Re: Snow removal operations

Jerry474 Wrote:
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> D&RGW engineer Frank Wright shared with me that it
> sometimes took 2 or 3 days to open the Floresta
> branch which was only 11 miles long. He said
> sometimes they would plow only 3 or 4 feet before
> the blades would jam with snow and they would have
> to backup for the section gang to clear it. He
> said he had a technique where he would stick a
> chunk of coal in the snow banks where they stopped
> so when they went forward again he would know
> where to give the rotary more steam. In 1920, they
> did not get the branch open until mid-June.

I used to do the same thing, only I'd make a line in the snow bank with my rather dirty glove. Usually we would get a hood depth length in the snow (about 4 feet), then the blades would simply polish a nice new smooth face on the snow. Then we'd stop, back up a bit and take another hit at it. Magic thing was to hit the snow with the blade spinning moderately, and just when we made contact, rip the throttle wide open. If it went right, and we got just the right amount of push, the wheel would dig in and almost stall as it ate a hood depth of snow, then throw the contents out the chute and over the side. As the wheel sped up, it would polish another smooth face in the snow. Repeat a few dozen times.

It is probably easier to plow down a 4% grade as you aren't using 1/4 of the locomotive's tractive effort to simply move itself up the hill.