Roseville in Placer County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
The SPMW 7221 (SPMW 221) Rotary Snow Plow
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, April 12, 2016
1. The SPMW 7221 (SPMW 221) Rotary Snow Plow Marker
Inscription.
The SPMW 7221 (SPMW 221) Rotary Snow Plow. . The first suecessful rotary plow was designed by Canadian Orang Jull. Jull hired the Leslie Brothers to build the first model with the first tests conducted in the winter of 1883-84. The Leslies soon purchased the manufacturing rights to the plow and went into business building "Leslie type" rotaries.
Between 1885 and 1903 the Leslies built 64 plows before selling the rights to the American Locomotive Company (ALCO). From 1905 to 1937 ALCO built 71 more plows. One of these was the SPMW 7221, built at the ALCO Cooke Locomotive works in Schenectady, New York in 1917 and delivered later that year to Southern Pacific Railroad in Sacramento.
In order to clear the rail of snow, a rotary plow had to be lowered off its wheel assemblies, known as the trucks. During snow plowing operations, the bottom of the plow rides 3 inches off of the top of rail.
Rotaries were originally powered by a steam locomotive engine driving a ring and pinion system. The SPMW 7221 was converted to electric power to turn the blade in 1966 and was renumbered the SPMW 221, as was the practice with all of the rotaries after they were "electrified.
The SPMW 221 was stored in Roseville for many years, where it was maintained to battle heavy winter storms over Donner Summit, a key east-west corridor for moving both freight and passengers.
This SPMW 221 was last operated by Unfon Pacific in the 1980's. It was donated to the City of Roseville by Union Pacific and placed in this location in 2014.
The City of Roseville would like to thank Union Pacific Railroad, Union Pacific Roseville Locomotive Facility, Union Pacific Foundation, the Roseville Community Development Corporation, Jim Dobbas, Inc., WestCon General Contractors and Livingston Concrete for their work and donations to make this display possible.
The first suecessful rotary plow was designed by Canadian Orang Jull. Jull hired the
Leslie Brothers to build the first model with the first tests conducted in the winter of
1883-84. The Leslies soon purchased the manufacturing rights to the plow and went into
business building "Leslie type" rotaries.
Between 1885 and 1903 the Leslies built 64 plows before selling the rights to the
American Locomotive Company (ALCO). From 1905 to 1937 ALCO built 71 more plows.
One of these was the SPMW 7221, built at the ALCO Cooke Locomotive works in
Schenectady, New York in 1917 and delivered later that year to Southern Pacific
Railroad in Sacramento.
In order to clear the rail of snow, a rotary plow had to be lowered off its wheel assemblies,
known as the trucks. During snow plowing operations, the bottom of the plow rides 3 inches
off of the top of rail.
Rotaries were originally powered by a steam locomotive engine driving a ring and pinion
system. The SPMW 7221 was converted to electric power to turn the blade in 1966 and
was renumbered the SPMW 221, as was the practice with all of the rotaries after they
were "electrified.
The SPMW 221 was stored in Roseville for many years, where it was maintained to
battle heavy winter storms over Donner Summit, a key east-west corridor for moving
both freight and passengers.
This SPMW 221 was last operated by Unfon Pacific in the 1980's. It was donated to the
City of Roseville by Union Pacific and placed in this location in 2014.
The City of Roseville would like to thank Union Pacific Railroad, Union Pacific Roseville
Locomotive Facility, Union Pacific
Click or scan to see this page online
Foundation, the Roseville Community Development
Corporation, Jim Dobbas, Inc., WestCon General Contractors and Livingston Concrete for
their work and donations to make this display possible.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1885.
Location. 38° 45.126′ N, 121° 16.898′ W. Marker is in Roseville, California, in Placer County. Marker is at the intersection of Atlantic Street and Vernon Street, on the right when traveling south on Atlantic Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Roseville CA 95678, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, April 12, 2016
2. The SPMW 7221 (SPMW 221) Rotary Snow Plow and Marker
The marker is mounted on the left-most monument, while the plaque next to it is a donor's plaque.
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, April 12, 2016
3. The SPMW 7221 (SPMW 221) Rotary Snow Plow - business end
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, April 12, 2016
4. The SPMW 2252 Steam Locomotive and SPMW 7221 (SPMW 221) Rotary Snow Plow
Henry Gage (photo courtesy of the Merriam Library, California State University, Chico), 1912
5. "Steam rotary snowplow used on S.P. lines- 1912"
Credits. This page was last revised on June 17, 2019. It was originally submitted on June 17, 2019, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 573 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 17, 2019, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
