TRAFFIC INTERRUPTIONS FROM 27 FEBRUARY 1944 TO 4 MARCH 1944
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 16½ 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 caboose, on the extreme south end, was derailed and Eng.
253 dead on main line on account 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.
28 February 1944:
Capt. Battle and his crew continued to work throughout the night
attempting to free cars near MP 17 but the fierceness of the wind combined
with severe drifting conditions, made it necessary to make several trips
between Glacier and MP 17 with Rotary #2 to keep the track open.
At 7:00 AM they had brought down 5 cars of Extra 197's Train. On returning
to bring down more cars they pulled a draw bar from tank car. While
chaining tank car Engines 81-199 became drifted in. They were unable to
move them until they returned to Glacier with Eng. 71 to get Rotary #2 to
clean up to them. In attempting to switch out Rotary #2 from Glacier,
where it had been frozen to the rail, some damage was done to the Rotary
tank. Due to the extremely low temperature, and high wind, the "A" and "B"
Company men were suffering from long hours of exposure and it was
necessary to send relief crews from Skagway at 10:00 AM.
Work continued throughout the day and at 7:15 PM Engs. 81-199-197-200, a
tank car and caboose were brought into Glacier. High winds continued
throughout the night. Capt. Battle reported there are 7 cars, 4 engines,
one caboose and one Rotary yet to be moved off the hill. Eng. 81 is
returning to Skagway account of bad-order coupler on rear end.
29 February 1944:
At 9:10 AM rotary left Glacier cleaning out up to cars that were snowed in
and returned to Glacier at 1:15 PM. Rotary took 3 engines and started back
up the hill at 1:30 PM, arriving back in Glacier with two cars at 4:00 PM.
At 5:35 PM moved 5 cars into Glacier, then necessary to return with plow
and clean up.
At approximately 5:25 PM, Extra 252 South, with Conductor Fields and
Engineer Barkley, moving two cars of oil from Glacier to Skagway lost
control of the train about 2 miles north of Clifton. Train was derailed
about 1/2 mile north of Clifton turning engine tank over and both oil
tanks, broke pipeline which was pumping oil. The oil was set afire and
casued considerable damage to engine. Both oil tanks badly damaged and
will probably be a complete loss. Ran work train from Skagway in an effort
to clear up this derailment.
At 11:00 PM dead engine 256 was moved into Glacier.
1 March 1944:
At 2:30 AM rotary was working north of Glacier to clean out up to Engine
70 and Rotary #l. At 7:30 AM rotary returned to Glacier. It was reported
that they had reached a point to within 75 feet of Rotary #l, but it was
storming so badly that their rotary was stuck several times and it was
necessary to return to Glacier for water and to wait for the storm to
subside.
8:00 AM. Lt. Bogue reports from Clifton that he is not making much
progress in picking up wreck at MP 9. Engine 252 and both tank cars are
laying over on their side against bank. Both tanks are badly damaged and
it is surmised that they will be a complete loss. Cab burned on Eng. 252,
trucks driven up under engine, and generally in pretty bad shape. Sending
D-8 Caterpillar tractor with winch to Clifton to attempt, to straighten
Engine 252.
Notified Chief of Staff, Northwest Service Command, it will be impossible
to get a train through to make connections with the Nora sailing tonight.
3:00 PM. Wind has subsided some and Captain Battle is going to make
another effort to plow up to Rotary #l and Eng. 70.
11:00 PM. Captain Battle is back at Glacier with Engine 70 and Rotary #l.
This clears main line from Glacier north. Will coal Rotary #2 by hand and
run north from Glacier early in AM. Capt. Battle and Captain Rogers are
going to MP 9 to assist picking up derailment at that point.
2 March 1944:
Rotary #2, Engines 71-80-199 out of Glacier 7:19 AM enroute to Bennett.
Very high winds are reported all the way from Glacier to Bennett.
Temperatures are hovering around the zero mark. Both derailed tank cars
and tank of Engine 252 are in the clear at Glacier. Engine is in bad shape
and it is going to take a lot of jacking to get her upright and near
enough to track to attempt to rerail. We are sorely in need of some kind
of a crane for lifting, as with block, tackle, and jacks it will be a
painfully slow process.
8:30 AM. Rotary fleet #2 back into Glacier with hot wrist pin on Eng. 199.
Traded her out for Eng. 193 and fleet out of Glacier at 9:20AM.
Rear end of Eng. 252 jacked up and over against rail at 10:30 AM. With
reasonable luck it is expected that this engine will be cleared around
6:00 or 7:00 PM.
2:15 PM. Reports from Clifton indicate that Engine 252 is in upright
position. A pull was made but engine tended to lead away from tracks. Will
require jacking.
5:15 PM. Caterpillar working at MP 9, damaged pipeline. The section
foreman at Glacier closed check valves. Ran work extra 254 in from Clifton
to pick up Standard Oil pipe gang. (Pipeline repaired and pump started at
1:30 AM 3rd)
6:30 PM. Engine 252 is rerailed and in the clear at Clifton thus opening
the line all the way except for snow, which from all indications is going
to be hard to clean out.
3 March 1944:
Rotary #2 fleet back at Glacier, unable to make any progress plowing out.
They had advanced as far as MP 17 when they had to return to Glacier for
water. Snow is almost solid, like ice, from 6 to 8 feet deep. Rotary will
not take it. Engine 200 is returning to Shops for coal and fresh crew.
Engine will return to Glacier to be used as 4th engine in rotary fleet.
Wind now reported calm at White Pass, Glacier, and all points north to
Bennett. Temperature, 2 to 10 degrees above zero.
8:00 AM. Rotary #3 with Engines 81-197-199 out of Shops to relieve the #2
fleet when they return to Glacier. Will hold engine 200 and cut into
fleet #3 at Glacier, giving that fleet 4 engines.
9:45 AM. Rotary #2 back into Glacier for water having plowed to MP 17½.
Rotary #3 with Engines 81-197-199 arrived Glacier and is relieving Rotary
#2. Rotary #3 arrived White Pass at 2:45 PM. Derailed all drivers on
Eng. 81 in siding account of ice in tracks. Rerailled engine and out at
5:10 PM enroute to Fraser. Fleet had to return to White Pass [Station] 4
times for water before they were able to reach White Pass. Snow only
about three or four feet deep in most places but very hard and slow
plowing. Trouble was encountered with injector on Rotary #3 and Rotary #2
was called to relieve her.
4 March 1944:
Rotary #2 with Engines 71-80-200 out of Skagway at 12:50 AM. Out of Fraser
6:40 AM after having relieved Rotary #3 which returned to Shops for
repairs. Rotary #2 arrived Log Cabin 8: 00 AM and should have no trouble
from that point. Calling Rotary #1 and two 3 engine trains to leave
Skagway 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM, and double-header is being called from
Whitehorse at same time.
Extra 197 North out of Shops 11:55 AM. Delayed at Log Cabin for 4½ hours
by Extra 190 South. Arrived Whitehorse 5:00 AM the 5th. Extra 190 South
out of Whitehorse at 11:01 AM. Broke axle on tender on Bennett Hill, got
into Log Cabin at 9:30 PM and remainder of train was brought into shops by
Engines 194-198. Arrived Shops at 3:22 AM the 5th. There were 89
northbound loads in Skagway yards on the morning of the 4th awaiting
movement. Available northbound net tonnage on hand, 1600 tons.
