Train Plowing railroad tracks after winter storm - December 2022 - Donner Pass

This is in Soda Springs, CA just on the west side of Donner Pass. I couldn't shoot in the pass due to visibility being below required for drone flight. #trains are Union Pacific. I'll openly admit I do not know a lot about trains but always wanted to get shots of them #plowing and took up #trainspotting for a day. Perhaps a #railway #railfans can help me out in the comments. Shots took place after 4 feet of snow fell in Soda Springs #California after a major #snow #storm. #railfanning
Licensing via www.wxchasing.com

[@WxChasing]

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[@EarthUncutTV]

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!

[@WxChasing]

@@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.

[@EarthUncutTV]

@@WxChasing will do! Hopefully a good season in store, it should kick off in next week or so

[@matthewzamora5503]

Any chance you recorded audio?

[@potatothorn]

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.

[@HardRockMaster7577]

LOVED the direct overhead shots!!! 👍👍👍

[@WxChasing]

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.

[@napili5470]

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.

[@567caboverbob]

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.

[@WxChasing]

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.

[@HardRockMaster7577]

@@WxChasing That's the prize!!!

[@jenniferroberts7581]

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.

[@whdbnrm3023]

I always wonder how it is inside the Rotary when it's brutal outside . Nice and comfortable ?

[@battleshipiowa]

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.

[@noworriesmate5903]

That looks really deep to me. 🤣

[@slowb4lls1]

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

[@GeekBabbling]

@@noworriesmate5903 they named the pass after the infamous group of people who got stuck there (search “Donner party”). It gets much deeper.

[@michaelball760]

Half of our locomotives are relics from southern Pacific

[@schwazman1]

You should watch the videos of them getting rebuilt for snow patrol.

[@iowa_don]

The almost immovable object meets the irresistible force! Wow!

[@robertpatterson3321]

Well,l something had to give! something had to give, something had to give!

[@timslager5966]

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 👍

[@WxChasing]

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.

[@yakacm]

@@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.

[@whdbnrm3023]

@@yakacm of course you can always add your own music to it

[@ron827]

Land a second drone on one of the engines and record the sound.

[@kishascape]

That was figured out long ago. This guy just has no idea what he's doing.

[@wayneemigh7396]

The amount of torque to move that much weight is amazing!

[@martysauls9436]

Why are they playing a railroad for

[@baigish100]

Those electric vehicles are amazing when it comes to torque!!

[@MrJonstonson]

All 12 torques are active here

[@jimstepan3038]

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 !!

[@arthurbrumagem3844]

@@baigish100 wonder why they have diesel tanks

[@northgeorgiagaragedoor568]

Trains are just incredible pieces of historic machinery.

[@dafrasier1]

Diesel Electric, like a Prius ?

[@paullanyi516]

Naahth Jahhjuh . . ? . . I Hear Banjos ! : >)

[@raymondo162]

have you not heard of shinkansen trains in japan?? fastest land transport the public has had the chance to use.

[@davidsignor7931]

@@dafrasier1 prius is not diesel electric

[@dafrasier1]

@@davidsignor7931 so sad. maybe Jeep could develop one.

[@patramsay8427]

This was beautiful to watch. Thanks so much for flying your drone in the snow to grab this awesome footage. It's really something. 🤜💥🤛

[@spikespa5208]

Best plowing sequences in a long time. This is the kind of thing drones were made for! Nice!

[@susanaobeid6770]

Greetings from Miami it is nice watching this but it is also sad being among the victims in this situation

[@StereoSpace]

That snowmelt will be a much-needed addition to the water supply.

[@WarmVoice]

What an awesome machine, and great photography🙂

[@WxChasing]

Thank you!

[@kishascape]

This is video though.

[@b43xoit]

Yes, and part of what is good about it is that these views reveal much about how the machines and procedures work.

[@susanaobeid6770]

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

[@valevisa8429]

Imagine how much energy takes to accomplish this task.All that from dead organic matter. Our world is amazing.

[@davidclarke4343]

I don't know what I love best, the drone footage or leaving the film silent.

[@jenniferroberts7581]

OMG - so cool!! My family has had a cabin at Soda Springs for 60 years -- we love watching the trains up there.

[@WxChasing]

It's such an amazing place, consider me jealous.

[@dustyrain4634]

Where is donnar pass and soda springs?

[@Socaltrainwatcher]

@@dustyrain4634 In the Sierra Mountains near Lake Tahoe.

[@jenniferroberts7581]

@@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.

[@dustyrain4634]

@@Socaltrainwatcher thanks

[@bisepone6331]

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

[@devinnichols9721]

😂😂😂😂

[@WxChasing]

Haha, I'll do my best to keep it coming. Just need more SNOW!

[@2quintly]

Very well done. Plowing the good ol' "Sierra Cement".

