fyi/ we are called "railfans", people who like "railfanning" // you might want to add that tag but looks like your video is finding all of us anyway... Awesome catch thanks for sharing us railfans love this kind of thing.
The Jordan spreaders are relics from the Southern Pacific days, and have worked many seasons over Donner pass. If the snowfall gets really deep then the rotary snow plows will be called from Roseville.
It’s deep for most people Period, but not For donner pass, they average like 50 ft of snowfall per year or something crazy like that, so this is normal 9-5 stuff for them
Horsepower is what gets work done !! Horsepower is the result of torque, or pull in the case of a horse, AND motion, or movement !! Lifting 33,000 pounds 1 foot in 1 minute requires 1 horsepower !! Rotary motion; electric motors, internal combustion engines, and steam engines/motors, etc., use this formula: Torque output in lb.ft. multiplied by (RPM X 5252) equals the amount of horsepower delivered !!
The problem is the only sound you hear is the drone props. Just sounds like a swarm of angry bees. If I would have had time, would have set up a ground camera and synced the two.
@@WxChasing Maybe a bit of royalty free music might be good, there's a library of music available from youtube for content creators to use free of charge.
I dont ever comment on videos, and if i do im trolling....However, I love train plow videos... I have watched them all. They are all old and the same view crappy views. And the worst sound of wind blowing into my ears.....But watching this video has changed everything. No sound No commentary No Problem....Huge props to the pilot of that drone to get those shots. This video is the best train plowing video i have ever watched No CAP!!!! I cant even wait to watch more. Keep doing videos like this cuz your doing everything right. It makes my weed last so much longer without any noise. Just Plow
@@dustyrain4634 In the Sierra Nevada mountains of California - 7000 feet elevation. I-80 also goes over Donner Pass. Famous for the Donner Party story and route of the first Transcontinental Railroad. Truly amazing place for trains, scenery, skiing, hiking, etc. Not far from Lake Tahoe too.
Before moving to Truckee, my son lived in Soda Springs, a short walk from the crossing shown here. I spent plenty of time, in all seasons, watching trains of the U.P. and Amtrak.
@@WxChasing most of its knowing where to look. I’m not someone who off the top of my head could tell you the model, I know enough to say it’s for sure is a EMD GP loco
I use to do Snow Service for the SP and UPRR from !977 til 2015. We worked the Flangers 3 flips a day or 12 hour shifts and if it snowed all week We would use the Jordan Spreader and then back to Flanging. If We had a bad Storm We would take the Rotary out a couple of times if needed and then back to Flanging.
I think that it is pretty cool that the equipment has retained its SPMW reporting marks, to me indicates a sign of respect for SP having the right tools for the job.
Epic - were you out there in 2011? SO MUCH SNOW!! The railroads were shut down for 5 days at the end of March. My dad saw one of the last plows go through before they had to give up until the storms stopped.
Greetings from Miami it is nice watching this but it is also sad being among the victims in this situatio. Hope the weather condition over there is great
*_Now that's one POWERFUL snow plow..._* Single pass clearing 20 - 30 feet wide of deep snow takes horsepower, equipment, and skilled operators. In one view it looked like there was a 2nd follow up engine back about 1/4 mile. Imagine how much snow and how much track is cleared in a single day. When you have track high in mountains, snow is just one more thing you have to deal with. *_Word of advice... stay out of it's way unless you want to end up lost in the woods under tons of snow._*
🌸 I’m from Australia and we get great heat but not much snow. These are fascinating videos to watch especially in a heatwave. We’re lovers of steam trains and other steam machinery as well as the usual trains. This is so much fun to see. Thank you 🙏
At first i wondered why there was no sound.. But then i remembered this was a drone... lol. Yeah no sound is fine! And actually i am greatful that synthetic recordings were not used. Great arial shots!
As a retired Snowfighter 2008-2020 I must applaud the videographer for these vids. I only seen it from inside the cab. This was amazing to see from this prospective. Nice job.
