(Continued from page 3) gineer, a conductor, and two MOW employees, who work together to run the train, clear the snow, operate the wings and flanger, and occasionally get out to shovel crossings and switches. While the train can generally run at track speed, care is taken at crossings and switches in anticipation of ice buildup in the flangeways, which can cause the plow or an engine to derail. These events bring out the railfans, who risk life and limb to get trackside when everyone else is busy trying to dig out from under. The pictures that follow tell the story better than I can. Russell Snow Plows are the most dangerous trains to operate. Visibility out the engine windows is totally obscured by snow as soon as they drop the flanger (cleans out between the rails). Your lucky if you get a glimpse of the number on the back of the plow. Your only perception of speed was what the speedometer said. The Plow operators whistled for the crossings. The train is obscured by the flying snow making it hard to see by automobiles at crossings. The older Engineers stated that when a Russell Plows derailed it had a history of turning around and then taking the front of the engine off. Above: Three of the crew get out of the NYSW #91 Plow to help solve the problem. As far as I could see it was a slight ice block created by street plows and the track itself. In this photo you can see how close the plow comes to the track surface. Perhaps the flanger is caught or caked with snow. While standing on the bridge at West Mountain Avenue we hear the mellifluous low tones of the pusher CSX engine and catch this rear shot as it passes past Lake Grinnel, New Jersey 4 Above: Baird’s Farm is the most scenic area on this southern route. Anywhere you look, railroad North or South, you will find a picturesque rural scene.
5 Publizr Home