Back in my day we didn’t have fancy snow plow trains, we had an old garden shovel with a broken handle that we used to clear these same tracks with and we liked it.
Topshelf plowing video. My wife the non-railfan was impressed. She asked why there is a spreader at both ends of the train. To which I replied there is no wye to turn the equipment so they can go back in the other direction and if a slide comes down behind them they would have a chance to punch thru it.
Love to see snow anywhere but in Massachusetts. I've only had two storms to shovel. Snow blower still in the shed. Hope that UP gets enough to bring out the rotaries. I haven't seen them since the merger!
Was hoping this would be my first year catching the crews battle the snow in the Sierras, but I had to move in June, and missed it. This is the next best thing with all these great shots. Thanks for sharing!
I remember seeing these in the old Southern Pacific film Snow on the Run when I was about 11 years old, and I just couldn't believe these things, but seeing them now, they look just as cool as they did in the film
Wow... if each plow consist has 2 locomotives to power through the snow, imagine what the mass and weight of the snow must be in some places along the line to need that much motive force to "brute force" its way through it. Great video!!
Great video and superb quality. Just before Christmas with my wife we took the Canadian from Vancouver to Toronto. Saw some snow plows but not as big as these. Very impressive.
I find this fascinating! Got to keep the rails clear so traffic can keep moving. If not already done, Mike Rowe should do a segment on this. Great video, thanks!
Is each set power units? Meaning the plow is a power unit along with the 2 locomotives and the rear plow power unit or is it just 2 power unit and the 2 rows are just along for the ride?
Snow accumulation of a foot per hour is not unusual at Donner Pass. I've driven over it on I-80 in both directions during snow storms with snowflakes an inch in diameter.
Wonder how much enjoyment crews get from doing this work? Myself, if I were younger, I'd think at first it would be great - but then getting called out in the worst of weather to freeze my bells off might not be much fun. 🙂
I really enjoyed the drone shots. It's amazing how a hobbyist can now gather footage even better than a helicopter might have once had the exclusive ability to gather.
Are those fans in the windows of the plow cab? If so, why do they need one per window? Do wiper blades not work reliably in these conditions and they keep the window cleans?
@@dfirth224 As I understand the SP rotary plow do have a small steam boiler to provide jets of steam on the blades to keep ice from forming on the blades. The plows do not have the ability to move by themself, but need locomotives for propulsion.
They're not fans, they're clearviews - spinning disks that water/snow/ice can't stick to so they can see in all weather. Donner pass is in California near the Nevada border just west of Reno Nevada.
These GP38-2 locomotives were originally bought by the Southern Pacific in 1980, with short hood forward controls. The UP kept the locos at the merger, and AFAIK still operate that way. They are coupled front to front so they can be separated if needed to allow one loco & spreader pair to operate independently.
Only use blowers for the deep stuff. This is faster, freight trains have to run to keep commerce rolling, tens of billions of dollars rides these rails.
@@tedzehnder961 Hi, I think we are talking about totaly different type of equipment. In Norway we are using #Beilhack 1500" snowblowers. Three engines, total of 1500 hp and a crew of only two. It is very flexible as it can turn on the tracks, see links ruclips.net/video/jCm18YJ810g/видео.html
All four locomotives, UP 589 & 590 and 567 & 576, are EMD GP38-2 models, with 2,000 HP each. (16-cylinder 645E engines.) Each locomotive has 4 DC traction motors. Each loco can provide 61,000 lbf of starting tractive effort, or 54,700 lbf of continuous TE.
![★ 4K 🇨🇭 Cazis - Albulatunnel II (Neu) - Samedan cab ride, Switzerland [07.2024] Führerstandsmitfahrt](/img/1.gif)
Back in my day we didn’t have fancy snow plow trains, we had an old garden shovel with a broken handle that we used to clear these same tracks with and we liked it.
In my day we had to eat our way out. People and all.
В это время в СССР уже были СДПМ и СПО 😂
Topshelf plowing video. My wife the non-railfan was impressed. She asked why there is a spreader at both ends of the train. To which I replied there is no wye to turn the equipment so they can go back in the other direction and if a slide comes down behind them they would have a chance to punch thru it.
Just beautiful... Thank you for sharing. I haven't been able to be in the snow for 20 years and I miss it.
This is childs play compared to the old days..
Such beauty! So much snow! And to think that they get paid for doing this!! This is every boy's dream!!
Love to see snow anywhere but in Massachusetts. I've only had two storms to shovel. Snow blower still in the shed. Hope that UP gets enough to bring out the rotaries. I haven't seen them since the merger!
Just search RUclips for "Union Pacific rotary Donner Pass" -- there are a ton of videos.
Donner has received 10' or more additional snow since this video was taken. January has been a crazy time for snow here.
