Re: Rotary question

Most of the right of way of the C&TS is located fairly high up on the terrrain, as opposed to in the canyon bottom like the D&S right of way. As a result, one of the biggest problems was from wind-blown snow drifting and filling the numerous cuts along the right of way. During a heavy snow storm, even if the total accumulation isn't that great, the cuts can fill in incredibly fast, and the drifted snow is usually quite dense and compacted--enough so to entrap a single locomotive, or even a double header. If you've been reading the Cumbres train registers from Jan/Feb 1933, you may have noticed that the D&RGW had quite a bit of trouble on the north end of the Santa Fe branch in the area of Tres Piedras, no doubt as a result of wind-blown snow filling the cuts. Total snow accumulation in that area was normally no where near as great as at Cumbres, but still the drifting snow caused regular problems.

The plus side of drifting snow is that it's free of heavier debris that might damage the rotary wheel, so the rotary can be shoved into the cut with a reasonable degree of confidence that it will not bite into a big rock or a tree.

The D&S right of way, on the other hand, is subject to continual snow slides coming down the steep canyon walls over the tracks. These slides bring down with them anything in their path, including huge rocks and trees. The debris in the slide is very much visible.

The rotaries were not used to clear snow slides because of the risk of damage to the unit, but they were used to clear drift-filled cuts and heavy snow accumulations in areas not prone to snow slides.