Olaf Rasmussen Wrote:
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> Earl, that is a fantastic account of snow plowing
> in 1993. It is so great that you went to the
> effort to document the timeline. Thank You, it
> sure brings back some wonderful memories. Maybe
> more wonderful for us chasers than you and your
> crew members. My brother still counts this as his
> greatest rail fan experience ever, which says a
> lot since he later spent two years firing GMAM
> garrats and 19-Dolly 4-8-2s in South Africa.
> Unfortunately we couldn't stay for the plowing
> after Cumbres - we had to drive back to Salt Lake
> City, turn in the rental car, and board Amtrak's
> Pioneer for the ride back to Hinkle, Oregon. In
> retrospect, perhaps we should have figured out
> some air arrangement to spend an extra day with
> the rotary. I went back in 1994 with Ernie Robart,
> but it wasn't the same. 1993 was the year to be
> there. I will see if I can post some more events
> from 1993.
1993 was the toughest snow clearing we ever did with OY, 1994 was the easiest. We did the whole thing in one day. The week before I took #19 west out of Antonito to Osier to clear the east end.
Tues. May 3, 1994
In 700am
Deadhead to Antonito
Work Extra 19
Light engine.
DP Antonito 820am
MP 285, #3 traction motor smoking - cut out.
Big drift at cut in Phantom Curve. Bucked out, blasted with powder.
Ar Osier 425pm, Immediate departure east
Ar Antonito 630pm
Deadhead to Chama, out 700pm
12 hrs on duty plus 1 hr headhead.
Tied up 800pm
We waited a week hoping the snow would melt, When finally it was determined it would not melt, we fired up OY and went to work.
Wed. May 18, 1994
Work Extra 489, 484
OY, 0472, 04982, 0503
Dp Chama 915am
Ar Cumbres 1245pm
Plow yard and wye.
Dp Cumbres 240pm
Ar Osier 430pm
Dp Osier 515pm westbound
Ar Cumbres 615pm
Dp Cumbres time not shown.
Ar Chama 730pm
Tied up 730p
11 1/2 hrs.
