WC 9623, at the former C&NW yard at Appleton Junction, WI on 21 Mar. '14. Zooming in reveals a ghost of the C&NW logo as well as the original road number, C&NW 17-3276. It is an RMC Typhoon Snow Blower, Model T, serial no. TB 194, built in Dec. ’79 by Portec Inc., RMC Division. RMC is short for Railway Maintenance Corp. from Pittsburgh, PA. RMC was acquired by Portec Inc. in ‘75 and became their RMC Division. Statistics are: length 18’-0”; width (travel) 8’-0’; width (working) 8’-7”; height 9’-10 ½”; weight 10,000; engine RPM 2,200. According to the Surface Transportation Board Rail Recordation document filed on 27 Dec. ‘79, First Maryland Leasecorp would accept delivery of snow plows 17-3276 and 17-3277 in new condition from Winters' Railroad Service, Inc. (as well as Unimog 17-3282 from Case Power & Equipment) on 31 Dec. ’79 at a cost of $80,000 each ($72,300 for the Unimog). That same day they would lease the equipment to C&NW Trans. Co. It was acquired by FRVR ca. ‘88 and numbered FRMW 02. Subsequently acquired by WC ca. ‘93 and renumbered WC 9623. |