This is done frequently here in Canada when or they attach massive trucks with blades to move. Watching the snow fold in chunks reminded me of clearing driveway. We rely on commuter trains along with cargo daily here. It's rare they postpone running unless flooding or lack of clearing. Most of our lines are double to reduce waiting. Thanks for sharing
@@mikechapman1721 .Greetings from Miami it is nice watching this but it is also sad being among the victims in this situatio. Hope the weather condition over there is great
It was nice shooting one that hadn’t derailed from a natural disaster. Seriously though, if I could get the rotary plow I would be in heaven. One of my few remaining bucket list shots.
bet someone thought that too, but they must have figured that with too much traction, they would derail the plow, SP must have figured that out. the plow is not that heavy either, so the plow operator has to have a "feel" for the plow, so it don't get derailed, or wreck a wing pushing snow up against the slopes.
So curious if the snow removal is the sought after job, or the dreaded one. If the old guy with seniority gets it, or the young hotshot willing to work long hours. I would love to ride in a cozy warm cabin with huge windows watching!
Awesome video. Oscar worthy. I just wish someone out there would create a before and after footage. A shot at ground level (6’ off the ground), before the train arrives. Then again after,…to get an appreciation how much snow these trains can move in a matter of seconds. No one seems to to do that.
That's so cool! It's also kind of rare to see plow trains unless there's a large amount of snow, so you got lucky. I've been filming trains for over a year and have never seen one on camera, but I have seen one or two go by within the last 12 or so years, I can see the tracks right out the window. Hopefully this winter we'll get a huge dumping of snow in MN and a snowplow train will have to come and I can get a cool video of it!
In the Sierra, in normal winter conditions, the snowplows run almost nonstop on both the railroad and interstate highway. Annual record snowfall: over seventy feet.
2 in the loco, 6 to 10 in the spreader, also they control the loco while pushing snow, and the spreader crew can repair the spreader. the loco crew operates the train when not plowing snow.
This is one way, there are several, depending on how much snow has to be plowed. These are Jordan Spreaders, built back in the 1940s if I remember correctly, but still in use. If the snow gets to thick for the spreaders, they bring out the rotary plows, which are giant snow blowers. If the snow isn't heavy enough for a Spreader (which is the usual case) they use Flangers, which are small versions of the spreader. They aren't as heavy and don't push as far tot he side.
I've had great camping trips going through the Donner Pass with my family, it's an amazing bonding experience. By the end we were so close it was like they were a part of me, fueling my cells. While our family gets smaller after every trip we still leave closer than ever before
Wonder what the spec for ground mounted signal gauge clearance is. Cuz in most places anything sited on the ground would be gone if this thing passes through
This is fairly mild snow for Donner. It gets much, much worse. That's when they have to bring out the rotary plows, or in a few cases, shut down the line for a few days until they can get it plowed.
This event wasnt mild at all. Not nearly historic but certainly on the big side. However, it is really early in the season and years with really incredible snowfall piles it up much higher and the cuts are much deeper.
@@WxChasing I've seen other videos with those giant rotary plows being used. They are extraordinary pieces of machinery. Rotary snow-blowers, actually.
Clearview screen (electric spinning window), similar to those on some tugboats. They throw off the snow so the operators have forward vision. Also installed on the UP's rotary snowplows.
Greetings from Miami it is nice watching this but it is also sad being among the victims in this situatio. Hope the weather condition over there is great
Great footage. Im in IL but hope to make a winter visit to Donner just for this reason someday. I will add. Union Pacific doesn't mind rail photography or drones, but I will say you were probably a little too close at one point.
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Fricken awesome Brandon - what a great catch! You've been smashing it out with park with snow footage lately and it's only 13th Dec!
@@EarthUncutTV Thank you! Let me know when a big sea effect snow event sets up in Japan and I'll come cover it with you.
@@WxChasing will do! Hopefully a good season in store, it should kick off in next week or so
Any chance you recorded audio?
fyi/ we are called "railfans", people who like "railfanning" // you might want to add that tag but looks like your video is finding all of us anyway... Awesome catch thanks for sharing us railfans love this kind of thing.
The Jordan spreaders are relics from the Southern Pacific days, and have worked many seasons over Donner pass. If the snowfall gets really deep then the rotary snow plows will be called from Roseville.
That looks really deep to me. 🤣
It’s deep for most people
Period, but not
For donner pass, they average like 50 ft of snowfall per year or something crazy like that, so this is normal
9-5 stuff for them
@@noworriesmate5903 they named the pass after the infamous group of people who got stuck there (search “Donner party”). It gets much deeper.
