Plowing, Slipping and Derailing

[@avlisk]

Yes, we do expect to see a derailment. . .and we do stay for the reaction. Your patience is to be admired.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

I get a lot of practice.

[@vanguardactual1]

@@MillBrookRailroad unfortunately, yes... Yes you do.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

@@vanguardactual1 I meant practice with patience, but derailment practice works. I do get a lot of practice there, too.

[@sammisworkshops3762]

You could drape a couple bags of pellets over the roof of the Plow to add some weight, maybe slip one or two inside the car body. Just a couple of random thoughts. love the videos!

[@dale5898]

I like your attitude.Thanks for your hard work. It’s easy to see you ARE having fun.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Some days, fun is a lot more work than others. I can't complain, though.

[@ronaldrondeau7870]

great that you hape patience for doing that job, take care

[@scottleidenberger4401]

You earned a big thumbs up for this one ! That looked so frustrating .

[@MillBrookRailroad]

It was a hard day of plowing, to be sure.

[@petercruikshank2618]

Wild turkeys do not fly a long distance but when I was in my early teens I was walking with a friend down a country road out in the woods we came up on a turkey. My friend thought it would be fun to wave his arms a make turkey noises.....we found out how fast they CAN run as it chased us down the road at a full sprint for quite a ways. I think I remember looking back at the turkey getting ready to literally nip at our heels. Respect the Turkey!!!!!

[@artillerest43rdva7]

Great job getting things cleaned up, the wet, sticky, snow is just a bear to deal with! Icy track is really bad as soon as you put pressure on the ice the surface will form water, acts just like grease on the rails. that was very adverse conditions to be repairing the track, but needed to get done to be able to run when loaded with the pellets . good luck with your delivery hope it runs smooth.

[@dorsk84]

Weight and maybe so form of heater inside the plow. Like one of those small round propane heaters face down over the wheels.

[@jimshafer3101]

To add weight to the plow you have room for cinder blocks over the wheels or a battery for lights above the blade and maybe in the window area

[@MillBrookRailroad]

I took the cement blocks out of the plow at the end of last winter. I had the same problem with snow building up in the wheels that I do now. I wanted to add wheel sweeps last year to scrape snow off the wheels, but I had more urgent things to do at the time.

[@bobgodi5696]

My observation is the snow builds on the front of your plow. I think the part that divides the snow to each side is too far back from the front edge allowing the snow to build up rather than falling to each side. I have a model train with snow plows and the divider is closer to the front edge. Bob in Reese MI.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Snow does build up on the front, but what was causing the derailments was the snow and ice buildup on the wheels. A good case for an operating flanger and wheel sweeps.

[@slider0915]

Yea... your patients with all of the derailment aggravation is admirable... I would be cussing and throwing stuff down the cliff...

[@vanguardactual1]

All you gotta do is put snow chains on ya wheels... ... ... 🤣 LMAO 😂 Seriously, it looks like you all received a much more substantial amount of snow than was on the "Gauge Widening Party" video. This is one situation where I am thankful that I live where I do. I shouldn't need to plow any of my RR & won't have that expense of building or buying a snow plow, for my RR, driveway or any other areas.

[@backwoodssolutionsllc9823]

This video for you bits cookies. Heavy snow that is wet hard going through no matter what you use. Shoveling sucks. Hang in there.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

There's always a worst snow of the winter, and I think this was it.

[@tomki6asp]

Flagstaff received a lot of snow. Haven’t seen any derails there, lol.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

This is built more like an old Milwaukee Road granger branch line.

[@nocturnusbostok2636]

Maybe adding wheel wipers to the plow wheels would help. MOW hi-rail trucks have them. Just a small piece of plastic I think would work.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Wheel sweeps. I wanted to fabricate some last year, but for some reason, I never did.

[@backwoodssolutionsllc9823]

Man that was a rough day one the railroad! Hope ice is gone

[@MillBrookRailroad]

It was melted off the rail by the next day. The ties stayed covered with the resulting ice for the next three weeks. Four weeks later, the track is clear, and we're in mud season.

[@backwoodssolutionsllc9823]

@@MillBrookRailroad my neighbors driveway is nothing but mud. We’re on a private lane with gravel here. But our yard is a swamp now too. Oh lovely winter!

[@dale5898]

What is your upcoming major fix? New rails ties and ballast? Little by little and you could do it.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

New ties and ballast, anyway. Not sure about rails this year.

