I’ve been looking at the brilliant Chicago switching site
http://www.chicagoswitching.com/chicagoswitching/v4/
I’m wondering what equipment is used on these vital “back lines” as well as into passenger depots to keep the lines open in urban/industrial areas… countryside is “easy”… just shove it aside… but in confined locations?
The best way is to keep the tracks covered with cars. My terminal has a Snow Jet. Which is bascially a jet engine mounted on a flatcar. It blows/melts the snow away. We also use engine mounted plows, and front end loaders.
When is gets really bad, we dump the snow in empty gondolas and ship it south.
Nick
Nick, do you have problems with the jet blowing the ballast away? I only ask as a jet snowblower was tested over here back in the late '40s but tended to shift more than just the snow!
Matt,
Some of the ballast does get blown around, but its very minimal. Actually, we have more problems with it setting the ties on fire.
Also, I remembered a conversation with a yardmaster friend from farther north. When it snowed heavy, they brought in Jordon Spreaders or in severe cases a rotory plow and plowed every other track.
Nick
Wow, I suupose that they would have some extra snow to dump on the fires…lol…
Matthew
It’s quite an experiance to see a Snow Jet in action. And the ties normally go out by themselves. If not we dump some snow on them. [:P]
Nick
FLANGERS–FLANGERS ! ! Isn’t that what they use to clear yards?? what?? no one uses flangers any more?? you mean they haven’t used them in the last 45 years?? I guess I had better get out a little more often.
Never seen a flanger. We got Jordon Spreaders and Snow Jets.
Nick