ice breaker hopper operation questions.

[jettrainfan]

Was looking at a ice breaker car (pennslyvainia hopper) and got interested in it. Can these cars be used in spring\summer running? Can they be shoved into a random train to be moved? If so, is there a certain\recommended area of the train? When using the car for realistic opertaion, what cars should be on it and where should they be located?

Thanks!

[jward]

i believe the icebreaker cars are used when temperatures are expected to be below freezing. their purpose is to clear the ice from tunnels before they can interfere with train operation. as such, when in use they should be towards the front of the train, ahead of any high cars in the train. during cold weather they should shuttle back and forth over the line where the tunnels are located, and would thus be placed in the train where they could be easily removed and added. during the warmer months, they were often stored in the yard.