Snogo Snow Plow

The Snogo Snow Blower was used on the Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park, United States. Manufactured in 1932 by the Klauer Engineering Company of Dubuque, Iowa, the plow was actually a snowblower and featured advanced features such as an enclosed cab, four wheel drive and roll-up windows. It was used in the park until 1952.[2]

Snogo Snow Blower
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Snogo Snow Plow in action
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Nearest city	Estes Park, Colorado
Coordinates	40°21′51″N 105°33′34″W
Built	1932
Architect	Klauer Mfg. Co.
NRHP reference No.	06000934
Added to NRHP	October 04, 2006[1]

The Blower used a Climax Blue Streak six-cylinder gasoline engine (6x7=1188cuin), developing 175 horsepower at 1200 RPM. Through the use of an eight-speed gearbox, speed could be varied from 1/4 mile/hr up to a maximum of 25 mph, when not moving snow. It was claimed to be capable of throwing snow 100 feet to the side.[3]

Similar blowers, used at Crater Lake and Yosemite National Parks, no longer exist. In 1943 the plow was loaned to Rapid City Air Base for use in keeping the airfield's runways clear, then returned in the spring. The National Park Service gave the plow to the city of Estes Park, Colorado in 1952, which used it until 1979, when it was damaged by water entering through the exhaust. The plow was returned to the park and put on display at the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center. The park plans to restore the plow to operating condition.[4]