A piece of maintenance-of-way equipment fitted with high-velocity air blowers directed at the rails. It is used to clear leaves, light snow, sand, and other debris from the railhead before trains pass. Keeping the railhead clean prevents loss of traction and ensures track circuits detect passing trains properly.
Heard on the job
Dispatch, we need the fan car out on the branch line to clear the autumn leaf fall before the evening commuter run.
Also heard as
- blower car