Editing Snowplow (section)

==Railway snowplows==
{{Main article|Wedge plow|Rotary snowplow}}
[[File:Snow plough train II.JPG|thumb|A small [[wedge (mechanics)|wedge]] plow mounted on a passenger train in [[Lower Austria]]]]
In many countries, railway locomotives have small snowplows permanently attached to their [[bogie]]s, which also serve as [[Cowcatcher|pilots]]. With others, the snowplow forms part of the obstacle deflector below the bufferbeam.  Bolt-on versions also exist, and these attach to the bufferbeam or front coupler.  However, larger snowplows exist, which tend to be conversions rather than purpose-built vehicles.  Steam locomotive [[tender (rail)|tenders]], large diesel locomotive bogies and various freight vehicles have been used, with the snowplow body mounted on the original frames. They are one-ended, with conventional [[Railway coupling|coupling equipment]] on the inner end. In Canada purpose-built snowplow cars (based on a box car with a cupola above and behind the blade) are in use in areas where significant snow falls (especially in Western Canada, Newfoundland and Northern Ontario). These cars were influenced by the ''Russell Plow'' from the United States and used in Canada in the 1880s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://members.kos.net/sdgagnon/sp06.jpg&imgrefurl=http://members.kos.net/sdgagnon/sp.html&usg=__uYf0p8o1Q2sSEjXddDgodh7BePI=&h=465&w=549&sz=63&hl=en&start=7&zoom=1&tbnid=avjOqguxqS4HzM:&tbnh=113&tbnw=133&ei=XpywT5jsLerB0AHr06HEDA&prev=/search%3Fq%3DCNR%2Bsnowplows%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3DMIp%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1 |title=Google Image Result |publisher=Google.ca |access-date=2013-03-07}}</ref> Most of the Russell-type plows have been retired for smaller custom-built railplow or snow blades attached to hopper cars or locomotives.{{CN|date=October 2024}}

Conventional operation may see one or two locomotives running together with a snowplow at either end.  This enables a snow clearance train to reverse direction quickly if it gets stuck.  Alternatively, a single locomotive with bogie plows can act as a self-propelled snowplow by running light engine.{{CN|date=October 2024}}
[[File:Cntrain7331.JPG|thumb|An example of a locomotive with a snow plow [[Cowcatcher|pilot]].]]
[[Via Rail]], among other railways, has integrated plow blades with the front [[Cowcatcher|pilots]] of their locomotive fleet to clear thinner accumulations of snow as trains run.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canadianrailwayobservations.com/croarchives/aug2012via16.htm |title=VIA Rail Canada |publisher=Canadian Railway Observations |access-date=2013-03-07}}</ref>

Self-propelled on-track steel and rubber tired hy-rail equipment can remove snow from railroad tracks. The Pettibone Speed Swing loader and similar machines, both with and without hyrail wheels, can be fitted with a large-capacity snow bucket or a wedge plow to clear the tracks. Ballast regulators, machines designed to shape the profile of the crushed stone ballast that anchors the track in place, can be used without modification or refitted with purpose-built snow blades, blowers and wings to clear snow from the right of way.{{CN|date=October 2024}}

Locomotive-propelled Jordan ditcher/[[Spreader (railroad)|spreaders]] are still sometimes used to plow especially deep snow in the US on the former [[Wisconsin Central Ltd.|Wisconsin Central railroad]]. These machines carry large main plows and hydraulic- or air-powered articulating wings to push snow far from the tracks, sometimes past the next adjacent track, to facilitate clearing snow from yards and sidings. These machines can create ditches and plow the tracks clear of loose material during maintenance operations. Russell plows are still in service at some locations, with large-front wedge plows and shorter hinged air-powered wings suitable only for plowing snow.{{CN|date=October 2024}}