[@chrismillersrcfamily]

Very cool nice shots friend

[@WxChasing]

Thank you!

[@coolbreeze253]

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.

[@gdrriley420]

UP 589,590,567,576 are GP38-2 all of which were built for Southern Pacific in 1980

[@WxChasing]

Thank you! Trying to learn more about trains. I'm a late bloomer. :)

[@gdrriley420]

@@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

[@rearspeaker6364]

@@gdrriley420 and, some of this group are modified for donner pass snow service, with icicle breakers on top and the fancy window spinners too.

[@SJR_Media_Group]

*_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._*

[@b43xoit]

I think we saw two locos pushing and one of those may typically be 4,500 hp and 1 hp is about 750 watts.

[@SJR_Media_Group]

@@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.

[@rearspeaker6364]

@@b43xoit Funny part is that if they put 2 4500hp locos on it, they have the plow over in the ravine real quick!!

[@peters1127]

Fantastic! The silence was eerie. Thank you.

[@WxChasing]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@petesimmons7429]

Spectacular video dog!! Thanks so much. The SIERRA'S are amazing. Wish I was there right now.

[@WxChasing]

Yes! Amazing place. Thank you!

[@rearspeaker6364]

just don't be like the Donner party, come prepared.

[@ROADTRAIN23]

1:23 I was just there at Soda Springs 2 weeks ago and it was nothing like this! Awesome footage!

[@WxChasing]

Thank you! Yes, it changed drastically and fast.

[@veramae4098]

Beautiful. The scenery yes, but an engine, a machine, doing it's work so well, is elegant.

[@wishusknight3009]

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!

[@NormanSilv]

You did a very good job. Camera angles and clarity. Welcome to our world of railroads. Thanks for posting.

[@abdulazizsaleh8650]

I like it 👌🏻...always we feel happy when we see the results...absolutely Stunning work..specially with the Drone Photos 🥇

[@kb9847]

that's a lot of weight in the snow. Very satisfying.

[@Vovo-zx4ql]

🌸 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 🙏

[@trainliker100]

The scene at 2:55 looks like it could be a Christmas card painting. Amazing trees.

[@daledrawbond1222]

Awesome video! Thanks for not putting music to it-

[@flir67man84]

Wow, this video will be loved for us train lovers..

[@WxChasing]

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.

[@leadslinger49]

I wouldn't want to have to walk a train in all that snow. Great video!

[@mountainman5025]

You stand still and have them back up. 8*)

[@Sushi2735]

There are so many things in the world I’ve never seen or even thought about! This is just amazing!

[@pjk1714]

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

[@BNSF1458]

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!

[@ianturton4976]

I hope you get the right conditions.

[@otiselevator7738]

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.

[@jimwhitsett4736]

Incredible video with a drone!

[@WxChasing]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Porsche1912]

Looks COLD. Great footage. Thank you!

[@rearspeaker6364]

bet his hands finally thawed out a week ago.

[@Hastings1066TV]

Serious machinery and some awesome engineering behind that kit. Great video angles. Thank you 👍

[@sivayamsiva9343]

Wonderful drone views, really great 👍

[@mahmoodQureshikohatiPakistan]

This is very beautiful video 📷📸📷📸👍👍

[@ponyrang]

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.

[@richardlowry4457]

Now that is cool man it has to be pretty strong to move that much snow, nice shot

[@hannathompson7998]

Incredibly satisfying, thank you!

[@williamhoward2731]

I wish to thank you for sharing this awesome train snow plowing video with me .

[@louielouie22]

Ooh man.. what a great job to have.

[@trackskies]

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..

[@captaindoeverything]

love the 'big iron' no matter where the wheels are rolling, thanks for this!

[@jessnunez7556]

I cannot stop watching

[@hellboundslayer]

pretty cool spreader footage, i have a few dvd's on donner pass snow fighting ops including the spreaders

[@abfutrell]

Maybe they'll get a 10+ foot snow and break out the Rotary Plows. Very nice footage! :)

[@WxChasing]

I hope so and thank you!

[@MattHalpain]

Beautiful shots with the drone work Fun to see the snow plowed like a hot knife thru butter

[@craiggillett5985]

Wow I had no idea that’s how snow was cleared from train tracks!

[@lwilton]

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.

[@Alfred-zl9cg]

Ich bin sprachlos!!! Danke fürs hochladen.

[@kenvandevoort7820]

The neat thing about this video is that the plow crew can show their families and friends what they do for a living.

[@rearspeaker6364]

videos of the in-cab shots of the plow are on youtube too.

[@mrgdoc]

Diesel Electric Power!!!! This is so so cool 😎!!!

[@soubeihal-jundi2957]

Thank you for making this video. It help the drivers a lot. Thank you again for the thankful job.

