Walthers Jordan Spreader | An Extremely Complex Model | Unboxing & Review

My review of the extremely complex Jordan Spreader from Walthers!

Thanks for watching!

0:00 Intro
3:19 Unboxing
6:18 Prototype Info
7:15 Detail
12:54 Performance
17:24 Ratings
20:22 Conclusion

[trainguy]

seeing Sam do more American models is super cool, I like british locomotives a lot but oo scale is just not my thing and I watched the reviews purely for entertainment, but now I can actually watch them as actual reviews on what model would be good to buy

[MrBnsftrain]

This livery seems to be inspired by a snowplow on the Long Island Railroad, which more resembled one painted on the front of a fighter jet.
The wings would only be opened if the spreader was running at low speeds, so you wouldn't have them open a lot.

[Dead_Channel_Pretty_Much]

Looks Like Gordon's Snow Machine Has Some Competition

[Zebrails]

In the mountains of Canada, they pair these up with "Russell" Snow Plows of both ends of a pair of locomotives. so that in the reverse direction, they can ensure any fallen back snow can be cleared just the same.
I've got both the Russell and Jordan plows in the Soo Line paint colours. It's unfortunate yours was a bit sloshed in assembly, the extra glue, and your need to make repairs. My models are just fine. John

[lesforan]

When I worked on the DM&E railroad in the 1980's, the railroad purchased one of these. It was kept for a while at my station at Pierre, SD. I don't know where they got it.
I had fun examining it. Apparently, it was built in the WWI era. I was surprised to find the owner's manual still in the cab.
The manual had illustrations and complete instructions. It was apparently an air-operated model. One of the illustrations
showed it being pushed by a medium-sized steam locomotive.
It didn't have the colorful paint job of the model. I remember it being solid black.

[garyvision]

This spreader reminds me of the Oxford Rail rail cannon you once reviewed. Both of these are totally impractical models, yet their eye- popping crazyness makes them a real temptation ro buy. Perfect if you are in a " what the hell mood". Me, I'm waiting for a "Roswell" train set, where a crashed flying saucer is being shipped by rail on a big flatcar.

[robertsparks]

Great fun! Imagine, a Canadian designing a snow plow. There are actually several snow plows and snow blowers for use in Canada. Triang made a fairly accurate OO gauge snow plow back in the 60's or 70's. Thanks Sam. I really enjoyed the video.

[James-Railyard]

These models were available many, many moons ago as kits. I’d say in the 80’s or 90’s. I can definitely see why all that glue is used, it is also why they have factory installed grabs listed on the box. Still doesn’t excuse a $75-$85 model falling apart out of the box.
I will say this, Walther’s excels at their passenger cars. The mainline series is perfect for smaller layouts or those with tighter curves. The Walthers Proto or the old brown box passenger cars require at least 24” curves.
I definitely would give their passenger cars a try just remember the main line/train line items are definitely cheaper, but the Proto versions will have body mounted couplers and factory installed grabs but need wider curves.

[jimflagg]

This has to make your Christmas Special this year.

[andrewpalm]

Thanks for reviewing yet another North America prototype, Sam! I built the kit version of the Walthers Jordan Spreader about 20 years ago, and it holds a place of honor in my loco display case. There is an interesting video of one of these clearing brush and small trees on the sides of a right of way and the brute force shown is a bit scary. Too bad about the poor build quality on yours, though. Unfortunately, many "ready to run" models I've purchased have required some TLC prior to layout use. Cheers from Wisconsin!

[AQuietNight]

Take the coupler out of the housing and see if the centering spring has no
bends in it. There may be a sprue area with a little flash on it, file it down
with a fine modelers file.
Kadee produces a dry lithium grease that can be used on their couplers. Just
puff in a little dab of it into coupler housing to improve centering movement.

[FerroequinologistofColorado]

Gotta love those designs on the front blades of the spreaders.

[personified]

I have one and love it. I did modify it to use metal parts to strengthen it.

[wraith]

I got the Delaware & Hudson one as I remember seeing the real thing in action as a kid. It's a shame the build quality of your model was so poor mine was in very good condition (except for the couplers but that's the first thing I replace anyway). It will have to go through a renumbering though since to my knowledge D&H 35055 had always been a kind of oxide red, 35053 was the orange one.

[scottwendt]

If you like the Spreader, you would love the Rotary Snowplow. They have lights and power and sound. The works!

[danconlin]

Good review. Neat to see in detail warts and all. These were legendary for clearing snow from rail yards in Canada, advertised as "doing the work of an army of men". You could clear three yard tracks with just one side extended and they had special ice smasher attachments. Steam era spreaders used compressed air. Diesel era ones were operated by hydraulics. I predict an appearance of this beast in a Halloween video!

[cmdrflake]

Models imported during the C-19 period are in dealer stock for favorable prices. Post 2021 models are more expensive.
Might I suggest to you an American classic Athearn’s F7A/B. They are generally in stock at most dealers.
The Jordan spreader is a very versatile machine it can dig drainage ditches, clear small rocks and other debris. In yards, it’s able to clean snow off three tracks at once. As for the couplers, Walthers rolling stock runs on the light side so they need to be opened on both cars involved and centered. Coupling on a curve will test one’s patience.

[StarWarsJay]

It reminds me of the green goblin truck from Maximim Overdrive.

[chuchuchip]

I own 3, 2 in different D&H colors & a "Shark Mouth". They're mostly a static display, but with a maintenance crew preforming service.

[jancraft]

sam you could change the springs on the couplers to make them better