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Winter is comming (BNSF Rotary in action)

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Winter is comming (BNSF Rotary in action)
Posted by CMStPnP on Friday, November 11, 2016 5:58 PM
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Posted by Mookie on Sunday, November 13, 2016 9:03 PM

Was told this is one of the most hated jobs on the railroad.  

And this in an area where there is nothing out there but snow and wind, and then more snow and wind....

She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw

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Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, November 13, 2016 10:03 PM

My guess is that such jobs on the 'occasionally' used branch lines, where the snow and wind have had the opportunity to pack into cuts, or fill in behind tree breaks for days, if not weeks can cause such crews to be away from their home for a exended period of time.  As can be seen from the video, cutting through the snow pack is not high speed task and T&E crews only have 12 hours of work time available.

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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, November 13, 2016 10:47 PM

Mookie
Was told this is one of the most hated jobs on the railroad.  

I can understand that.  Not so much with the rotary - pretty slow going most of the time - but with a wedge plow or Jordan.  You really have to know your territory...

Of course, the slow going on the rotary wouldn't be the most exciting job in the world, even if the railfans are enjoying it...

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Paul of Covington on Monday, November 14, 2016 3:16 AM

   Isn't it possible to change the direction that the snow is blown, (L-R)?   If so, is it a lot of trouble to do so?   Much of the time they were blowing snow into the wind, and much of it seemed to be blowing back.

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Posted by samfp1943 on Monday, November 14, 2016 10:47 AM

Paul of Covington

   Isn't it possible to change the direction that the snow is blown, (L-R)?   If so, is it a lot of trouble to do so?   Much of the time they were blowing snow into the wind, and much of it seemed to be blowing back.

 

Paul of Covington:   Those older Rotary Snow Plows used to have a mechanical mechanism to 'aim' the discharge to either side of the tracks(?) [ but were subject to icing by where their location was. on top of the housing]

P.S.   If you can get photos of the NOPBR clearing tracks with a Rotary Plow this Winter...They would be something to see, here. Smile, Wink & Grin

 

 


 

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Posted by tree68 on Monday, November 14, 2016 11:11 AM

Actually, I think the rotor can run in either direction. I think the discharge hood just flips over to the appropriate direction.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Deggesty on Monday, November 14, 2016 11:15 AM

samfp1943

 

 
Paul of Covington

   Isn't it possible to change the direction that the snow is blown, (L-R)?   If so, is it a lot of trouble to do so?   Much of the time they were blowing snow into the wind, and much of it seemed to be blowing back.

 

 

 

Paul of Covington:   Those older Rotary Snow Plows used to have a mechanical mechanism to 'aim' the discharge to either side of the tracks(?) [ but were subject to icing by where their location was. on top of the housing]

P.S.   If you can get photos of the NOPBR clearing tracks with a Rotary Plow this Winter...They would be something to see, here. Smile, Wink & Grin

 

Sam, by the time the NOPB obtained a snowplow, wouldn't the snow have all  melted?

I think it was in the winter of 1965 that a snowstorm came up from the Gulf of Mexico--and reached as far north as about 30 miles south of Jackson, Mississippi. I don't know how much fell in New Orleans, or what effect it had on the IC.

Johnny

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Posted by samfp1943 on Monday, November 14, 2016 1:24 PM

Sam, by the time the NOPB obtained a snowplow, wouldn't the snow have all  melted?

P.S.   If you can get photos of the NOPBR clearing tracks with a Rotary Plow this Winter...They would be something to see, here. Smile, Wink & Grin

Johnny:  I stand by my original comment!  Both 'events' would be worth the photos...Whistling

 

 


 

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Monday, November 14, 2016 8:41 PM

   Johnny, it was actually the winter of 1963-'64.    And Sam, I happened to be in Alaska at the time, so I missed the action, but I understand that the NOPB had all of their rotaries busy full time clearing the snow.   From the pictures my folks took, I'd estimate that there was about 3 inches of snow on the ground, but just an inch will paralyze the whole city.

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Posted by Deggesty on Monday, November 14, 2016 9:23 PM

Thanks, Paul. The passage of time can bring dullness to a memory. I do remember the snow in Wesson and Hazlehurst--and no snow before I reached Crystal Springs as I drove up to Jackson the morning after.

Johnny

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