Spreader Snowplows Fighting Snow (4K) | UP Cascade Sub | March 2, 2023 | DJI Drones
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- čas přidán 17. 03. 2023
- Jordan Spreaders fighting snow in the Oregon Cascades! This is a video I have been wanting to capture for many years but timing is always a major issue. This time around I got a pretty well in advance heads up about it and was able to take the day off from work to catch the action. This was a very massive check off of the list!
For some years now they have kept a pair of Spreaders in Oakridge for fighting the deep snow. This increases efficiency because they can use one plow to clear a siding track and then the second plow can follow behind and clear the main track. This was the case for a few sidings they had to plow between Cruzatte and Crescent Lake OR.
Recording equipment used:
-DJI Mavic 3
-DJI Inspire 2
-Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
-DJI Osmo Action
Music is used from Soundstripe and Artlist.
Please like and subscribe if you enjoyed!
Home sweet home. My dad worked for SP then UP and worked the Modoc Line, Shasta and Cascade in his career, we lived in Klamath Falls, OR where he still lives today. The Oregon High Desert is a beautiful place to live but the winters are harsh since we’re at nearly 3,500 foot elevation. I loved driving into the forests during the winter in my Toyota 4x4, it’s amazing to experience. If you’re thinking of moving there, be prepared for no humidity which is actually good for winter and summer since the temperatures don’t feel so bad and our cars don’t rust but it will make you put in a lot of lotion until you get used to it, lol.
Very nice! I always love my visits to the Klamath Basin area!
It's incredible how much snow that spreader can move. Very impressive and excellent drone footage!👍
Thanks so much!
very cool
I was a brakeman for the CNW out of Green Bay in 1979 my second year on the railroad. We had a very heavy snow year and I got called of the extra board to work the Jordan Spreader. I had no clue what I was in for, but I got to ride in the cab of the spreader with the section guys. When you are only 22 years old and everything is still an adventure this was an absolute blast. This brought back some great memories. I will Never forget it.
i worked for the CNW out of butler, hired on in 1993... i worked with a few green bay trainmen... dick hayworth, jim saboda and dave smith... worked with a green bay engr to... joe warden... any of those names ring a bell?
Yes, all of them.
@@dapro2848
ha small world... just remembered a few other green bay guys i worked with... russ berris, bob kuxman and tommy herzog... saboda, joe warden and bob kuxman were on the sheboygan coal train when i hired on... davey smith was working the extraboard at green bay... dick haworth was in the yard at janesville... berris ended up in butler on the yard board... worked a lot with herzog at butler... yea i had fun working there, the guys... they were good men to work with
good stuff drones are amazing!
I just retired from Harsco Rail this June after 50 years, where we as a UAW group built 2 brand new Spreaders for BN , your videos are a pleasant reminder of how enjoyable it was to work on this massive machine. The ones we built had a V plow and a enclosed cab over the entire unit. Great videos, keep it up
Very cool and quite a coincidence you mention that because I think I just recently saw a photo of one of those new spreaders you're talking about. It was pretty fancy looking! I'm glad you enjoyed and thanks for watching! Filming these spreaders specifically was a major check off my list.
@carlandersen6930 - You probably remember the one you built for the Alaska Railroad around 2000 then. I first saw a spreader with the loco controls in the spreader at Truckee in the late-80's (while hirailing with "The Bear" over Donner) and it took me 10 years and becoming the big boss...to finally get a new one approved. It sure was so much better than the other two I operated. Now I play golf all year in Florida, in shorts and get to watch other people on the internet...fighting snow/avalanches. lol
We had the 604 working Flangers for years on Donner Pass. Good to see it still in service.
Mighty machines in action, well recorded and presented.
In spring we run a special train chopping up close vegetation. The cutter must be kept away from rocks, signals, control posts and private fences.
During the "Santa Trains" in December (2023) we did have some snow but plowing was not needed. However, snow teams were manned in case of more snow.
Spent an afternoon and evening drone recording whatever could be recorded.
Railroads in Sweden use a circular sign with horizontal black and white lines. The message is: "Raise the plow"! This due to various roads cross the tracks.
Very cool! Yes I did notice them raise the plow at grade crossings. That would be a terrible thing to forget to do.
Awesome stuff. We never get those beautiful snow captures. We need to incorporate more drone shots. We love our train videos in Clemson SC, Go Tigers! Keep it up
Simply AWESOME video footage and catches. We loved watching once again and have a wonderful rest of your evening.(Steve)
Thanks so much Steve! I love this one too!
I'll be honest I've never seen anything like this before. This operation isn't just spectacular but important too. There's an incredible amount of snow on the ground here. I'm sure the locomotives are working pretty hard behind the plowes. It's great to see these fallen flag equipments are still in use decades after the mergers. Awesome and very unique video Dan, big congratulations.
You're right it is extremely important. I do myself wonder how much the locomotives are actually working when they start pushing a huge amount of snow. Thanks so much Z!