Half of our locomotives are relics from southern Pacific
You should watch the videos of them getting rebuilt for snow patrol.
The amount of torque to move that much weight is amazing!
Why are they playing a railroad for
Those electric vehicles are amazing when it comes to torque!!
All 12 torques are active here
Horsepower is what gets work done !! Horsepower is the result of torque, or pull in the case of a horse, AND motion, or movement !!
Lifting 33,000 pounds 1 foot in 1 minute requires 1 horsepower !!
Rotary motion; electric motors, internal combustion engines, and steam engines/motors, etc., use this formula:
Torque output in lb.ft. multiplied by (RPM X 5252) equals the amount of horsepower delivered !!
@@baigish100 wonder why they have diesel tanks
Imagine how much energy takes to accomplish this task.All that from dead organic matter.
Our world is amazing.
Diesel Electric Power!!!!
This is so so cool 😎!!!
I don't know what I love best, the drone footage or leaving the film silent.
Trains are just incredible pieces of historic machinery.
Diesel Electric, like a Prius ?
Naahth Jahhjuh . . ? . . I Hear Banjos ! : >)
have you not heard of shinkansen trains in japan?? fastest land transport the public has had the chance to use.
@@dafrasier1 prius is not diesel electric
@@davidsignor7931 so sad. maybe Jeep could develop one.
Fantastic drone work!
I can hardly wait til they figure out how to get sound, would've liked to hear the GP 38's roaring.
Thanks for sharing 👍
The problem is the only sound you hear is the drone props. Just sounds like a swarm of angry bees. If I would have had time, would have set up a ground camera and synced the two.
@@WxChasing Maybe a bit of royalty free music might be good, there's a library of music available from youtube for content creators to use free of charge.
@@yakacm of course you can always add your own music to it
Land a second drone on one of the engines and record the sound.
That was figured out long ago. This guy just has no idea what he's doing.
asmr snowplowing
That snowmelt will be a much-needed addition to the water supply.
I dont ever comment on videos, and if i do im trolling....However, I love train plow videos... I have watched them all. They are all old and the same view crappy views. And the worst sound of wind blowing into my ears.....But watching this video has changed everything. No sound No commentary No Problem....Huge props to the pilot of that drone to get those shots. This video is the best train plowing video i have ever watched No CAP!!!! I cant even wait to watch more. Keep doing videos like this cuz your doing everything right. It makes my weed last so much longer without any noise. Just Plow
😂😂😂😂
Haha, I'll do my best to keep it coming. Just need more SNOW!
The almost immovable object meets the irresistible force! Wow!
Well,l something had to give! something had to give, something had to give!
OMG - so cool!! My family has had a cabin at Soda Springs for 60 years -- we love watching the trains up there.
It's such an amazing place, consider me jealous.
Where is donnar pass and soda springs?
@@dustyrain4634 In the Sierra Mountains near Lake Tahoe.
@@dustyrain4634 In the Sierra Nevada mountains of California - 7000 feet elevation. I-80 also goes over Donner Pass. Famous for the Donner Party story and route of the first Transcontinental Railroad. Truly amazing place for trains, scenery, skiing, hiking, etc. Not far from Lake Tahoe too.
@@Socaltrainwatcher thanks
Before moving to Truckee, my son lived in Soda Springs, a short walk from the crossing shown here. I spent plenty of time, in all seasons, watching trains of the U.P. and Amtrak.
This was beautiful to watch. Thanks so much for flying your drone in the snow to grab this awesome footage. It's really something. 🤜💥🤛
Best plowing sequences in a long time. This is the kind of thing drones were made for! Nice!
Greetings from Miami it is nice watching this but it is also sad being among the victims in this situation
UP 589,590,567,576 are GP38-2 all of which were built for Southern Pacific in 1980
Thank you! Trying to learn more about trains. I'm a late bloomer. :)
@@WxChasing most of its knowing where to look. I’m not someone who off the top of my head could tell you the model, I know enough to say it’s for sure is a EMD GP loco
@@gdrriley420 and, some of this group are modified for donner pass snow service, with icicle breakers on top and the fancy window spinners too.
