Snow Sweeper #1455 at Antique Powerland on August 4, 2007
Snow sweeper #1455 was built for Portland's East Side Railway in 1899 by the McGuire Car Company. It is the oldest car in the OERHS collection. Streetcar companies were required by their franchise agreements with cities to clear the street of snow and dust. Often, this was necessary for the streetcars to operate anyway. On a snowy day, #1455 would go out in the morning ahead of the first streetcar to clear the tracks, and if it was snowing during the day, it might have to go out to rescue a stuck streetcar.
Snow Sweeper #1455 at Antique Powerland on August 4, 2007
The snow sweeper wasn't retired until the end of interurban service in 1958, but snow is relatively rare in Portland, and the last time it was used to clear snow was in 1954. After retirement, the snow sweeper was put on display at Oaks Amusement Park for a time before being donated to the OERHS.
Snow Sweeper #1455 at Antique Powerland on July 31, 2010
The snow sweeper hadn't seen much more progress by the 2010 Steam Up but it was much better location for pictures.
Snow Sweeper #1455 at Antique Powerland on July 31, 2010
Links to Historical Photographs:
#1455 in service in Portland (Dave's Electric Railroads)
Continue to Los Angeles Railway H-Class Streetcar #1318…
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