The weather guessers are saying that the loss of much of the artic ice cap this summer may cause major swings in northern hemisphere weather ( I’m not a guesser because I’ve only been studying it for 40 years )
UP has rebuilt a couple of rotary plows so they may be prepared.
there are certainly more AC traction locos now that will not be a subject to snow shorting out.
AMTRAK unfortunately does not have diesel locos ( a few exceptions ) with AC traction so if a lot of snow this winter then we may see many cancellations and / or stalls enroute.
what other preparations other than normal does anyone know??
FTA:“…"Four Corners a Hot Spot for Snow By Mid-Season” "…The central and southern Rockies, spanning the Four Corners region, may be a hot spot for snow by the middle of the season.
The mountains in Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico may start to get snowfall during October…"
I think I remember reading about the BNSF forewarding their Snow Plow Service F-(unit) Boosters to Realco in Iowa for a major overhaul. Not really certain if it was last winter ( or after the previous year’s season?) But it seem to be apparent they were going to be ready for future heavy snow conditions. UP seems to always be ready for a Winter battle in the Nountains of the West.
Since this year’s drought conditions and the small amounts of
Yeah, but there’s “winter”, with snow and cold, that most of us grew up with and are used to; but then there’s “WINTER”, which would be the post-tipping-point-of-global-warming type of weather. The later is most likely to be much more ‘interesting’ (as in, “May you live in interesting times”).
Of course, the global warming deniers still have their heads in the sand (or somewhere else equally inaccessible…).
Both UP and BNSF have had rotary rebuild projects over the past number of years. Rotaries are used in deep snow or packed cuts. You can have very cold weather and not a lot of snow. Main lines with lots of traffic are sort of ‘self clearing’ - Unless you have wet snow conditions like on Donner Pass.
Frigid weather conditions(-25 below) usually mean shorter trains(due to air line leakage), extra locomotives and delays due to frozen turnouts, and speed restriction due to the possibility of broken rail. Most DC traction motor issues are ingestion of fine powder snow that builds up in the windings and causes a ground short. I have seen locomotives brought in to ‘thaw’ - they drip ice melt water from the motors constantly.
BNSF has had a fleet of ‘air repeater cars’ to provide a boost to train line air pressure in really cold weather. Not sure if they still have them with the advent of DPU. BNSF also has a large fleet of ex-GN ‘Snow Dozers’ and a lot of Jorden spreaders with high plows on the front. You might see extra propane heater tanks set out by remote power turnouts, and a check up of the switch heaters this time of the year.
One thing for sure - Overtime will go up in winter operations!
Jim, how many winters have we been through, so it’s not an excuse?
(Or don’t you remember those little campaigns?)
I just heard yesterday that the next three months around here are supposed to be warmer than normal (obviously they aren’t considering today…normal high is 73, but it’s 53 in mid-afternoon and I had a jacket on earlier). Of course, “warmer” has little or nothing to do with “wetter”, so we might still have plenty to dig out from under.
FWIW, the patterns that will dictate and influence the weather during winter are not really firmly established yet. Yes, the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is fairly well developed, but the effect of El Nino on the jet stream has yet to be defined for the season, nor is the location of the southern branch (the sub-tropical jet stream) determined.
Bottom line is that I would take all of these seasonal forecasts with the appropriate amount of salt.
Im sooo not ready. Every year it seems tougher and tougher to get through it. When your waist deep in a snow drift walking a train or trying to find the switch stand you wonder what you did so wrong to deserve it. Where are the pretty girls on the beach and the Marguerita’s ?
If we all want to mentally prepare for winter, then my suggestion is spend a little time on our own Matthew Hick’s photo page and review his photos of Western Canada.
Matthew (TrainboyH16-44) has a link on any of his posts. His photos are stunning and addicting. Once you start looking, it is difficult to stop. There are plenty of excellent mountain snowstorm shots.
Matthew, if you read this…you are one fine photographer.
I am So not looking Forward to Donner or Cabbage this Year something tells me that I am going to be throwing so much Iron that I am going to look like Arnold Schazanager by the end of Winter. When the Head tour Guide comes up to you and goes make sure you carring a weeks worth of food at all times in your truck in case you get stuck in a blizzard you are like WHERE IN HADES ARE YOU SENDING ME.
