Union Pacific Rotary Snowplow 900081

[Murdoch17]

This model is the last of the original Museum of Transportation vehicles I have planned on buying, but that doesn't mean I won't have more in the future... who knows what may happen. This model will be built at some point in 2019.

Real World Background: Here is Union Pacific rotary snowplow 900081. It was designed and built in 1966 at the UP Omaha shops, and is the heaviest rotary snowplow ever built, weighing 367,400 lbs. Three or four diesel locomotives, which were controlled from the non-propelled plow, pushed it at four to six mph. The snowplow is powered by an EMD 16 cylinder 3,000hp turbocharged diesel engine that drives an electric generator, which provides power to turn the 12’ rotary blades at up to 150 rpm. A steam generator provided heat to the cab and can thaw out the blades if they became frozen. This rotary snowplow was last used in Green River, WY in the mid 1980’s, and it was donated to the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Missouri in 1994 by the Union Pacific, where it is still seen today.

LEGO model notes: I was inspired by Dr_Spock_888 and his rotary snowplow to build my own way back in 2014. Needless to say, it the originally 8 wide model didn't come out quite right at that time, so I put it aside for quite some time. I just recently remade the model into a 6 wide body with a 10 wide blade section, and have have smoothed out the roof studs with tiles. As before, the words "UP" (the initials of the former owner Union Pacific) should go on the studs towards the middle, while "900081" should go on the studs in the center in printed 1 x 1 tiles, right below the two UP tiles.

The blades are actually part of Dr_Spock_888's design, but mine do not move with the train like his... mine are not connected to the wheels on the track, and do not move unless you spin them with your hand.

Inspiration:

(Photo by Wampa-one from Flickr, not me)

Complaints, suggestions, thoughts, & compliments are always welcome!

Edited September 6, 2018 by Murdoch17

[dr_spock]

Nice work. I like your use of those corner panels for the chute.

Regarding your rear door, the prototype does have one. No need to change your model.

Thanks for sharing the LXF file. It renders pretty good.

[Murdoch17]

Nice work. I like your use of those corner panels for the chute.

Regarding your rear door, the prototype does have one. No need to change your model.

--SNIP--

Thanks for sharing the LXF file. It renders pretty good.

--SNIP--

Thank you Dr-Spock. That render does looks pretty cool... maybe I will get this model!

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

Two professional snowplows in two days! Very nice and great color scheme!

[dr_spock]

Thank you Dr-Spock. That render does looks pretty cool... maybe I will get this model!

You're welcome. Not sure how much snow Missouri gets. If you do build it, maybe we can do a plow vs plow video in real snow.

[Murdoch17]

MEGA BUMP: (sorry for this!)

The plow's main body was slimmed down from eight wide to six wide, and roof line was heavily revised. The doors are now open-able, and the wheels are now light-bluish gray, but I sadly still haven't figured out how to motorize the rotating blades. 

The rotary snowplow model is supposed to be built in early 2019 to join the rest of my Museum of Transport models as seen above.

Any thoughts?

Edited September 6, 2018 by Murdoch17

[supertruper1988]

It looks like you could easily fit an M motor, battery and IR receiver in there. Care to PM me the LXF and I can take a look?

[dr_spock]

Darn, I don't have my rotary snowplow MOC still together.  Here's my LEGO Friends version with the power function inside.  I basically attached a M-motor directly to the Technic axle piece through a Technic brick.

 

[Murdoch17]

4 hours ago, supertruper1988 said:

It looks like you could easily fit an M motor, battery and IR receiver in there. Care to PM me the LXF and I can take a look?

You can find the LDD file here at Bricksafe @supertruper1988.

31 minutes ago, dr_spock said:

Darn, I don't have my rotary snowplow MOC still together.  Here's my LEGO Friends version with the power function inside.  I basically attached a M-motor directly to the Technic axle piece through a Technic brick.

SNIP

Thanks for the video @dr_spock, it's a shame you don't have it together anymore. Oh well, maybe someday a version 2.0 will be built?

[Roadmonkeytj]

Very nice to both @Murdoch17 and @dr_spock

These make me want to build the one I was thinking of ... I have an old technic turbine blade in mind though lol