I worked late into Christmas Eve re-configuring the C.V.S.Ry.'s “HEP” car “Shorty” to support a loco with speaker at either end in anticipation of Christmas morning snow. The job was completed very early Christmas morning and a double ended plow train was readied for a morning call. After a few hours of sleep a Plow Extra was called to attack the overnight snowfall. Here the new configuration poses for a photo on West Es-cap-e` Bridge…
Unfortunately, the extra struggled to move the heavy wet snow and met disaster while backing on the trestle to try the attack again. The rear plow derailed and as it went over the side it took locomotive M-11 and Shorty with it…
Fortunately the snow cushioned the fall and only minor damage was sustained on M-11. The engineer was thrown from his seat, but did not suffer any life threatening injuries…
However, until repairs can be made the plow train is out of service which is bad news for the line since a deep freeze is upon us that will turn the wet snow to ice overnight tonight.