[@robertheinkel6225]

Mounting a snowblower on the front of the engine,that has wheels to follow the rack, may be in order.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

This snow was too heavy for the snow blower. It kept freezing in the chute when I cleared the driveway.

[@richardp.nathhorst9317]

Nasty heavy wet snow and icy rails makes it hard going. The 70 needs a way to add some sand to the rails and maybe more power to make better headway against that kind of snow. Of course sanding would probably play hob with wear on the aluminum rails. I keep wondering with a four axel two truck locomotive with more weight and power would do.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

A 4-axle locomotive would probably do quite well. Some day. In the meantime, I have these 2-axle locomotives that I build and sell to people. They're less than half the cost of a 4-axle locomotive.

[@dale5898]

Say hi to Mel for me.

[@HansFrisk]

A couple of self suply solar panels aswell perhaps? Looks kinda like a good roof for it. Re: the ending comment about cladding etc.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Solar panels are definitely planned for. I'll do ground mount, so I can maintain them better.

[@HansFrisk]

@@MillBrookRailroad 0 maint so just flick them up on the roof and forget about em.

[@rogerhuber3133]

Aaron, this winter has been a real test of your equipment and patience for sure! Real trains when they stall the locomotives can burn and melt the rails. Has the 70 or 71 done that to you when it spins in one spot?

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Since I don't have sand, I haven't burned any holes in the rails, but the rails have wheel scars everywhere!

[@ronarant2897]

Could you add scrappers at the top of each wheel to scrap off the snow and ice or even dirt?

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Scrapers would help. I haven't had time to design and install them yet.

[@plymouth-hl20ton37]

The best thing I found ready-made is Bondo spreaders they're made out of tough plastic don't break in cold weather

[@Santafefrank]

How about a piece of flat steel plate over the wheels to scrap of the snow to help from coming off the track?

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Their called sweeps, and it's a great idea! I just haven't done it yet.

[@JaredDunbar]

Even after you cleared the track past the plow with a shovel, the locomotive still had trouble moving the plow along the tracks; is that because of the ice layer on the tracks or some other reason (eg, high rolling resistance in the snowplow wheels, going up the hill to the house, etc.)

[@MillBrookRailroad]

It's because the snow from this storm was really, really heavy.

[@katherinemorey6517]

Hi Aaron, I am just wondering why you pass the siding on the mainline when the siding is not occupied. I think it would be more efficient to go forward on the siding and uncouple the cars on the siding. The switches would last a little bit longer and it would be easier. I am not trying to tell you what to do, I am just making an observation. I also think the track would be stronger and better with twice the amount of screws. You wouldn't have to reguage the track as often. Cory Mears

[@MillBrookRailroad]

On the sugar house siding, I use the track that is in the best shape. Whichever track that may be at the time. The engine house siding is acting as a yard track in the absence of a yard.

[@katherinemorey6517]

@@MillBrookRailroad HI Aaron, thanks for the information. I was just thinking about it from my perspective. I have a wooden toy train layout in my bedroom and I use the trains the same way I mentioned. The rail yard has 8 sidings that are all connected to the mainline at both ends and I try not to reverse into the yard every single time. I just saw your newest video and I LOVED it!! I love the way the snow went to the sides of the plow so quickly and easily. You almost didn't derail ONCE! 6 stars on that video! And by the way, I recommend making a railroad crossing for your railroad and make a truss bridge for the swampy part of your path. I think that would be the best way to make a new bridge. If you do make it, can you show the trains go across the bridge so I can see the shadows from the bridge look on the front of the engine? I think that's one of the best things about the way the truss bridges are made. I look at mine that way. I think it looks AWESOME!!! Truss bridges are the best in my opinion. Cory Mears

[@tomki6asp]

That snow is like concrete

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Indeed, it is.

[@robertmcdonnold3038]

Just found your channel. I have watched several of your recent videos. I enjoy them. Have you considered putting a rubber edge on the front of the plow to make better contact with the rail? Have you thought about putting "scrapers" on the wheels to help keep them free of snow? I live in Florida, so obviously, I'm an expert in snow removal. Take what I suggest with a grain of salt. What part of the country are you in? It's very beautiful. Thanks for the ride. Bob

[@MillBrookRailroad]

I'm in snowy Vermont. The yellow on the front of the plow blade is a sacrificial edge, like you suggested, so you're not wrong. Scrapers on the wheels are called wheel sweeps. They are a thing, and I need to fabricate some.

[@robertmcdonnold3038]

@@MillBrookRailroad thanks for the reply.

