Rotary Snow Plow SPMW 207 on Donner Pass, Feb 9, 2023

UP pulled the Rotary out to cut back the snow bank on the uphill side of Track 2. The spreader was first dispatched from Truckee on Track 1 to push the core between the 2 rails onto the #2 and then the Rotary started at Cisco on Track 2 to scoop up and thrown all that over to the downhill side of the slope. Once they reached the summit, they ran light to Truckee to tie down for the day. This video captures that trip in 3 areas.

[@paulgreenfield2550]

First-rate work, Mike. I like the way you showed the whole story with the spreaders up front, and your multiple video views.

[@godbluffvdgg]

Very few people, here on the east coast, understand how much snow Tahoe and the surrounding area gets...I lived near Sac when I was in the service in the 80's...They'd have 35 FOOT snow totals for the year...it was amazing to see the snow caps in july...Such a beautiful wilderness area...Got stuck in a blizzard on thanksgiving day, coming out of Carson city...it was comin down a hellin! I can't imagine what the early pioneers went through...No wonder they ate each other...:)

[@commonsense1907]

Great point. The Donner Party learned that the hard way in 1846-1847.

[@pwalker865]

I live on the east coast in Pennsylvania where we seem to get snow less and less. I really enjoyed seeing the train clearing the snow. Thanks for your hard work filming this.

[@BryanClementi]

This is such a great video. I live down the freeway in Rocklin. I'm sure they're busy this week with all the storms. Thank you for taking the time to get such incredible footage.

[@ostlandr]

Thanks! Great to see those old B units still soldiering on powering the rotaries. That Sno-Cat operator sure had a front row seat. That is a job I would love to have.

[@msb3175]

When the rotaries were reconstructed over the last few years the "B" units were gutted and rebuilt with AC power.

[@rd4660]

You could sell $1,000 tickets to the public for that ride and be sold out constantly.

[@roberthenry9319]

Absolutely amazing. Thank you.

[@paullanyi516]

Absolutely Outstanding . . The Video . . The Editing . . The Explanation As To What's Happening : >) ! Sharing Your Link . .

[@cwlong9667]

Applause! Hellava video. Great work and persistence to get this.

[@Nicola636128]

Wow! Incredible!

[@kobespencer5922]

Metal Mike nice work as always. Thanks for braving the snow and cold. What a gorgeous day. Krispy 1.

[@averageguy7136]

Awesome catch!!. They haven't had to use these in several years. I notifced a few weeks ago that they moved them from where they are normally parked in the Roseville yard .

[@jcure]

Excellent!

[@FrenchmansFlats51]

beautiful videography. You nailed the lighting angles aspect. You also sat there for days freezing to death, then have mow206 bury you and your camera in snow.

[@FrenchmansFlats51]

*207

[@ROADTRAIN23]

Awesome catch!

[@tedfisk1211]

Excellent video, showing the extent to which the UP moves snow off its mainline.

[@larsord9139]

Really great filming. These huge machines are magnificent.!!!

[@IchimokuCloud]

The rotary is so facinating!

[@theodorejones6549]

Thanks very good shows real snowfighters

[@darrellborland119]

Nice video...We can imagine what it is like the past few days on the Pass, with snow storms. As an "Original Transcon RR" enthusiast, I visit what is left from the original building'. The Summit Tunnel, bypassed, I believe in 1993, can be walked thru, during better weather. CPRR Museum on-line, has awesome stories, book references, and photos of 150 years ago, juxtaposed to modern depictions. PS: The original Engineers thought they could handle these storms, and had a rude awakening, as to costs to keep the line open. So....snow sheds were erected, which frequently burned. Original photos of the Summit Tunnel area show what it took, once the hard work of construction was finished. My favorite photographer, A.J. Russell, who took the most famous photo of the nineteenth century, (The Wedding of the Rails), at Promontory Summit, documented it in fall of 1869, not 1868, as is depicted on the CPRR site. Alfred Hart's photos also are amazing to comprehend. Thanks for an opportunity to comment concerning this "Moon shot" of the 19th century.

[@judithmoore1500]

Love this video! 💗 ⛄💗

[@hiusey]

Top effort, thanks

[@melissasmess2773]

Beautifully powerful and moving and almost put me to sleep😂

[@hellboundslayer]

Awesome

[@tedzehnder961]

Nice clear day, hope you had fun out there.

[@MainlineSouth]

That F7B was loud!

[@b.douglasjensen]

Great video Mike

[@deanstackhouse8775]

You do very nice work

[@centeroftheearthmining4095]

Fantastic!!!!

[@BudmanPackfan]

Those non-turbo 645s are friggen sweet! :)

[@twiggs24]

Are those the same old black SP rotaries from Roseville?

[@averageguy7136]

Yes, they are. They have stil have four of them that work. The two shown in this video were restored/repainted a few years back.

[@tomlandgraf3938]

@@averageguy7136 Actually, 207 and 222 and their FB7 snails were completely rebuilt. 207 & 8207 in 2013 by RELCO in Iowa, and 222 & 8222 by NMI Industrial in Sacramento. New controls, (I think) new AC traction motors, new carbodies, and new EMD 645 16-cylinder prime movers in the snails. The other operational 2 rotaries in Roseville (209 and 211) have not been rebuilt since the UP acquired the SP in 1996.

[@2quintly]

Great stuff. Compliments. That horn belongs on a BOAT, not a rotary. Where's the STEAM whistle?

[@Mrbfgray]

I guess these rigs saw a lot of service THIS season!

[@briansaxby5357]

B units still working for a class 1 Railroad love it. I wonder what there heritage is

[@TickledFunnyBone]

I am curious, what are the F/B units designated as?, F-9B or is there a newer number unknown such as F-10B or + with newer technology.

[@tacfoley4443]

Wow!

[@clank4001]

is the engine in the FB unit a 645?

[@FrenchmansFlats51]

nice

[@andrewrivera4029]

Hay Mike, what’s the temps up there? The groundhog said 6 more weeks of winter, any talk about how the spring melt will go? fast or slow? Thanks.

[@jeeperp3926]

What is the purpose of the snow cat pusher running along the left side? I seen them in other rotary videos. Seems like they’re doing a whole lot of nothing.

[@gabrielarambula4465]

Probably just to clear out any debris or something

[@jell4662]

Keep the right of way road open. They are using the plow to move any snow off the road along the tracks.

[@larsord9139]

I'm curious. Is Sacramento going to require these engines go battery powered?

[@TheRingo001]

You wont even need snow removal equipment when global warming kicks in... 😁😁

[@ronkistner2672]

wtf the blower is covering up all the cleaned track

[@gaylonrose6713]

What does the diesel powered car behind the plow provide to the operation

[@churlburt8485]

Greg Whitehead amazing, no?

[@nickmcginley4570]

What is the purpose of those round windows withing the front windshields?

[@msb3175]

They are a "Clearview" window that spins to keep snow, ice and rain clear. They are also heated for the same reason.

[@rd4660]

Typically seen on pilot house windows on ships.

[@stevenikitas8170]

I would imagine that they must do plowing/rotary work going downhill only(?)

[@metalmike669]

Actually they are eastbound, headed uphill to the summit, but regardless of direction, the snow is always over the low side of the slope.

[@adriancarter2863]

That Sno-Cat driver had some balls! Best view in the house! 🚆😎. Wonder why they didn’t splice a Flanger into the Spreader Concist to clear out the 4’ whilst drifting back downgrade? Would have helped to prevent derailments and damage to brake lines and electrical connections.