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From: Stephen TImko smtimko AT comcast DOT net
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2016 19:33:44 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: Re: (erielack) SNOW REMOVAL
"WNYP_400_120103.jpg" - image/jpeg, 640x480 (24bit)

Ed (and list)

West of Meadville there wasn't often snow problems. M of W cleaned switches by hand. Station platforms and driveways to facilities were cleaned by truck-mounted plows.

Between Meadville and Hornell we received quite a bit of snow (especially Union City to Kennedy). Keep in mind with approximately 26 trains a day, the tracks were kept clean. One of our biggest problems was the municipal plows that deposited large piles of snow at the edge of crossings. Our M of W dept had to plow those off which meant the foreman worked closely with the dispatcher to know where the trains were.

Meadville had a flanger car--a boxcar with windows on the ends that was shoved by a locomotive. I recall it being used often in the winter to flange the track gauge -- usually as far east as Jamestown or Randolph. Snow and ice buildup in the gauge results in parted air hoses. The spring-loaded, air activated flanger blade cleared this problem area.


I've attempted to attach a photo of a single track plow on WNYP plowing westbound near Union City in January 2003. WNYP Train Dispatcher Mike Zollitsch took this photo. Yours truly is operating the right wing and flanger blade on the plow. (We later in 2005 performed some work on that plow including propane heating and painted it gray and red.)

A Jordan spreader was at Meadville also and occasinally used. I don't recall if a plow (single or double track) was ever assigned or used eastbound out of Meadville.
Steve Timko


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