[@danielfantino1714]

Not in your habit of leaving us stranded in the middle of nowhere. Well wasn´t really nowhere, but on "the hill". Thanks for your and material effort. After all big Espee got stranded with passengers behind PA´s.

[@s16100]

Well that was a frustraighting and annoying operation this day! :( GRRR Winter sucks!!!!! Is that storage area for the plow heated?

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Some days are better than others. The plow usually sits in a siding when it's not in use.

[@gregward2142]

U need a de icing unit say in front loco which drip feeds on to rail using aquarium air pump hose an idea for u 👍👍👍

[@MillBrookRailroad]

That's an interesting idea.

[@malcolmone1]

put a motor in the plough

[@robertheinkel6225]

Is there a small plow under the car to clean between the rails?

[@MillBrookRailroad]

There is! It's supposed to move up and down, but I haven't finished it yet.

[@kennethjobson7978]

are you going to make it 360% RR and are you going to run track into the gar.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

I am going to run the track into the garage, but I won't have a complete circle. Instead, it'll turn the other way and drop down some forty feet to the other end of the property.

[@thomante]

ya need ta finish yur house

[@MillBrookRailroad]

I absolutely do need to finish my house. The siding is only the most obvious part. I don't. Make enough money to get a mortgage, so it happens intermittently.

[@michaelashley9354]

This is an idea it may not work or not on your snow plow why don't you leave One Wing open and clean half the track down and turn it around and clean the other side of the track you're not pushing so much snow at a time especially the wet heavy stuff just a thought

[@MillBrookRailroad]

It's a good thought. I can't turn the plow at the moment, and I don't recall why I didn't run down with the wings in, then back up and run it again with the wings out. I really needed the plow that fits in the coupler pocket on the 71, but it was out of service.

[@BruselskySluzebnik]

Woman: “He is probably cheating on me.” The man:

[@Santafefrank]

Why don't you put 50 or 100 lb bag of sand on your snow plow and add a little more weight to your engine?

[@MillBrookRailroad]

I really don't think sand would have helped. I used to have cement blocks in the plow for weight, and they didn't prevent snow and ice buildup on the wheels. Perhaps wheel sweeps would help, I'm not sure. Adding more weight to the engine will require active cooling on the traction motor. I haven't built the controls for that yet.

[@mischef18]

It's a pity ya can not put on chains like a vehicle or let some air out of the tires to get more grip. Made for a cool video though. Safe travels

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Chains would make for a bumpy ride. :-)

[@jessgibson4790]

Wouldn't you do better just to fix a snow plough blade straight to the front of your engine? Then you would have the weight/power and not have to push the extra weight of the extra car.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

I would have preferred to do that, but the 70 doesn't work with that plow. The 71 does, but as of filming, it was out of service and waiting for a battery.

[@narrowgauge7.25]

How about a lot more weight? And what about a 'minimal' rather than scale plough again with lots of weight

[@MillBrookRailroad]

I've used more weight in the past, and it doesn't seem to make a difference. What did make a difference was adding length to the plow blade, which was keeping the ice and snow from building up on the wheels until this particular storm. I used to have a more minimal plow. It was a large wedge plow that I fabricated in the shop one day. I would clamp it to the end of a flat car and plow the line, then remove it from the end of the car to pull back up the hill. It did ok, but it wasn't perfect. I had planned to modify it to make it better before he current plow geek into my lap. I lent the old plow to the Shady Pines Railroad and then to the Stoddard Hill Farm Railway. The Russell plow showed up at a train show i read exhibiting at with a "Mill Brook Railroad only" price tag on it. Basically, the guy wanted me to have it. I didn't have any cash at the time, so I traded a bobber caboose (buggy) that I bought reluctantly the week before. I had spent more on the buggy, but the plow was worth a lot more than he was asking.

[@davedennis6042]

First!

[@theresarost9349]

need more weight in the front. Sorry but you really do. it is slipping off the rail because there is not enough weight to hold it down when it encounters tall snow.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

With this kind of snow, it also does this with cement blocks inside the plow and me sitting on top. It makes no difference. None at all. What makes it derail in this type of snow is snow and ice buildup on the wheels.

[@jurysummons2194]

Just change the name to Norfolk Southern and daily derailments would be the norm.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

I was thinking Penn Central, but the result is the same.

[@garykuipers2696]

What happened to 71? I know that it's down but what is the cause? I feel bad for you having to deal with this nonsense.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

I put a hole in one of the batteries in a derailment. I hadn't secured the batteries yet.

[@mdani76]

just add weight 🙂