General Discussion (Model Railroader)

Hi everyone,

I recently watched the movie "Pentrex Big Boy Collection". In the background there is often a kind of fence like structure running along the hills. I've also seen this on photographs. Now my question is, what are these things? Are they cattle fences?

Magnus

Magnus,

You're probably looking at a snow fence. They are built at certain locations where blowing snow could build up and block the tracks. The fences stop the snow before it gets to the railroad.

Is this what you saw?

http://www-visualmedia.fnal.gov/VMS_Site/Gallery/StillPhotos/ArtGallery/Kathleen%20Fischer/Wyoming-Snow-Fence.jpg

Don Z.

Probably rock fall fences.  When there is a rock fall on a hill, it triggers an alarm alerting a central location there may be debris on the track.

I haven't seen the videos you speak of, but they are most likely rock slide detection fences. When the fence is damaged by falling rocks or other debris, a circuit is broken and the monitors are set off alerting the RR where a possible rock slide has occurred. Then traffic is stopped on that section of track and the area inspected, keeping the train and crews protected.

I may be wrong and I'm sure someone else will come up with the definitive answer. 

Don is correct, Magnus.  Those slat fences high up on the bluff above the tracks that you see are snow fences.

-Crandell

Those are snow fences.  Their primary purpose is to stop drifting snow from blowing onto the track and blocking it.  They also serve as a windbreak because winds in some areas are strong enough to blow boxcars, etc. off the track.

In some locations the winds were so strong that the Denver & Rio Grande placed old gondolas full of dirt beside the track to serve as a windbreak.

Thanks as usual guys! I had guessed when I was talking with a friend that it might be snow fences since they seemed to high to be cattle fences and ended up in nowhere. I think we have something similar in our mountain ranges on certain locations, not just as many.

How much snow does the Wyoming and Utah region get?

Lillen wrote:

How much snow does the Wyoming and Utah region get?

Enough to make some of the best skiiing in the world.

Everything you wanted to know (and then some) about snow in Wyoming...

http://www.wrds.uwyo.edu/wrds/wsc/climateatlas/snow.html

Don Z.

cacole wrote:

In some locations the winds were so strong that the Denver & Rio Grande placed old gondolas full of dirt beside the track to serve as a windbreak.

Hoppers, on the Big 10 Curve: <http://www.coloradorailfan.com/TrainLog/logs.asp?p=010602>  

Don Z wrote:

Everything you wanted to know (and then some) about snow in Wyoming... http://www.wrds.uwyo.edu/wrds/wsc/climateatlas/snow.html Don Z.

  I'm really embarrassed!

All that information and maps with it... and I can't recall where Wyoming is.

Last time I ran a list without looking anywhere up I managed 48 States at the first hit.  (With a memory for lists like mine that's pretty good).

But Wyoming?  Wyoming?

... and I can't find my Rand McNally

Someone tell me which way I go from Chicago please?

PS Which RR?

Also... I have it in my head as a "Great Plains" State... Is this right?  Then I think of snow fences in mountains... But I guess that the snow can get several feet thick on the plains... epsecially when it drifts...

HELP!?! 

1100 miles due west from Chicago.

The snow doesn't really fall in Wyoming.  It falls in Montana and is just passing through to Colorado.  8-)

Dave H.

Dave-the-Train wrote:

All that information and maps with it... and I can't recall where Wyoming is. But Wyoming?  Wyoming? Someone tell me which way I go from Chicago please? PS Which RR?

I have it in my head as a "Great Plains" State... Is this right?

Wyoming is also straight north of Colorado.   It is the other "Almost square" state.

For Dave-the-Train,

http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/usa/wyoming/

Don Z.