Hi everyone,
I recently watched the movie “Pentrex Big Boy Collection”. In the background there is often a kind of fence like structure running along the hills. I’ve also seen this on photographs. Now my question is, what are these things? Are they cattle fences?
Magnus
Magnus,
You’re probably looking at a snow fence. They are built at certain locations where blowing snow could build up and block the tracks. The fences stop the snow before it gets to the railroad.
Is this what you saw?
Don Z.
Probably rock fall fences. When there is a rock fall on a hill, it triggers an alarm alerting a central location there may be debris on the track.
I haven’t seen the videos you speak of, but they are most likely rock slide detection fences. When the fence is damaged by falling rocks or other debris, a circuit is broken and the monitors are set off alerting the RR where a possible rock slide has occurred. Then traffic is stopped on that section of track and the area inspected, keeping the train and crews protected.
I may be wrong and I’m sure someone else will come up with the definitive answer.
Don is correct, Magnus. Those slat fences high up on the bluff above the tracks that you see are snow fences.
-Crandell
Those are snow fences. Their primary purpose is to stop drifting snow from blowing onto the track and blocking it. They also serve as a windbreak because winds in some areas are strong enough to blow boxcars, etc. off the track.
In some locations the winds were so strong that the Denver & Rio Grande placed old gondolas full of dirt beside the track to serve as a windbreak.
Snow fences
Thanks as usual guys! I had guessed when I was talking with a friend that it might be snow fences since they seemed to high to be cattle fences and ended up in nowhere. I think we have something similar in our mountain ranges on certain locations, not just as many.
How much snow does the Wyoming and Utah region get?
Enough to make some of the best skiiing in the world.
Everything you wanted to know (and then some) about snow in Wyoming…
http://www.wrds.uwyo.edu/wrds/wsc/climateatlas/snow.html
Don Z.
Hoppers, on the Big 10 Curve: http://www.coloradorailfan.com/TrainLog/logs.asp?p=010602
[:I][:O][:I] I’m really embarrassed!
All that information and maps with it… and I can’t recall where Wyoming is. [banghead]
Last time I ran a list without looking anywhere up I managed 48 States at the first hit. (With a memory for lists like mine that’s pretty good).
But Wyoming? Wyoming? [%-)]
… and I can’t find my Rand McNally [:(!]
Someone tell me which way I go from Chicago please? [8)]
PS Which RR?
Also… I have it in my head as a “Great Plains” State… Is this right? Then I think of snow fences in mountains… But I guess that the snow can get several feet thick on the plains… epsecially when it drifts…
HELP!?! [sigh]
1100 miles due west from Chicago.
The snow doesn’t really fall in Wyoming. It falls in Montana and is just passing through to Colorado. 
Dave H.
Go straight west. Depending on which era one would take the RI, C&NW, or CB&Q to Omaha then pick up the UP.
No, Technically it is a Rocky Mountain state. The Great Plains states would be Nebraska & South Dakota directly to its east side.
Wyoming is also straight north of Colorado. It is the other “Almost square” state.
Amen…John
Actually there hasn’t been a lot of snow out on the plains in the last ten years or so. As a child in the fifties I remember drifts high enough to climb to the roofs of the buildings, but lately the winters have been open and mild for the most part. The rockies still get quite a bit, but even the ski season in Idaho and Montana has been a little short. Wyoming is south of Montana,west of South Dakota and east of Idaho. Its true about the wind in the front range states,they say if it stopped half the people in the state would fall down and the rest would stand up.
Lillen,
Your previous post seems to have disappeared pobably due to it becoming political. Here is a copy of the answer I sent:
Lillen-Here is my story!
You was aking about teacher pay and truck driver pay?
Up until 1994 I drove a truck for Wal-mart. Home all weekends, home several times a week and a nice leisurely lifestyle. Lived in Fort Collins Colorado. The last year (1994) I was with wal-mart, I made slightly over $71,000 dollars! Not bad at the time. I didn’t say much to anyone what i was making. They treated me like a bum.
Everyone said “Why don’t you go to school and make something of your self.”
So I did. After turning 40, I quit Wal-mart, moved to Oklahoma and enrolled at the University of Oklahoma. I earned a bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering 5 years later and $36,000 in student debt. I know work for the Department of Defense at Tinker AFB earning $65,000 a year. Everyone is so proud! But know I hear most drivers for Wal-mart are making in the high 80’s! So now I am someone, but making $30,000 less a year and owe $36,000 Student debt!
However, it is easier to find a girlfriend. When i worked for WM all the girls said “No way will I ever date a truck driver!” But now instead of being out doors and leading a leisurely lifestyle, I’m stuck in a cubicle wearing slacks.
As far as teaching, I work part time at the Oklahoma City Community college 3 nights a week tutoring math. I started working there when i was in college to earn extra money. Since I have in so many years, if I stay a few more I will get a small teachers retirement. I only make $11.40 an hour, but a lot of the time when no one needs help, I just sit and read my Model railroader! And besides, There is a whole ocean of girls! I restrict myself to those over 35!
I was asked by the dean "Why don’t you get a masters degree and then we will move you into a teaching positi
Thanks for the replies guys.
About teacher incomes, I apreciate your comment but I guess we shouldn’t discuss it any further since the other post have been deleted. However, if any one could tell me what was said that made it so hot that it needed to be deleted could please pm me.
Thanks, Magnus
WYOMING is is mostly an 7000-8000 foot plateau across the Rocky Mountains - Cheyanne - Ogden -where the Big Boys ran. High winds blew snow off of barren surfaces and piled it into deep snowdrifts, across tracks.
U.P. built snow fences along this right-of-way. A Triangular wood latticework in shape. The fences lifted the wind upward, and deposited the snow on the far side.
“Wyoming” is an Indian word for ‘End of the plains’. I found Cheyenne to Laramie interesting, but Echo Canyon (Evanston-Ogden UT) the most scenic- if you ever drive it.
‘Promitory Point’ was originally the demarcation point of the UP and start of the CP(SP), but was abanded in favor of Ogden, when SP built tracks across the shallow Salt Lake.