Someone sent me this photo today of ENR 3809 covered in snow and branches. Apparently the crew had to cut their way through over 300 downed trees as they worked their way south to Victoria. Unknown photographer.
Looks cool, doesn’t look like fun though,
“Them dang trees just jumped right out in front of us”
Adrianspeeder
One word explains this photo for me…WOW.
Cool picture;but that SURE does not look like a ‘fun’ job.
I didn’t realize you guys got so much snow on the island.
The Malahat was hit pretty bad. Not to mention all the trees that came down with the weight of the snow and the heavy winds that were blowing the night before. Even the Trans-Canada highway was closed over the Malahat because of trees falling on the road. The engineer leaning out the window of 3809 looks like he’s ready to go home.
I don’t blame him, that looks like a long, slow haul.
3870 had a run-in with a tree on Monday night when it came down by itself. Check out the number boards. Dave Wheatcroft photo.
3809 needs to be equiped with Monster Windshield Wipers.[(-D][(-D][(-D]
Jay
What’s the latest on the sale of the ENR by Rail America?
Time to add a new tool in the tool box. A chain saw!!
Time to add a new tool in the tool box. A chain saw!!
good thing nobody was outside an the platform[:O]
Oh they did have a chainsaw on that run, had to cut and remove over 300 trees that had fallen on the tracks between Victoria and Nanaimo.
RA is still in talks with potential buyers.
They make equipment especially for doing this kind of work, it’s called a snowplow! I can’t believe the RR would subject it’s valuble locomotives to this kind of treatment. Not only is there external damage to the locomotive but the electrical equipment is taking a pounding as well, that trip could cost the RR 4 traction motors at around 10 grand each! The rule of thumb always has been that whenever the snow is over the railhead it’s time for the plows.
Randy
I would assume that the ENR doesn’t have a snow plow, which would mean they would have to barge one over from the mainland, most likely on lease from another railway.
Probably just cheaper to bang the crap out of their loco’s.
Because Vancouver Island rarely ever gets enough snow to cover the rail(the last time that happened was in 1996) RA feels a snowplow would be a waste of money. This is the first big snow for RailAmerica’s E&N. In the Blizzard of '96 CP was running the railway and had a plow at Wellcox.
aaaah, its only money.
Adrianspeeder
Money the E&N doesn’t have. Things are pretty tight on the E&N these days after loosing 85% of their freight revenue to trucks. The railway barely breaks even. They don’t have the ca***o buy a snowplow that would only be used once every decade.