Snow Plow - Solving the Snow Problem

German Federal Railroad (DB) "Klima" type Henschel snow plow.

Here’s a relaxed look at the history and mechanics of the Henschel "Klima," a legendary piece of railway engineering.

Back around 1925, Austrian engineer Rudolf Klima had a problem: standard train-mounted blades just couldn’t handle snow deeper than 40 centimeters (about 16 inches). The trains would hit the drifts and stop dead. So, Klima invented a new type of specialized snowplow. It wasn’t just a blade; it was a dedicated machine designed to chew through deep snow.

The German State Railroad (DRG) saw the potential and imported the first units in 1929. By 1931, German manufacturer Henschel & Sohn secured the exclusive license to build them. And they built a lot—approximately 250 units over a 35-year run that lasted until 1964. These plows became a staple in snowy European rail networks.

Built from Scraps? Kind of!

One of the coolest things about the Klima is that Henschel didn’t build these from scratch. Instead, they were clever upcyclers. They took the sturdy, reliable chassis and wheelsets from decommissioned steam locomotive tenders (like the Prussian 2’2’T21,5 or Class 39) or even retired electric locomotives. It was a smart move: you already had a rugged, proven frame, so why build a new one?

How It Cleared the Tracks

The Klima was a beast. It could clear heavy track snowdrifts up to 1.5 meters (nearly 5 feet) deep. Here’s how it did it:

- Adjustable Blades: It had front plow blades and flexible, pneumatic side wings that could be adjusted on the fly.

- Air-Powered Precision: The heavy plow shares and side wings were controlled by a compressed air system fed by onboard tanks. This meant the operator could dynamically adjust the plow to handle different snow conditions without stopping.

Pushing Power

The Klima was non-self-propelled, meaning it had no engine of its own. To move it, a locomotive had to couple behind it and push. But wait—how did the operator steer it?

Henschel built a small, functional cab on top of the old tender frame. From this elevated perch, the crew could:

- Steer the air-powered blades.

- Keep an eye on the tracks ahead.

- Control the plow’s depth and width via the compressed air system.

In Short

The Henschel "Klima" wasn’t just a plow—it was a clever, robust, and highly effective solution to one of railroading’s toughest winter challenges. By repurposing old tender frames and using pneumatic power for precision, it cleared some of the deepest snowdrifts on record, all while being pushed by a loyal locomotive. A true marvel of mid-20th-century railway engineering!