[@daisyowen7118]

That is awesome! Great job! 👍

[@jerrysimon793]

Great job keeping the mainline open so us guys on the eastcoast can enjoy the products that are on the trains

[@markpmar0356]

Great drone footage. And if the Donner Party encountered weather like this during their horrific incident, it must have caused them severe anxiety.

[@lwilton]

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.

[@markpmar0356]

@@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.

[@WxChasing]

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.

[@markpmar0356]

@@WxChasing I've seen other videos with those giant rotary plows being used. They are extraordinary pieces of machinery. Rotary snow-blowers, actually.

[@EditGuy6610]

This is fantastic! Well done!!

[@WxChasing]

Thank you very much!

[@mikechapman1721]

@@WxChasing As a drone pilot myself, I can see what you were up against! Great work.

[@susanaobeid6770]

​@@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

[@bobbihenry913]

Absolutely wonderful job . I LOVE TRAINS!! Never seen anything like this, you just made my day. Very Awesome. Thank you.

[@WxChasing]

Thank you very much!

[@enjoyingrailroading1013]

Thanks for sharing!

[@centeroftheearthmining4095]

Awesome!!!!

[@CapCrunch45]

Watching the train plow snow is so pleasing and wonderful. Now if we only could set it to some music.

[@WxChasing]

Music scares me for copyright reasons. Even though I license it gets flagged and is a pain. Otherwise, agreed.

[@teresafarrell6457]

​@@WxChasing No music necessary. Just the sound of the outdoors as it's happening would be cool. 🙂👍❄️

[@peterzavon3012]

If you don't want to use recorded ambient sound, consider music that is out of copyright.

[@spaceflight1019]

The only "music" it needs is the song of the engines.

[@Dave_In_Boston]

Skillful flying. 👍🏻

[@WxChasing]

Thanks ✌

[@ezioauditore5194]

this was oddly satisfying to watch.

[@ethantaylor5425]

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

[@beezer370]

Sounds nutritious.

[@rearspeaker6364]

@@beezer370 got that one too!!

[@AJKPenguin]

Art at its finest. I'd love to operate that snow removing locomotive.

[@FrogandFlangeVideo]

Absolutely brilliant piloting !!! Nice work indeed. From one pilot to another - bravo my friend. James.

[@WxChasing]

Thank you!

[@marysiegel5763]

How neat is that!!!!

[@leroygrant7635]

This seems like such a cool job! I can sit and watch this all day!

[@kathleenpereira4693]

Looks like Alaska Weslather! A lot of SNOW!

[@tedzehnder961]

That`s some nice drone work showing how it`s done.

[@hannahjohnson7195]

This is awesome! Wow!

[@petef.4361]

I watched this and found it so mesmerizing, that it made me very sleepy.

[@kurtkaster1403]

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!

[@mullen9944]

The power of a train will always boggle my mind! Always love these videos!

[@b43xoit]

I think we saw two locos pushing and one of those may typically be 4,500 hp and 1 hp is about 750 watts.

[@wolfman7393]

Man your good with that drone! Great work!

[@WxChasing]

Thank you!

[@DavidSmith-mn8ew]

nicely done!

[@graycee4953]

So awesome!! Just amazing how these trains make it look so easy!

[@TimDyck]

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…

[@graycee4953]

@@TimDyck A lot more to it than a lot of people realize. Thanks for the info!

[@davidschick6951]

Beautiful in the way… angles and geometry…

[@geoffmackley]

EPIC , great drone flying !

[@rickwienke4234]

Great video. Awesome footage of snow plowing, railroad style. Thanks for sharing your video. 🚂🚃🚃👍

[@kentogo9747]

So beautiful nature. . .

[@adriaanboogaard8571]

Great video such skills beautiful scenery I love it like a kid in a Candy store. 😁

[@karensw5625]

I love it! Brings back memories of living up in northern calif.

[@susanaobeid6770]

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

[@apocyldoomer]

The White Death is no match for the Plow train, nice!!

[@dencanski]

That's a lot of snow. Great job filming it.

[@philliphall5198]

That’s so neat

[@ianturton4976]

Beautiful! So relaxing.

[@kcsthebetterway]

Good times on the pass 👌 !

[@nospin1394]

Best office job EVER!

[@HappyComfort]

WOW 😮🤯 Amazing job guys!!! 🥳🥳🥳👍👍👍

[@DavidJ909]

Satisfying to watch ☺️

[@susanaobeid6770]

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

[@warren5701]

Great footage!

[@WxChasing]

Thanks!

[@DLRacing]

I love watching and plowing snow, but this blows my f'ing mind and takes my love of plowing to a wholeee new level 👀

[@Vassilika1]

just beautiful!🥰

[@user-ed1fq8ny9e]

Wow!! Wonderful!!! 👍👍👍👍

[@galewinds7696]

Awesome. Machine..........