Jordan Spreader

[Joe Land]

Larry Boyd collection, photographer unknown.

[Gene Remaly]

I bought an Overland brass Jordan spreader from Larry at a MONON swap meet.
Chad B did a fantastic paint job.

[Tom Kepshire]

Another shot of a Jordan Spreader and a derrick at work

[Joe Land]

Is the spreader derailed? Looks like it is, but may be an optical illusion.

[Tom Kepshire]

I believe it is Joe. I have no additional information on the photo, but I thought it was derailed too. Maybe someone bumped the table?

[Pete Pedigo]

I  think we figured out once that this is at Lafayette Junction and the spreader split a switch or something.

[Tom Kepshire]

Monon Jordan Spreader in operation. This Photo from Dave Ferguson Photo Art Studio. Not sure of the lacation.

[Rick Berg]

Wow

When I think of spreaders, I think of snow. It never dawned on me they would use it to clear the ROW in general.

[George Lortz]

What was the 800XX number of the Monon Jordan spreader?

George L.

[George Coles]

Forgive my ignorance, but what does a Jordan spreader spread? I guessed ballast, but the pic seems sadly short of same.

[Tom Kepshire]

George. In no way am I am expert, but I think it had many uses, or was used in many ways. Spreading ballast, snow and when the wings were extended, vegetation along the right of way. Look at the topic , Jordan spreader, part two there is a picture of one working.

[George Coles]

Thanks Tom. It looks from the accumulation of plant debris as if the spreader is pushed, but the ballast shoulder and the cutting slope have already been shaped, so is this a second pass, or a posed photo.
George

[Tom Kepshire]

The Monon spreader carried the number 80015. It was originally numbered X-15. Mont Switzer wrote an article on building a brass spreader that was in THL Volume 11, No 1. The unit was primarily used to spread ballast between and on either side of the tracks. The article does not mention any other purpose. I was told of snow removal and vegetation by others.

[Joe Land]

Heard a story that one of the arms dropped while being towed and ripped a hole in a grain elevator.

[Geof Burns]

I believe that a separate piece of equipment called a "Flanger" was use to clear snow between the rails. That was the case on the SP over Donner Pass.

Attached is a view of a Flanger suspended below a car, that I borrowed from Wikipedia.