Rotary Snow Plow Joins ASME Landmark Roster

The Northern Pacific Rotary Snow Plow No. 2, the first machine to reliably remove deeply packed snow from railroad tracks, was designated as an ASME historic mechanical engineering landmark in a ceremony held in Duluth, Minn., on April 16. (Photos by Wil Haywood, ASME Public Information)

The Northern Pacific Rotary Snow Plow No. 2, the oldest rotary snow plow still in existence, became ASME's 257th historic mechanical engineering landmark in a ceremony held in Duluth, Minn., on April 16. The designation ceremony, which was held at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, was attended by members of the Minnesota Section and University of Minnesota-Duluth Student Section as well as enthusiasts and representatives and trustees from the museum.

The first machine to reliably remove deeply packed snow from railroad tracks, the now retired Snow Plow No. 2 is on permanent display at the railroad museum. Powered by a locomotive-type steam engine, the Northern Pacific Rotary Snow Plow No. 2 employed a bi-directional rotating wheel with blades, and was propelled by several locomotives.

ASME Past President Richard J. Goldstein (pictured) presented the bronze landmark plaque to Timothy Schandel, curator of the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, during the ceremony.

The plow, which was built in 1887 by Cooke Locomotive & Machine Works of Patterson, N.J. remained in service for 81 years, originally serving in the Cascade Mountain region of the western North America before it was moved east to clear railroad tracks in Minnesota and North Dakota.

The Northern Pacific Rotary Snow Plow No. 2 was nominated for ASME landmark status by the University of Minnesota-Duluth Student Section, and championed by student section member Adam Broderius, who led the yearlong effort to have the plow designated as an ASME landmark.

The bronze landmark plaque was presented to Timothy Schandel, curator of the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, by ASME Past President Richard J. Goldstein during the designation ceremony. Goldstein, an ASME Fellow and Honorary Member, served as ASME's 115th president from 1996 to 1997. ASME History and Heritage Representative Herman Viegas also attended the April 16 event.

Herman Viegas, ASME History and Heritage representative, at the April 16 landmark designation ceremony.

The Northern Pacific Rotary Snow Plow No. 2 was the second ASME landmark to be designated in the state of Minnesota, following the Thermo King Refrigeration Unit, which was named an ASME landmark in 1996.

For more information on the ASME History and Heritage Landmarks Program, and to view the complete list of ASME mechanical engineering landmarks, visit www.asme.org/about-asme/engineering-history/landmarks/about-the-landmarks-program.