Rotary Snowplow No. 1 was built in 1898 by
the Cooke Locomotive and Machinery Company of Paterson, New
Jersey for WP&YR.
It helped the railroad face the challenges
of heavy winter snows with accumulations of up to 12 feet.
Pushed by up to 2 helper engines, the rotary’s 10 huge
blades sent snow flying out to the side of the tracks by
centrifugal
force. It was retired in 1965 but was used as recently as
2001 for a ceremonial clearing of the rails. Rotary Snowplow
No. 1 has been restored and can be seen by the Skagway Depot.