Conspicuous by its absence here is mention of UP's Overland main being blocked by snow drifts recently. I noticed several pictures of the rotary heading west from Cheyenne on Sunday, March 12 to clear the railroad west of Rawlins that was evidently shut down for three days. This, in addition to problems on Donner Pass, have apparently delivered a climatic whammy ontop of the flooding & etc. going on in Cal.
Has anyone here more thorough information on the nature of the snow blockade in Wyoming, its duration and more precise location.
I know Interstate 80 has been a royal pain in the keester for the last few months. We've seen multiple shutdowns that lasted for days on 80. So basically anyplace on the overland route west of Cheyenne could be the problem.
There was a derailment out around Rawlins a couple days ago. I don't know how bad, just bad enought to close traffic for a couple of days. I think the weather in Wyoming is snarling things more to switches not working and roads being closed so it's harder to move relief crews around.
And snow and rain has been a problem out west. A rotary derailed yesterday, I thin on or near Donnor Pass. The Feather River canyon has been seeing snow and rock slides. Other lines washouts.
At least places are getting moisture, even if too much too fast. Sometime Nature is a mother.
Jeff
The Donner rotary derailment was near here, on the 12th I think
https://goo.gl/maps/GZb7NNTXTweWSh5m9
which meant no way to get the usual rubber-tire equipment to it, so the big hook came out. Wonder when that happened last -- where do they find people that know how to run a big hook?
I wonder if it would be worthwhile for someone like Herzog or RJ Corman to add rotary plow services for occasional needs. They could stage them at several northern locations like Minneapolis, Chicago & Buffalo & offer their services to who ever could use them.
Now I've come across a picture of a Jordan Spreader at Rollinsville, CO that the photographer says is enroute to Rawlins, WY for snow removal work on March 6th.
If that's the case one assumes there was heavy snow in the area before the rotary was dispatched on March 12. Jeff Hergert advsies there was a derailment around Rawlins that was bad enough to close traffic for a couple days. That so, one imagines that laid down trains may have acted as snow fences and the railroad become drifted in with a combination of snow, wind and stalled trains.
Don't know whether a privately run snow plow outfit would be considered like a Loram Rail Grinder insofar as union agreements, or whether a rotary outfit would be economically worthwhile for a private enterprise given the erratic nature of their use - as opposed to the more reliable frequency of derailments.
Just trying to determine the extent of the disruptions on the old Third Sub in Wyoming.
Here a link to a photo that prompted this inquiry:
https://www.railpictures.net/photo/826900/
I was impressed with the snow dozer in this photo near Troy, CA
https://www.railpictures.net/photo/827006/
Was this the photo you referenced PennsyBoomer?
https://www.railpictures.net/photo/827012/
I know that area very well. the nearest location to the derailment is Cisco Road which is below and to the west of the derailment. That is very wild country and getting to the derailment would be pretty hard. The only way that I know of is to send a big hook or other rerailing equipment east from Roseville or west from Sparks, NV. With the tracks blocked by snow only one could conceivly get to the derailment depending upon which direction was cleard by the rotary prior to the dreailment. It is single track at that location making rerailing the rotary difficult. There is not much room before you roll down the mountain.
rdamonWas this the photo you referenced PennsyBoomer? https://www.railpictures.net/photo/827012/ A
That's it. I've been curious about the nature of the snow problems in Wyoming since the rotary hasn't been used since about 2007 out on the KP and I can't recall any occasions in Wyoming since the blizzards of 1949.
rdamonI was impressed with the snow dozer in this photo near Troy, CA https://www.railpictures.net/photo/827006/ ...
...
That appears to be a snow cat like the kind they use as trail groomers at ski slopes.
MidlandMikeThat appears to be a snow cat like the kind they use as trail groomers at ski slopes.
Regular cat tracks would likely have a problem staying on top of the snow.
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...
Looks to be a PistonBully 800.
https://www.pistenbully.com/en/home/snow-groomers.html
kgbw49 Looks to be a PistonBully 800. https://www.pistenbully.com/en/home/snow-groomers.html
It's actually Pisten. A piste is the french word for trail, and at European ski areas refers to the maintained ski trail/slope.
Thanks for the etymology of the name!
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