So would you like another video?
@@RRphotographer661 That would be great. The snow sheds are worth checking out too.
@@RRphotographer661 that would be amazing!
Still snowing
That is so cool. 1 of these days, I want to take a long train ride across the country as my vacation, but, I want to do it in the winter.
Was hoping this would be my first year catching the crews battle the snow in the Sierras, but I had to move in June, and missed it. This is the next best thing with all these great shots. Thanks for sharing!
Beautiful, especially air shots
Initially tho' somewhat confusing, as I can hear footsteps crunching in the snow but the drone shots aren't moving with the steps!
Amazing video 😍😍😍😍
I remember seeing these in the old Southern Pacific film Snow on the Run when I was about 11 years old, and I just couldn't believe these things, but seeing them now, they look just as cool as they did in the film
Use to live in Truckee, yep big plows! Thanks for the coverage most interesting. Lots of Horsepower!
Thanks for watching!
My kids love this video.
Wow extra wide blade and the snow speaks for itself. Fantastic shots. Nuts what the ‘party’ had to crawl through
Well if you’re at the Donner Pass and you don’t have to resort to cannibalism - it’s not *that* bad.
Need more steak sauce for that! Beautiful area, been through there in the summer time on a road trip years ago.
Sure, nowadays there's a passenger train to flag down for food.......
Fact
Aaaa I get it
@@chuckwilson2301 It is very nice there. I lived in Marysville, named for Mary Murphy, one of the Donner survivors.
The drone shots gave it some "depth" no pun intended.
Wow... if each plow consist has 2 locomotives to power through the snow, imagine what the mass and weight of the snow must be in some places along the line to need that much motive force to "brute force" its way through it. Great video!!
I think it's probably more about traction than power. Twice the wheels twice the traction?
@@vaska916 traction is squared.
Those plow wings are massive!
589 and 590 were not separated at birth, apparently
Thank you Thank you Thank you for no stupid music! Really awesome video thank you
I suppose the steam rotary plow is gone. I use to camp near Donner Pass when the cab forwards were still running.
It’s still in existence. Only comes out when the snow is very excessive
Thanks.
😎 Hi guys ⚓️ it’s EMD power, not steam. 🎸 EDIT!!! I just watched the rotary plow vids & they are steam !!!
@@pierheadjump if a steam one shows up, they must have "borrowed" it....
I watched one that still had an old F7B unit attached to it in 2015 for Union Pacific I believe
I like that you sampled & added audio to the drone shots
day of the spreader 😁 pretty cool
Great video, thanks for taking the time and gathering these shots. I'd be tempted to hire one of those snow cats for train chasing.
One of my favorite train rides EVERYONE SHOULD TAKE THE TRAIN OVER THE PASS IN SPRING TIME!
Amtrak up to Truckee in a winter storm is Really a experience!
@@pilot3016 it is soul food for sure.
Those engines look pretty shiny!
@4:23 - " I ain't doing s#!t, I'm not getting out of the f!@#ing truck!" 🤣
I loved that. That’s why I put the temperature at the bottom left corner of the screen when he said it
one of the most beautiful rail trips in the US, Sac to reno and back
Great video and superb quality. Just before Christmas with my wife we took the Canadian from Vancouver to Toronto. Saw some snow plows but not as big as these. Very impressive.
that train!!!! thanks for the footage
Great pics, thank you
Awesome video 👍😎🇺🇸❄️🚂❄️❄️❄️❄️
Thanks for the video
You bet
Pop goes the diesel.
I find this fascinating! Got to keep the rails clear so traffic can keep moving. If not already done, Mike Rowe should do a segment on this. Great video, thanks!
THIS IS NOT A DIRTY JOB ITS A SLACKERS JOB. ..MEATHEAD
Enjoy Daniel
Like 31 beautiful video, greetings 🚂👍❄️🙋♂️
Great video👍
Very cool video! 😉👍🏻
Thank you very much!
@@RRphotographer661 you’re welcome.
Excellent, well done.
Is each set power units? Meaning the plow is a power unit along with the 2 locomotives and the rear plow power unit or is it just 2 power unit and the 2 rows are just along for the ride?
Power units on the spreaders only provide power to operate plows and cab. Locomotives supply the motive power
@@kanoraguy Thanks for that!
That would be a fun job clearing the tracks
Took me 8 hours once to get to Sacramento from Reno
Imagine the stars you could see from there at night.
Alot
Snow accumulation of a foot per hour is not unusual at Donner Pass. I've driven over it on I-80 in both directions during snow storms with snowflakes an inch in diameter.
Me too
Wow that is amazing
I would love to witness that imy life tome
Hey, don't put that snow on my side of the tracks. Oh, there's two trains. 🤣
Wonder how much enjoyment crews get from doing this work? Myself, if I were younger, I'd think at first it would be great - but then getting called out in the worst of weather to freeze my bells off might not be much fun. 🙂
Great stuff.