LOVED the direct overhead shots!!! 👍👍👍
Thank you. The one where the train comes from out of frame from left to right was sped up a little so the shot did not drag.
Beautiful. The scenery yes, but an engine, a machine, doing it's work so well, is elegant.
Spectacular video dog!! Thanks so much. The SIERRA'S are amazing. Wish I was there right now.
Yes! Amazing place. Thank you!
just don't be like the Donner party, come prepared.
Very well done. Plowing the good ol' "Sierra Cement".
I use to do Snow Service for the SP and UPRR from !977 til 2015. We worked the Flangers 3 flips a day or 12 hour shifts and if it snowed all week We would use the Jordan Spreader and then back to Flanging. If We had a bad Storm We would take the Rotary out a couple of times if needed and then back to Flanging.
I think that it is pretty cool that the equipment has retained its SPMW reporting marks, to me indicates a sign of respect for SP having the right tools for the job.
Getting the rotary train after a big storm is a bucket list shot for me. Getting the details of time/location has been the challenge.
@@WxChasing That's the prize!!!
Epic - were you out there in 2011? SO MUCH SNOW!! The railroads were shut down for 5 days at the end of March. My dad saw one of the last plows go through before they had to give up until the storms stopped.
I always wonder how it is inside the Rotary when it's brutal outside . Nice and comfortable ?
I'm 28 yrs on Alaska Railroad (engineer). Thanks for the beautiful footage! I try to explain this to people but a picture is worth a thousand words.
What an awesome machine, and great photography🙂
Thank you!
This is video though.
Yes, and part of what is good about it is that these views reveal much about how the machines and procedures work.
Greetings from Miami it is nice watching this but it is also sad being among the victims in this situatio. Hope the weather condition over there is great
*_Now that's one POWERFUL snow plow..._*
Single pass clearing 20 - 30 feet wide of deep snow takes horsepower, equipment, and skilled operators. In one view it looked like there was a 2nd follow up engine back about 1/4 mile. Imagine how much snow and how much track is cleared in a single day. When you have track high in mountains, snow is just one more thing you have to deal with.
*_Word of advice... stay out of it's way unless you want to end up lost in the woods under tons of snow._*
I think we saw two locos pushing and one of those may typically be 4,500 hp and 1 hp is about 750 watts.
@@b43xoit Thanks for information. If I had to do that by hand, it would take all winter for just 1/4 mile. My output is 1/10th hp on a good day.
@@b43xoit Funny part is that if they put 2 4500hp locos on it, they have the plow over in the ravine real quick!!
Very cool nice shots friend
Thank you!
🌸 I’m from Australia and we get great heat but not much snow. These are fascinating videos to watch especially in a heatwave. We’re lovers of steam trains and other steam machinery as well as the usual trains. This is so much fun to see. Thank you 🙏
I like it 👌🏻...always we feel happy when we see the results...absolutely Stunning work..specially with the Drone Photos 🥇
Now that is cool man it has to be pretty strong to move that much snow, nice shot
This is very beautiful video 📷📸📷📸👍👍
There are so many things in the world I’ve never seen or even thought about! This is just amazing!
You did a very good job. Camera angles and clarity. Welcome to our world of railroads. Thanks for posting.
I wish to thank you for sharing this awesome train snow plowing video with me .
At first i wondered why there was no sound.. But then i remembered this was a drone... lol. Yeah no sound is fine! And actually i am greatful that synthetic recordings were not used. Great arial shots!
Wonderful drone views, really great 👍
that's a lot of weight in the snow. Very satisfying.
The scene at 2:55 looks like it could be a Christmas card painting. Amazing trees.
Looks COLD. Great footage. Thank you!
bet his hands finally thawed out a week ago.
I wouldn't want to have to walk a train in all that snow. Great video!
You stand still and have them back up. 8*)
Incredible video with a drone!
Glad you enjoyed it
1:23 I was just there at Soda Springs 2 weeks ago and it was nothing like this! Awesome footage!
Thank you! Yes, it changed drastically and fast.
Thank you for making this video. It help the drivers a lot. Thank you again for the thankful job.
My best friend, that's a great video. I will always cheer for you in Korea I'm looking forward to a great video. Have a nice day.
