Plow #4 shows a builders date of 8-11-1949, received and placed in service on the ARR in 9-1949.  Builders # 3724. It was bought to replace the 1920 built wooden body Russell plow # 2 which was retired in September 1947. The builders plates would have been on the sides, usually on the 'triangular' metal part supporting the nose plow, ahead of the wings.

The plate would have read exactly as this BN one and this Green Mt. one. Note the cast in number R1291.  This is not the builders number, although most railfans think so.  I've been tripped over that too;  hard not to, it's on the plate and there's seldom ever two of these plows in one place !.  Probably annoys builders plate collectors !

It is apparently a Russell model or batch or lot number. I don't know enough about Russell to really know what it stands for. Russell numbers 1 & 2 were built in 1920 with wood bodies for the AEC, became ARR.  Number 1 was destroyed in the Healy roundhouse fire 8-31-1940. Number 2 retired 9-1947.

Russell # 3  Steel body built in 1944,  I don't have (or can't find) the builder # or 'model #'    It was retired in 1973 and cut up for scrap.

Russell # 4  data as above, retired in the early 1970's.

- Don Marenzi

The actual cut up date on the #4 was March 22, 2011 in the Central Environmental Services yard in Anchorage.