Re: SG Burning Switch

Yes, J. B.
In the yards, the switchmen are expected to use the switch brooms supplied to keep the switches in the yards swept out.
The MOW gang assigned to a particular yard will usually go around once a day and clean out the points. I have seen this done with shovels, picks, brooms, jackhammers and compressed air.
The main line switches use propane as you correctly noticed, but the technology seems to be improving over time. At one time you could plainly see the flames under the shrouds next to the points along the Stock Rail and over the movable points of the switch. On the main line today you cannot see the flames, only the steam rising up from the melting snow and ice. Oh yes, the shrouds have gone from steel to some sort of Fibreglass or Polycarbonate material. These switch heaters are remotely controlled from Harriman Dispatch Center in Omaha.
That's about all I know about them, except that sometimes they work as advertised, and sometimes they don't.
Rick