The locos probably do not work as hard as you think. But I do believe they have multiple units for traction more than for the power. But an engineer speaking in would be nice to know.
one of the most fun rail videos i have watched in a long time
I live in QUEENSLAND Australia and we do NOT have snow , but i love watching the rotaries working this is the first ive seen the spreaders.
This is without a doubt the best snow plowing video I’ve seen.
Excellent work RAILFAN DAN.
Well thanks a lot Peter! This is pretty much in my 'backyard' as I like to say and I have been eagerly wanting to film them for years so this was a massive achievement!
Nice job Dan!!!!
Thanks a lot Douglas!!
Your content just gets better and better Dan.
Captivating.
Thanks so much! I'm humbled you think so!
Absolutely awesome to see! Thank you so much!
This action is really why they inveted the drone. Without it could never be filmed so informative. Excellent job!
Thanks so much Keikdv!
ya the drone shots really take it to the next level.
Feels like a soaring Eagle watching the plight of man
Wow .....Wow........thankyou for puttting that together and sharing. Cheers
Never gets old! Blessings.
Excellent Dan !! The view at about 2230 of the two sets of snow clearing equipment from directly over head was very neat. James.
Thanks James!
What a great catch. This is the year ALL of the snow removal crews have been kept busy. Donner pass has just been unrelentless in snowfall, sure those crews r very tired!! Even saw on Virtual Railfan an older UP rotary heading out of Laramie CO. yard to clear mainline drifting!! The drone just adds such a great detailed perspective of the task Thanks for sharing and the effort to make this happen. Much appreciated and enjoyed.
Thanks Charles and you're right it has been quite the year for snow! Rotaries were pulled out for Donner which isn't too common anymore. I too saw folks posting about that rotary out of Cheyenne and that is one of the nicest looking rotaries I have ever seen!
Outstanding....thank you for all the planning and work needed to pull this footage off. World class!
Thanks a lot! I definitely put my heart and soul into it all.
Dan, you've made a lot of great videos but this is probably your best!
Thanks a lot I'm glad you think so! This really was an absolute massive check off of my list.
Great video from the drone and at track level. That was very interesting watching those spreaders doing their work and the hydraulic arms moving in and out.
I live in Florida. This is amazing work and the drone footage is spectacular, great instrumental jams, well done.
Thank you Fred!
Amazing video of something rarely seen, crazy the amount of snow cali's gotten in the past month eh?
This is Oregon, but yeah, it's crazy how much snow and rain the west coast has received this winter...
Incredible video. So much WOW in this one. Love it!
Hey thanks a lot!
Mesmerizing. Great drone work. Thanks
Awesome footage
It's insane how much snow is up there right now. I was in Oakridge just last month (Feb 27th) and only saw the SP switcher, and it was hooked up to both GP38's with all four pushers separate from the plowing consist. I wish I could've seen the CNW unit though!
The funniest thing was seeing that AC4400 that was more black than yellow from all the soot 😂🤣😂
It has been crazy here for snow this year. The hill doesn't usually get blasted with as many snow storms as it has this season. Ha yeah those GE's get black real quick as helpers shoving trains up the hill.
Looks like someone got a new toy! Love the video footage, very hard to tell if the DJI 3 is much better than your old faithful. Your dedication to the cause is very much appreciated Dan. Thanks for another awesome video. AAA+++
Thanks Bruce yes I did add a drone to the roster and the camera quality on the main camera is actually a little bit better than what I am seeing from my Inspire 2. I have wanted to film a spreader on the mountain here for quite a long time so this is truly a happy day.
Incredibly great footage!! I am mesmerized as I watch it. This drone video is beautiful, impressive and instructive all at once. Thank you so much for the work required to make this!
Thanks a lot Mark!
Another awesome video! I can’t imagine the forces that on the spreaders when they are plowing to one side with the wing fully extended. How does it not derail. Thank you for sharing your talent.
Thanks Scott! I did ask a buddy who runs these about if they had any extra weight added to them to help keep them from lifting off the rails and he said no but that they are balanced really well. He works with these exact spreaders.
Spectacular videography !!
Excellent video thank you
Interesting/informative/entertaining. Excellent photography job enabling viewers to better understand the operating system of the plow. Enjoying this presentation from the warmth & comfort of my computer room. Along the " Space Coast' 🚀 of Florida.🐊🐊🐊. ( 2-17-24 ).
The Willamette Pass!
Great job keeping up to get all these shots!
Super video. A pleasure to watch. Better than what's on TV if you know what I mean.
Amazing video awesome 👍
Top notch coverage Dan! Amazing video.
Your videos are always great. But at 7:50, it is pure gold. 👏👏👏
A most excellent video, really very well done.
Thanks!
Great video and amazing photography, thank you for posting
this is just swell!
It's a stunningly beautiful place...the train crew must love their job.
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It struck me that some of the small signs must still get missed in the big drifts and smashed down as the spreader goes by. But such concentration to task must be required! Coffee breaks once an hour at least just for mental stability! How is the crew situated on these trains. I’d be interested in knowing. Is Cresent Springs at the top? I was also thinking that you yourself must have had some difficulty getting up the back roads to your filming locations, possibly? Fascinating portrayal, as always.
