Snow Removal Plow - Klamath County, OR
N 42° 27.548 W 121° 14.487
10T E 644589 N 4702254
This snow removal plow sits next the Woods Line Trail, part of the OC&E Woods Line State Trail just outside of Beatty, OR.
Waymark Code: WMGH4R
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 03/06/2013
Views: 5
Visitors to the
OC&E Woodsline State Trail will definitely notice this large, yellow snow removal plow that sits on a small stretch of railway no longer in use. The
OC&E Woodsline State Trail replaces the former Oregon Coast & Eastern Railway that existed for logging purposes from 1923 to 1990. The railroad was deeded to the Oregon State Parks in 1992 and was converted into a Rails-to-Trails park, making it the
longest linear park in Oregon at 105 miles in length. The
OC&E Woodsline State Trail branches off from the trail heading east towards Bly and becomes the Woods Line Trail heading north after crossing the Sprague River outside of Beatty. As it heads north, it passes by this snow removal plow that's now a static display. The property east of the Woods Line Trail was once the Sycan Maintenance Shop where this snow plow was housed.
I took a picture of the last spray-painted maintenance date of 11-21-86 on the side of the plow. I'm also assuming this snow plow was pushed by a locomotive attached to its rear for snow removal along the railroad. I could find no other information on this snow plow other than it was owned by the Weyerhaeuser Company after they bought the railroad from Southern Pacific and Burlington Northern in 1974. Many of Weyerhaeuser's railroad equipment and logging equipment were painted bright yellow, much like this snow plow. After Weyerhaeuser deeded the railroad line to the Oregon State Parks, they left this former snow plow here as a reminder of days long gone, when logging was the most lucrative business in Southern and Eastern Oregon.
On a personal note, I designed the original OC&E Woods Line State Trail logo and brochure in 1996 for the Oregon State Parks as part of the Rails-to-Trails program. The logo can be seen on wooden posts located at every half-mile to one mile points along the trail. The brochure is also displayed at various custom-made rail car kiosks along the trail. It has been enjoyable to see the trail progress to what it is today. :)