Tom Van DeVanter

Events

Roles

Known For

History

1977

The Snow Tractor was renamed to Tom Cat in Tom’s honor, since he had driven it since the beginning.

1978

“Times were really gloomy at Meany in early 1960,” Doug Damm, Hut Chair at that time, recounted. “The trains stopped in March, 1960 and the rest of that season supplies had to be hand-carried all the way from the highway.” Doug hilariously told the story of a test run behind Tom Van DeVanter’s station wagon to determine how people would react to being towed in by the Cat on ropes. Apparently after a speedy start, a little panic, and a frantic call to “STOP,” Tom applied the brakes and the skiers all plowed into his open tailgate. htt

1984

The Bombardier Snow Tractor used to haul everything three miles from I-90 to Meany. Bought in 1960, when the NPRR discontinued passenger train service. Tom Van Devanter has driven it since the beginning; hence the name “Tom Cat.” hw

2003

Brought 1st [to Meany] by Carsten Lien 1954. Drove sno cat Dec 1960 thru Spring 2001. *Wanda Van DeVanter - Brought 1st [to Meany] by Tom in 1968. Been here since. 75th