The winds are really howling out. Snow drifting all over the line. Everyone is settling in for the night. Sleeping bags are out in front of the fires. Going to be a long night. Hopefully no damage to the line. Everyone will be dreaming of those lazy days of summer.
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Great pics Shawn. You can tell it is Christmastime - there are no workers footprints in the snow. lol
Didn’t get much here. It started about 2 yesterday afternoon, but never came down heavy…looked more like it was just blowing around.
I can’t say fro sure how much has fallen because it is blowing so much. I can say that most of the line will remain closed until there is a thaw. Northville and Walk Crossing are under a 50 scale foot drift, Deep Cut is completely filled in, and someone forgot to put the snow-door on the tunnel portal so I’m pretty sure it’s deep inside the tunnel too. At Indian Hill the drift reaches from the ground to several scale feet above the bridge. At West Escape` the wind has cleared the tracks across the bridge and elevated section. The plow crew may try and open the line to Pine Summit tomorrow, but for today they are staying near the fire.
Its been stopped here for a couple hours. Like Jon, can’t tell how much we got, I’d guess about 6", though we have some drifts around 2 feet here and there, and some bare spots. Windy as all get out.
Well the guys survived the night but woke up to high winds and blowing snow. Cant tell how much snow has fallen. We have anything from bare spots to 4-5ft drifts. Here is a short video of the line. Sorry not the best it was cold ALMOST FROZE TO DEATH… Temp is 15F with wind chills well below zero. Near white out conditions at times with the 50+MPH WINDS.
Lost power for a while but thank god for my wood stove.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I5v2pUG6cE
Shawn - Go back inside!!!
I was out this morning shoveling the walk so the dog could get out. Not fun.
Edit to say: The sun has been out a few times and the snow seems to have stopped. But the winds are not letting up at all. Heard a big crash on the roof a few minutes ago. Hope there are no holes.
I’m actually glad that storm only brought us lots of rain and wind. We get a new storm Wednesday and another Saturday but still saying rain. Today it’s below freezing but NO SNOW OR RAIN!
I’m ready for Spring!
We lucked out. 7" in Raleigh, NC and even more further north of us, but here we got about a tenth of an inch! It’s a lot better than the 18 inches we got before Christmas last year. Winds are bad, but about half of the 59 mph they’re getting in NYC.
That looked like something from Siberia…
According to the Weather Channel, Linhurst, New Jersey got the highest snow fall at 29". Not too far from where I grew up.
Don’t miss it. Could do without the mid 20’s in the deep south.
Bob C.
Now they’re saying that Glow Ball Warming is dead and we are now in a mini-ice age. I heard it on the radio, so it must be true. 
Now that the winds have finalley died down the crew was able to get out and open the line. It took them almost a day to dig out. Alot done by hand and the plow. The lowlands did not receive as much and mainly delt with wind swept snows. The Backcountry was a different story. The snow was higher then the trains. Ralphy helped clear all the fallen trees while Ken and Jon cleared the track for Andy. The guys are checking the Cumberland trestle for any damage.
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Engine got stuck, Ken digging out the wheels.
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Ralphy and Jon taking a short brake after getting over the Cumberland
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Ralphy and ken checking on Mr. Russell.
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Ken digging out the front door to Mr. Russells
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Thank god Mr. Russell is ok. Good thing for that down coat.
Great set of pics Shawn. I was worried about Mr. Russell, but he was probably well insulated with the snow around his cabin, his down coat and perhaps some ‘insulating’ beverages.
nice work Shawn. Give them guys a extra day off this week for there hard work. My guys got two of the three mains open today and trains are running again.
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(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/geogeorge/_forumfiles/IMG_0093.jpg)
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GREAT STUFF!!!
You should start another thread with all you have posted on this one so far…excellent little documentary.
BTW…Thanks
Thanks Rooster. They guys always look after you. Now that the line was cleared trains were bale to run again. The guys had the oppertunity to run a few engines. They even allowed the PA 0-4-0 pass through since a section of their line was burried in snow. Forney going through the lowlands. Thanks to the wind not much had to be cleared.
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Coming out of Culvers Gap Tunnel. The guys had to clear a small acvalanch that covered the entrance.
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Ralphy was able to climb to the base of the Fire Tower and took this shot. just before the Forney went through the Culver gap Tunnel. Those snowshoes really helped him.
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Back breaking work clearing this wall of snow.
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Ralphy and Mr. Russell siting above the wall of snow looking down at the engine. Mr. Russell is deathly afraid of heights. Ralphy will hold his hand.
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Now it is time to take the Big John out with the work caboose. Nice shadow against the snow.
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At the Hainsville yard. The ccrew did a great job at clearing the yard area.
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Now thats some deep snow.
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Cumberland Gorge Trestle held up to the storm. Mr. Russell sure knows how to build a good trestle.
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During the day a few small avalanches fell on the track. The guys used this oppertunity to use the new Climax.
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Climax coming out of the tunnel. Had a close call with an avalanch. Only got the side of the engine.
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A picture to end the day of running.
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The Penn passing through. The line has never seen such a clean engine. (A freind of mine came over for the day to run trains. Great day temp 30F and no wind for once)
Man, this kind of thing really highlights the, oh, what’s a good word, the awesomeness factor of outdoor railroading.
There is a layout in here some were!
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If you couldn’t see the covered bridge !
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I lost a couple trees in the yard. I hope these will spring back! There is a train stuck in there, and Charlie Brown’s not to happy!
(http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee259/smcgill_pics/charlieworking4.jpg)
Sean