What time of day was this, early morning or late afternoon? i am dazzled by the sunlight in this video.
This video Began at 7am when it was 3 degrees and was filmed till about 11:30
Twice I heard in the beginning a spoiled kid saying "I'm not getting out of the f-----g car". So typical!
Clear view windows instead of wipers.
Very nice. I need 1 of them in my cn yard in northern bc Canada right bout now 😆 🤣 😂
Anyone else 43, single, childless, and smoking a cigar in the bathroom with the fan on and watching this? Lol.....no one? I'll show myself out. Haha
I really enjoyed the drone shots. It's amazing how a hobbyist can now gather footage even better than a helicopter might have once had the exclusive ability to gather.
Whats with the round things on the windshields? I'm guessing magnifying lenses to see further?
Some choice words about the weather at 3:17
Haha
Nice Coverage
☘️🌷🇮🇳🌷☘️
Will the SP reporting marks ever be changed to UP?
Lets hope not!
What are the round things on the windows?
No doubt about that.
Very 😎 cool 👍!
Are those fans in the windows of the plow cab? If so, why do they need one per window? Do wiper blades not work reliably in these conditions and they keep the window cleans?
Exactly, these fans are spinning glass that keep clean
I 3oud love this even now that I am retired where do I sign up I really love snow removal and this is the ultimate way
What are the fans on the windshields for?
Those are actually rotary windshield wipers, they work good in snow.
They are spinning to prevent ice and snow build up
The answers you got are correct - ships and machine tool enclosures that have spraying coolant also use them!
cool. thanks . a question if a may, does the up sthill have the steam rotary snow plow ? yes ow . thanks
It was converted to electric several years ago. Diesel generator.
@@dfirth224 As I understand the SP rotary plow do have a small steam boiler to provide jets of steam on the blades to keep ice from forming on the blades. The plows do not have the ability to move by themself, but need locomotives for propulsion.
I should have a video on that soon
@@tomvanbaren7747 thanks . hi
what are the towns close to this pass and what state? looks like 2 engines/ 2 plows.looks like fans running on windshield, is he hot?
They're not fans, they're clearviews - spinning disks that water/snow/ice can't stick to so they can see in all weather. Donner pass is in California near the Nevada border just west of Reno Nevada.
Soda Springs, California to be precise.
Excelente 🇧🇷👍
Would have been cooler with the rotaries. Not quite enough snow,I get it.
Coming soon 😉
Find any RECENT bodies? lol
Note to advertisers: NOT EVERYTHING IS DISASTER or CRISIS 🥜
1:39 looks like a bunch of huskies driving the train
there is a lot more snow then this, wonder when he is going to post more recent
5 degrees, I thought I heard snow crunching
Whoa….that’s not Renner driving that thing…is it?😜
I wonder why long hood forward?
Engineers love it in case of stuff on the tracks, like cars, trucks and wayward animals.These loco`s have bullet proof windows too.Union rules, haha.
These GP38-2 locomotives were originally bought by the Southern Pacific in 1980, with short hood forward controls. The UP kept the locos at the merger, and AFAIK still operate that way. They are coupled front to front so they can be separated if needed to allow one loco & spreader pair to operate independently.
Why are they not using snowblowers? Here in Norway that is the way to do it.
Only use blowers for the deep stuff. This is faster, freight trains have to run to keep commerce rolling, tens of billions of dollars rides these rails.
@@tedzehnder961 Hi, I think we are talking about totaly different type of equipment. In Norway we are using #Beilhack 1500" snowblowers. Three engines, total of 1500 hp and a crew of only two. It is very flexible as it can turn on the tracks, see links ruclips.net/video/jCm18YJ810g/видео.html
What's the horsepower of these engines?
All four locomotives, UP 589 & 590 and 567 & 576, are EMD GP38-2 models, with 2,000 HP each. (16-cylinder 645E engines.) Each locomotive has 4 DC traction motors. Each loco can provide 61,000 lbf of starting tractive effort, or 54,700 lbf of continuous TE.
@@tomlandgraf3938 thanks!
Nice
battling? Looks like they're removing it
one train put a lot of snow on the side track and another train clean it.just wonder
Echo crow.
Rooster.
Ke bonita toma .
Kinda boring compared to the big wedge plow and rotary blowers.
Oh well.....
Don't order the "special" meatloaf at the local diner😳😆
does anyone live here?
Yes
im not doing shit either
CSX.
What's is called when a banana eats another banana? Cannibananalism.
Disappointing by the lack of cannibalism comments.
Hello Josh,
Tracy and I tried, but it didn’t work
🥱
BooOooring....
Disliked because of the drone shots