Awesome video! Thanks for not putting music to it-
This seems like such a cool job! I can sit and watch this all day!
As a retired Snowfighter 2008-2020 I must applaud the videographer for these vids. I only seen it from inside the cab. This was amazing to see from this prospective. Nice job.
This is done frequently here in Canada when or they attach massive trucks with blades to move.
Watching the snow fold in chunks reminded me of clearing driveway.
We rely on commuter trains along with cargo daily here.
It's rare they postpone running unless flooding or lack of clearing.
Most of our lines are double to reduce waiting.
Thanks for sharing
Absolutely wonderful job . I LOVE TRAINS!! Never seen anything like this, you just made my day. Very Awesome. Thank you.
Thank you very much!
Beautiful shots with the drone work
Fun to see the snow plowed like a hot knife thru butter
This is fantastic! Well done!!
Thank you very much!
@@WxChasing As a drone pilot myself, I can see what you were up against! Great work.
@@mikechapman1721 .Greetings from Miami it is nice watching this but it is also sad being among the victims in this situatio. Hope the weather condition over there is great
It’s not a Snowplow, it’s a Spreader being used to plow snow.
Thanks for sharing!
Man your good with that drone! Great work!
Thank you!
Wow, this video will be loved for us train lovers..
It was nice shooting one that hadn’t derailed from a natural disaster. Seriously though, if I could get the rotary plow I would be in heaven. One of my few remaining bucket list shots.
Fantastic! The silence was eerie. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!
EPIC , great drone flying !
What are the circular discs on the windshield for? Great video by the way - thank you
they are rotary windshield wipers. They are common on Marine applications (think, great lakes tugboats) places
that get severe weather.
Spinners
pretty cool spreader footage, i have a few dvd's on donner pass snow fighting ops including the spreaders
The power of a train will always boggle my mind! Always love these videos!
I think we saw two locos pushing and one of those may typically be 4,500 hp and 1 hp is about 750 watts.
I'm a little surprised they don't have a slug in the middle of that setup, to add some more mass and inertia to the plow system.
bet someone thought that too, but they must have figured that with too much traction, they would derail the plow, SP must have figured that out. the plow is not that heavy either, so the plow operator has to have a "feel" for the plow, so it don't get derailed, or wreck a wing pushing snow up against the slopes.
So curious if the snow removal is the sought after job, or the dreaded one. If the old guy with seniority gets it, or the young hotshot willing to work long hours. I would love to ride in a cozy warm cabin with huge windows watching!
Watching the train plow snow is so pleasing and wonderful. Now if we only could set it to some music.
Music scares me for copyright reasons. Even though I license it gets flagged and is a pain. Otherwise, agreed.
@@WxChasing No music necessary. Just the sound of the outdoors as it's happening would be cool. 🙂👍❄️
If you don't want to use recorded ambient sound, consider music that is out of copyright.
The only "music" it needs is the song of the engines.
love the 'big iron' no matter where the wheels are rolling, thanks for this!
So awesome!! Just amazing how these trains make it look so easy!
It ain’t easy, the operators have to be careful not to hit something they don’t want moved like signal shacks, signage, cars at road crossings…
@@TimDyck A lot more to it than a lot of people realize. Thanks for the info!
Serious machinery and some awesome engineering behind that kit. Great video angles. Thank you 👍
Great job keeping the mainline open so us guys on the eastcoast can enjoy the products that are on the trains
Awesome video.
Oscar worthy.
I just wish someone out there would create a before and after footage. A shot at ground level (6’ off the ground), before the train arrives. Then again after,…to get an appreciation how much snow these trains can move in a matter of seconds.
No one seems to to do that.
That's so cool! It's also kind of rare to see plow trains unless there's a large amount of snow, so you got lucky. I've been filming trains for over a year and have never seen one on camera, but I have seen one or two go by within the last 12 or so years, I can see the tracks right out the window. Hopefully this winter we'll get a huge dumping of snow in MN and a snowplow train will have to come and I can get a cool video of it!
I hope you get the right conditions.
In the Sierra, in normal winter conditions, the snowplows run almost nonstop on both the railroad and interstate highway. Annual record snowfall: over seventy feet.
Oh wow legendary Donner Pass must see it one day until now in Switzerland this winter lack of snow... You are lucky to have so much snow..
