Snow Blowers
Attribution: Image by Thierry Milherou from Pixabay
A SNOGO Snow Blower
Known as a SNOGO this was used by Ross and Cromarty Council in the 1950s. The Ross and Cromarty Council logo is just visible on the door. The petrol Ford truck with a V8 engine from the 1940s has the SNOGO snow blower mounted on the front. It was first registered on the 1st January 1948.
After the council had no further use for the vehicle it was sold to various people, before eventually being sold to Ireland. However, it was thought that the blower had been removed by that time.
The SNOGO arrived in this country during World War 2. They were used by the US Airforce for clearing snow from runways and could load the snow into tipper trucks running alongside.
They were eventually acquired by the Scottish Home Department for trunk roads but later were acquired by local councils.
Attribution: Alastdair Cameron
Serial plate from one of the original US Airforce SNOGO’s.
Attribution: Alastdair Cameron
SNOGO still in US military grey clearing snow at the Heights of Kilcoy in the 1960’s
Attribution: Alastdair Cameron
A Rolba Snow Blower
This Rolba snow blower was built by a Swedish company and first registered in Caithness in February 1984. It has a 11980 cc diesel engine and weighs 9000 kg. Originally it was yellow, but at some stage was repainted the red colour seen in the photo.
It was last registered in December 2018 when it was sold at Dingwall & Highland Marts Limited. At that time it was in very good condition. It was said to be the machine that kept the A9 at the Ord of Caithness open.
This Rolba snow blower has a 11980 cc diesel engine and weighs 9000 kg.
Attribution: Alastdair Cameron
