before, it's not hard nor skilled labor. I was just shocked at how long it took that thing in the video to have any noticeable effect at clearing the ice and not just blowing snow around.
 


Does that have to be used on switches with concrete ties only; seems it would catch creosote ties on fire. Still say its a boondoggle.:D

Wouldn't a propane rig with torches (jets) do the same thing with less noise, stinky pollutants, and lower maintenance. I would not want to live near the tracks where that thing operated. An airport is bad enough.
 
I have to agree with Rex on this one. Seems like a flanger and a couple of guys with propane torches could do the job a lot faster and at a lot less cost. I can't imagine that the people living in those houses by the tracks are too happy about this "innovation" either.
 
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