Trains.com

CN Locomotive with obstructed vision

2609 views
18 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Dallas, TX
  • 6,952 posts
CN Locomotive with obstructed vision
Posted by CMStPnP on Sunday, February 7, 2016 12:30 AM

Shouldn't this Engineer at some point stop the train and clear the windshield after this encounter with a snow drift?    Just curious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMPJshBeEH0

 

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 8,955 posts
Posted by Firelock76 on Sunday, February 7, 2016 1:06 PM

Don't know about the engineer, but that railfan's got a facefull to deal with!

  • Member since
    January 2015
  • 2,678 posts
Posted by kgbw49 on Sunday, February 7, 2016 5:57 PM

There was a little windshield still showing - about as big a viewing area as the front window on a steam locomotive cab...

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, February 7, 2016 10:16 PM

They do have windshield wipers that coupled with the wind of the forward motion of the train can probably clear a 'viewing port'.  It isn't like they have to figure out where the next intersection is so that they can turn left!

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,022 posts
Posted by tree68 on Sunday, February 7, 2016 10:18 PM

It's possible that they did stop once they were clear of the major drifts.  

Considering that the snow was probably packed on the windshield, I'm not sure the wipers would make a difference.  Of course, the glass itself is probably heated, which would help.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    January 2014
  • 8,221 posts
Posted by Euclid on Monday, February 8, 2016 8:54 AM

It's no different than running in fog. 

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: S.E. South Dakota
  • 13,569 posts
Posted by Murphy Siding on Monday, February 8, 2016 9:33 AM

Euclid

It's no different than running in fog. 

 

  Raise your hand if you didn't see that one coming.Whistling

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

  • Member since
    January 2014
  • 8,221 posts
Posted by Euclid on Monday, February 8, 2016 9:43 AM
Wabash1 would not stop his train just to clean off a little snow.  He knows the territory.    
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Guelph, Ontario
  • 4,819 posts
Posted by Ulrich on Monday, February 8, 2016 9:45 AM

CMStPnP

Shouldn't this Engineer at some point stop the train and clear the windshield after this encounter with a snow drift?    Just curious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMPJshBeEH0

 

 

At some point I'm sure he will. He's probably thought of that and picked a place that makes sense.  

 

 

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: S.E. South Dakota
  • 13,569 posts
Posted by Murphy Siding on Monday, February 8, 2016 10:47 AM

Euclid
Wabash1 would not stop his train just to clean off a little snow.  He knows the territory.    
 

And you're saying the Canadian guys don't?

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

  • Member since
    January 2014
  • 8,221 posts
Posted by Euclid on Monday, February 8, 2016 11:09 AM

Murphy Siding
 
Euclid
Wabash1 would not stop his train just to clean off a little snow.  He knows the territory.    
 

 

 

And you're saying the Canadian guys don't?

 

 

No.  I am just saying that if can run in fog without seeing anything, you ought to be able to run with your windshield covered with snow. 

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Southeast Michigan
  • 2,983 posts
Posted by Norm48327 on Monday, February 8, 2016 11:49 AM

Maybe he had his head out the side window. Wink

Norm


  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,022 posts
Posted by tree68 on Monday, February 8, 2016 2:56 PM

Euclid
No.  I am just saying that if can run in fog without seeing anything, you ought to be able to run with your windshield covered with snow. 

The possibility that you forgot the [sarchasm] tag aside, there's a world of difference.  You might drive your car on a foggy day, but you wouldn't consider it with a sheet over the windshield.  Although here in the north country, people seem to think it's OK to scrape off a small amount of snow/frost off the windshield and drive like that.

I've run in heavy snow - reduced speed, but you can still pick out landmarks.

And it's possible the engineer was running with his head out the window, when the snow wasn't flying big time.

You'll note in many of those snowplowing videos that you can hear someone on the ground at the crossing advising the crew by radio of what's ahead...

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, February 8, 2016 3:25 PM

just keep running and send the conductor out the front door to clear the windshield as you run along !

  • Member since
    January 2014
  • 8,221 posts
Posted by Euclid on Monday, February 8, 2016 3:50 PM

I am talking about fog that is like a sheet over the windshield.  Not being able to see is my point of bringing up fog. 

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Guelph, Ontario
  • 4,819 posts
Posted by Ulrich on Monday, February 8, 2016 4:03 PM

blue streak 1

just keep running and send the conductor out the front door to clear the windshield as you run along !

 

Ironically easier to do on a spartan cab than the more modern safer North American cab.

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Iowa
  • 3,293 posts
Posted by Semper Vaporo on Monday, February 8, 2016 4:34 PM

blue streak 1

just keep running and send the conductor out the front door to clear the windshield as you run along !

 

And the next snow drift makes a pancake of the Conductor Thumbs Down and fills the cab with snow because he left the door open. Oops

Semper Vaporo

Pkgs.

  • Member since
    April 2001
  • From: US
  • 1,103 posts
Posted by ValleyX on Monday, February 8, 2016 5:30 PM

I've run in a lot of fog and a lot of snow and the only thing I ever recall stopping for is to scrape ice off the window, when the heaters were so ineffective that it was not providing anything in the way of window defrost.  

  • Member since
    February 2016
  • 101 posts
Posted by Jack R. on Thursday, February 11, 2016 5:53 PM

That was way too cool. Trains playing in the snow......fun times.

Actually, I quite agree with the idea that the engineer should have exercised better judgement. He cannot see the crossings or anything else for that matter. MOW should have cleared that mess along with DOT at the crossing. That's allot of snow flying up and every where else. 

You see, if someone dies......everything stops. People then ask why wasn't something done.

 

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy