Other Spreaders

Other Spreaders Other Spreaders

Along with the Jordan Company, There were a few other types of spreaders that were built by different company's. Most of these were built as competitors to O.F. Jordan. Examples of these include:

Mann McCann Spreaders:
There is not much information around about these spreaders. These spreaders had the cab in the back and used 2 pairs of wings, along with a nose plow. The thing was the wings were not easy adjusted like a Jordan, thus much time was lost changing the angle of the spread. 3 of these spreaders went to the Burlington northern when it was formed, and one of them survives and is preserved today. It is NP 642 ( BN 972602 ) owned by the The Northern Pacific Railway Museum. Mann McAnn spreaders gained notoriety for work on the Panama Canal project. More info will be added as it becomes available. In 2014 we came across a Mann McAnn spreader brocure. Click on the photos to view larger versions.

Northern Pacific 641 at an unknown location. From the collection of John C. LaRue Jr.

A clearance diagram of BN Mann Mcann Spreaders.

Click here for the Northern Pacific RR Museum Webpage on NP 42

Bucyrus Spreaders:
The Bucyrus company ( very famous for there line of Wreckers ) also attempted a small line of Spreaders. Not to much information is known about them. Bucyrus also built “Dirt Dozer's”. There is one Bucyrus spreader known to survive, Minnesota Commerical #5, an ex Oliver Iron Mining spreader, built in 1911.

Oliver Iron Mining 1200. From the collection of John C. LaRue Jr.

WP "Dirt Dozer" #8 at Portola Ca. From the collection of John C. LaRue Jr.

Great Northern Snow Dozer's:
The Great Northern Railway built a very extensive line of snow dozer's around the turn of the century. These machines were like a Jordan but less complex with fewer moving parts and a much different appearance. Originally they were built of wood, but later ones were steel. Almost all of these went to the Burlington Northern when it was formed, and now most recently the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway. BN rebuilt most of these in the 80's to current standards. There are also a few examples preserved.

Homebuilt Spreaders:
Many railroads also built there own version of a spreader. Most of these contraptions were one off machines using components built “In House”. There is not to much info here due to the fact almost no two were alike. We can show some examples though as shown below.

Calumet & Hecla Spreader. From the collection of John C. LaRue Jr.

BAR X228 at Derby Maine. From the collection of John C. LaRue Jr.