WP&Y - 60 years ago

27 February 1944: About 6:00 AM Sunday, 27 February, Rotary #1, Engines
70-80, coupled with two Extras, 193-256-250 North and 197-200-253 North,
encountered bad storm and heavy drifts between MP 16 1/2 and 17 which stalled
rotary. Rotary uncoupled from the two extras and attmpted to buck out snow
ahead of them, and in so doing, moved about 30 yards north and became stuck in
the snow. The two extras attempted to move up to rotary to assist him in
getting loose but were unable to do so account of the snow and drifts. As the
snow had drifted in behind them, they were unable to back down to Glacier.
This information was received from Sgt. Empey, Conductor in charge of Extra
197-200-253 North at 9:45 AM, at which time, he had walked back to Glacier to
report.
Rotary #2 with Engs. 71-81, caboose, tool car, and Eng. 199 with "A" and "B"
Company personnel departed Skagway at 11:30 AM in an attempt to clear the main
line to MP 17. They reached the scene of trouble about 1:30 PM and found that
the caboose, on the extreme south end, was derailed and Eng. 253 dead on main
line on account of unable to supply her with a sufficient amount of water by
shovelling snow into the tanks. The weather was clear with no snow falling,
temperatures dropping below the zero mark, velocity of wind increasing hourly.
By late Sunday evening they managed to rerail the caboose, dig out Eng. 253
and move them back into Glacier.