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Snow coach
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A snow coach is a specialized passenger transport vehicle, designed to operate over snow or ice, similar to a
large, multi-passenger snowcat that is equipped with bus style seating. These vehicles may have multiple sets of very large low pressure tires or they may have tracks. A snow coach may seat 10, 20 or more passengers and are often used for sightseeing tours or for over snow transportation.
An early example of a snow coach was the Snow Bus, built by Bombardier Canada.
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Encyclopedia
A snow coach is a specialized passenger transport vehicle, designed to operate over snow or ice, similar to a
large, multi-passenger snowcat that is equipped with bus style seating. These vehicles may have multiple sets of very large low pressure tires or they may have tracks. A snow coach may seat 10, 20 or more passengers and are often used for sightseeing tours or for over snow transportation.
An early example of a snow coach was the Snow Bus, built by Bombardier Canada. It was equipped with front skis and rear tracks and typically could seat 12 passengers. Alternatively, the front skis could be removed and replaced with front wheels. There are documented uses of the Bombardier Snow Bus being used as a school bus, for mail delivery and as emergency vehicles, but they were also used for tours and transportation in snowbound areas.
In the early 1960's Thiokol produced the 601 series snowcats which were often configured to carry 10 passengers. While not a tour bus type snow coach, these found utility with the United States Air Force as well as private industry.
Snowcoaches have become a popular mode of transportation for anyone traveling inside Yellowstone Park during the winter. Commercially guided snowcoaches travel over snow covered, groomed roads to popular destinations including Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Snowcoach tours stop along their routes for a chance to see winter wildlife, experience the smells and sounds of a rushing, icy river, or grab the perfect photo opportunity. Tours leave each day from cities on the edge of Yellowstone such as West Yellowstone, Montana.
These vehicles travel on the same roads that you do in the summer over snow prepared by groomers. The groomers work to smooth and pack the snow ensuring that the roads are adequately covered and making for a much smoother ride for visitors.
Snowcoaches can be outfitted with either a rubber track or a ski system (replacing tires). Often called by the brand name, Mattracks, these rubber track systems can travel over thinner snow depths and even bare road patches without tearing up roadways. Metal-based ski systems can cause more damage or get stuck on traveling over snow-less patches. Subsequently, the park service may restrict certain roads to just Mattrack-equipped snowcoaches based on road conditions.
Yellowstone Park closes its west, south, and east entrances in early November in order to build up snow pack on the roads and begin grooming. The roads re-open in mid-December for over-the-snow travel and stay open through mid-March. Snowcoaches must be driven and guided by an approved Yellowstone park concessionaire. These guides not only ensure your safety, but also enhance the overall experience through interpretive information about Yellowstone and its history, geology, wildlife, and thermal nature.
Modern Examples
The Terra Bus Wheeled Vehicle is one of the few Snow Coach type vehicles produced. Terra Bus is produced by Foremost Industries LP in Canada, has six over sized low pressure (30 psi) tires and carries up to 56 passengers on and off road for tourist or job site transport in snow or soft ground conditions.
These following examples of Brewster coaches were seen at the Athabasca Glacier in Alberta, Canada:
See also
External links
- Terra Bus Company Website
- JVBs snowmobiles still in commercial use
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