I just got my updated 7 day forecast for the next 7 days for all major interstates. Let's just say I do not want to be anywhere near Donner Pass in the next 4 days. They are expecting 20 Feet of snow in the next 4 days alone. I asked my husband that drove over Donner in winter what that would be like. He said find a parking space in a TS in either NV or CA someplace and wait it out. I can imagine UP is going to have their hands full trying to keep their tracks open if they get that kind of snowfall.
YEP, The Storm King is back in all his fury.
That kind of weather is why Leslie invented the rotary snowplow. SP was diligent about preparing them in the fall even though no one wanted to call them out. I suspect the UP acts and feels the same.
Mac McCulloch
How much traffic can UP divert onto the WP canyon route ? All that water may cause rock slides on WP ? CAL Z prospects ? Does UP require all its Donner crews to stay qualified on the WP route ?
PNWRMNMI suspect the UP acts and feels the same.
Every account I read about snow fighting on Donner Pass shares the same sentiment - the rotaries (actually, there may now be just one) are called out as an absolute last resort.
I think they prefer frequent traffic (and frequent snow dozers) to keep things cleared out.
Larry 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...
blue streak 1Does UP require all its Donner crews to stay qualified on the WP route ?
Don't know how UP has arranged their crew districts.
In the normal course of buisness, crew members bid in seniority order for the jobs on the district they desire to work. I SUSPECT Donner & the WP route are different districts, without any requirements to work the other district. Extra board personnel MAY be qualified on both routes IF both routes are staffed from the same crew board. To maintain FRA QUALIFICATION on specific routes employees are required to make at least one trip per year over the territory.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
The UP keeps one rotary at Rosevile and one at the yard in Sparks, NV. When needed they run in opposite directions get turned and run back as necessary to keep the line open. They are not called often and as stated in a previous post they are readied in the fall so they can be called into service on a minutes notice. Not since the 1952 avalances has the Donner line been closd due to snow. Both the SP and UP are very dilligent in keeping the line open.
If you type in Norden, CA in the NOAA weather site, you get the forcast for a place called Hell Hole. Anyway they are calling for snow changing to lots of rain, and a flood watch is in effect thru Monday.
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=39.318&lon=-120.356#.WHBciPkrLIU
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