So I stumbled upon this video on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ErKvsaL-5g&feature=related
Details the restoration and operation of White Pass & Yukon Rotary #1. It’s about 23 min long, but well worth the watch if you have time.
I noticed that a few times while they were plowing even the mighty rotary got stuck. They just got on some caterpillar tractors and moved the snow. But what happened in yesteryear when there were were no cats to move the snow? Did a bunch of guys just go at it with shovels? Or was something else done?