A Metromelt is a self-propelled snowmelter machine with operator cab. They were built in 1974 for the then Metro Roads and Works department (now Toronto Transportation Services) to remove major snow accumulations from roads managed by Metro Toronto. Built by Trecan Combustion Limited of Hubley, Nova Scotia, the city has a fleet of 5 machines (stored at Toronto Works Ellesmere Yard in Scarborough) along with the 350-PD snowmelter trailer units by Trecan. Trecan Metromelt and snowmelters are used throughout Canada, the United States and Russia.
Specifications
The snow melting machine melts approximately 136 tonnes (134 long tons; 150 short tons) of snow per hour using air/fuel combustion to heat water and mix it with snow in a melting tank. The melted snow continuously drains from the tank, as it overflows, out of the melter and into storm drains or sewers along the road. The machine is self-propelled and self-loading, and resembles a large truck-mounted furnace with a snow-gathering conveyor belt at the front end.