Nick Pull
The discers performed the same function for the railroad as they do for farmers. By disturbing and/or burying the weeds, they could be killed. This method kills the fewest weeds, but the results are immediate,variable cost are low and little damage is done to the environment. They also broke up cemented ballast which promoted drainage and reduced tie rot and frost heaves.
This Fairmont M23 "Big Discer" of 1925 had 16 5" discs but was limited in its versatility.
The Jordon spreader (a 1924 model shown) was a jack of all trades. It was used for spreading ballast, ditching, plowing, snow removal, ice cutting and as a flanger.
The weed burners did a good job of killing weeds and getting rid of dried brush along the right of way. Excessive cuttings from mowers or hand scything. Tests indicated the burning was probably not damaging to the ties. If the tie was so "dotty" (dry and rotten) it would burn, it should be replaced anyway. New (under 3 years of use),well treated ties would "sweat" out some preservative,but that would be reabsorbed. After 3 tears in use, no change would be noticed. Weed burners were also used to melt snow and ice around switches and crossings.
Weed burners were built in one of two styles. The first type was called an "extension arm burner" or octopus style. The arms were hollow air tubes and could be moved to place the burner over the area needing burning. The burners used the cheapest oil available. A high volume air pump forced air through the outer casing of the burner to help cool it and improve combustion to the point where the flame was 2500 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Woolery "Midget Octopus" of the early 1920's was 20' long and carried 300 gallons of oil on 20" wheels. The 2 cylinder 2 cycle engine developed 16 h.p. Woolery had 3 models with 2 or 3 or 5 burner arms.
This photo shows the working (rear) end of a Fairmont M27 of the early 1930's It could burn a path 44' wide (excluding the tie area). If the road bed required burning, a second pass was required.
This small, non self-propelled Fairmont T29 had one burner arm that could swung to either side. The working unit could be mounted on a truck if needed.
The 1940 model Fairmont M44 was 24'5" long, weighed 10,100 pounds and had a 36 h.p. 4 cylinder engine. It still needed a motor car to propel it.
The second style of weed burner was called the "oven" type. They had a large frame with a number of smaller burners. These burners would reach 2500 degrees Fahrenheit. They would only burn over the tie area, but they did it more efficiently than the "extension arm burner" style.
This 1925 Woolery oven style weed burner came in a three car set. The controls and a 625 gallon tank were on the lead car. The center car carried the 16 h.p. engine that powered all 3 cars and drove the ovens air pump. The third car carried the oven.
This photo shows the oven on the rear end of a Fairmont (D)M27, of the early 1930's. It like other oven type burners would only burn a path over the tie area.