Great video. Awesome footage of snow plowing, railroad style. Thanks for sharing your video. 🚂🚃🚃👍
Great footage!
Thanks!
Ooh man.. what a great job to have.
The neat thing about this video is that the plow crew can show their families and friends what they do for a living.
videos of the in-cab shots of the plow are on youtube too.
How big is the crew? Two in the spreader and two in the locomotive? Is that another spreader behind the second locomotive?
2 in the loco, 6 to 10 in the spreader, also they control the loco while pushing snow, and the spreader crew can repair the spreader. the loco crew operates the train when not plowing snow.
That is awesome! Great job!
👍
Wow I had no idea that’s how snow was cleared from train tracks!
This is one way, there are several, depending on how much snow has to be plowed. These are Jordan Spreaders, built back in the 1940s if I remember correctly, but still in use. If the snow gets to thick for the spreaders, they bring out the rotary plows, which are giant snow blowers. If the snow isn't heavy enough for a Spreader (which is the usual case) they use Flangers, which are small versions of the spreader. They aren't as heavy and don't push as far tot he side.
Maybe they'll get a 10+ foot snow and break out the Rotary Plows. Very nice footage! :)
I hope so and thank you!
Skillful flying. 👍🏻
Thanks ✌
I cannot stop watching
I've had great camping trips going through the Donner Pass with my family, it's an amazing bonding experience. By the end we were so close it was like they were a part of me, fueling my cells. While our family gets smaller after every trip we still leave closer than ever before
Sounds nutritious.
@@beezer370 got that one too!!
great camera work
Thank you Roman!
Wonder what the spec for ground mounted signal gauge clearance is. Cuz in most places anything sited on the ground would be gone if this thing passes through
My guess is they designed the trackside equipment with ploughing in mind
@@xaiano794 my guess, there was a lot of trial and error before they got it right..................
Operated Jordan spreaders for many years.. I miss it!! Good job guys
this was oddly satisfying to watch.
Just because you don't throw it out, if works maintain it
How neat is that!!!!
cool machines, but where are the rotary plows? Do they only use them for deep snow?
They very rarely bring them out and only when the other plows run out of room to plow. It takes a lot of heavy snow events.
Best office job EVER!
Great drone footage. And if the Donner Party encountered weather like this during their horrific incident, it must have caused them severe anxiety.
This is fairly mild snow for Donner. It gets much, much worse. That's when they have to bring out the rotary plows, or in a few cases, shut down the line for a few days until they can get it plowed.
@@lwilton If this is mild, then I'd hate to see what severe looks like. Would probably be impassable even with the best equipment available.
This event wasnt mild at all. Not nearly historic but certainly on the big side. However, it is really early in the season and years with really incredible snowfall piles it up much higher and the cuts are much deeper.
@@WxChasing I've seen other videos with those giant rotary plows being used. They are extraordinary pieces of machinery. Rotary snow-blowers, actually.
nicely done!
This is awesome! Wow!
Cool job to have. Nice drone work.
Thank you. I love my job!
@@WxChasing Your job is cool too, but I was talking about the guys driving the plow. 😂
I will check out your channel and see what else you got. ✌
Amazing! Saw this footage on ABC World News Tonight.
Incredibly satisfying, thank you!
what are the circles on the cab windows? look like they wd obscure driver's view
Clearview screen (electric spinning window), similar to those on some tugboats. They throw off the snow so the operators have forward vision. Also installed on the UP's rotary snowplows.
Looks like Alaska Weslather! A lot of SNOW!
That poor Donner family. RIP
Might have to get the rotary out if this keeps up
Amazing video, the clarity is excellent, I almost thought that it's CGI, too good to be true !
Greetings from Miami it is nice watching this but it is also sad being among the victims in this situatio. Hope the weather condition over there is great
Absolutely brilliant piloting !!! Nice work indeed. From one pilot to another - bravo my friend. James.
Thank you!
Great footage. Im in IL but hope to make a winter visit to Donner just for this reason someday. I will add. Union Pacific doesn't mind rail photography or drones, but I will say you were probably a little too close at one point.
As long as your not on railroad property you can film all you want
@@DanMeyer80 UP dont want to recover bodies from their snowplowing 3 months either.