Crescent Lake is just beyond the top of the hill from where they already were so they have started to come downhill a little but not by much at all. The roads were actually not too bad as they keep the main highway plowed very well but a couple locations I definitely needed my 4wd.
Spectacular! Amazing view!
Enjoyed the video. Even though I am still waiting for the snow to go, really enjoyed watching the plowing as the rail lines here have long since been converted to ATV/Snowmobile trails and the trains are a distant memory of my childhood.
Beautiful!
Thank you for uploading this video of the two Union Pacific fallen flag Jordon Spreaders working on the Cascade Subdivision, Dan! This is the first time that I have Jordan Spreaders clearing snow. It was interesting to see the two Jordan Spreaders working in tandem to clear the main line and the sidings and the wye. The operators of the Jordan Spreaders must have a lot of experience working with their machines to do their jobs. Do you know if the operator of the Jordan Spreader controls the speed of the engines as they do the work or does the engineer control the speed while communicating with the spreader operator? That was a surprise to find out that one of the engineers wanted to know where he could see your video. Hopefully, you will gain another subscriber.
Thanks a lot Thomas! The speed is controlled by the engineer in the cab of the locomotive like usual so yes he was in constant communication with the guys in the front of the spreader being told how far/ fast he could go and when to stop so they could adjust the wings in and out.
This is absolutely awesome footage as always. I was just going to check it out but really got sucked in and watched the whole thing. So the CNW is an old Chicago Northwestern unit? That's amazing. I love that you added so much info.
Haha well nothing wrong with that! Yes Chicago Northwester. Thanks I always hope folks appreciate the added info. I know I would.
Educational and great views too! I would enjoy a ride on one of these trains to see the job up close 😊
Me watching this video.
“🫵You need to get some things done, stop watching them plow snow”
“👺But I’ve never seen drone footage of the spreaders in action. Nothing like this has ever been done so well. The choreography, the action, the sound, I can’t stop watching”
“🫵Get moving sport, you don’t have the time.”
“👺I can’t move.”
Watched the whole thing. Well done.
Still snowing here in Chicagoland. 👍☘️💚🍀
Looks like the drone isn't too hard to handle, at least in that kind of snow.
Though, I wonder how the signal is, at a distance in snowy conditions?
Who takes care for the switch turnouts, snow and ice, de-icing?
Nice video, showing something you don't see everyday.
Both you and the plow crews, make it look easy.
Thank all for the good work!
After all that, it was probably time for a cup of something to make you all warm.
Thank You. Dan. Happy Trails!
Drones do surprisingly well in the snow I've come to find. Signal is no issue which is great. All the switches up there are heated with propane and if you look you can tell the snow is melted on the points and frogs of all of them. Thanks a lot Ron! It was a cold day indeed but so worth it.
This was pretty cool to see! Always wondered how it got done in these kind of areas. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks a lot!
This is excellent. Nice work Dan!
Hey thanks a lot Jake! Humbled you think so!
Had some questions, but they answered themselves as time went on!!!
Great video.
Thanks so much!
Hope Charles , Jill , Butch and you kids are well.
Sure smooth flying that old drone. Great footage all the way around.
Nice job Railfan Dan
Nice overhead prospective. I spent 15 years watching it from the cabs on dinner summit…
That’s Donner Summit spell checked
That's amazing and the snow fighting operation on Donner is the top in the whole world. Are you still working the railroad today?
@@TheRailfanDan No, I retired February 2020. Although I was involved in the rebuild of 5 Flangers, 6 spreaders, and the 2 blowers. I was responsible for the design and implementation of the control and electrical equipment onboard. The SPMW 207 was the first rotary, then the 222. The flangers were completely stripped the the shell. New equipment was installed to power the electrical from the locomotives linked in the front. The spreaders the same and instead of air powered wings, we went with Hydraulic system. The rotaries changed from 4 traction motors powering the blade to 2 high efficiency high horsepower motors, now gearboxes and main shaft.
Cool video, greetings for Luxembourg ( Europe). We almost never have snow.
gorgeous footage, thanks for the vid sir. The one kind of unrelated thing that stands out also for me is how much bigger the newer GE unit is compared to the spreader and GP38-2 especially when viewed from above. Super cool.
Thanks! It is interesting to see those paired up together like that. Pretty uncommon.
great train video bro
What a difficult spot to work, no matter where you push the snow it's in the way somewhere else!
Dan - what’s the antenna like thing on the front/ top of the SD40 pusher for?
Icicle Breaker for the tunnels.
John's got it right.
I really enjoyed this. How many people do you use? I would think it would be hard getting your shots, and then racing ahead to get the next shot. Thanks for sharing.
way back in the '80s I was working a communications problem up there for a private company. It was a very bad storm and we were listening to the SP road frequency. I heard something that I doubt would 'fly' today. : SP (I don't remember the engine number) may pass the signal displaying stop and joint with SP ??? proceed. maintain visual separation from the plow ahead of you The guy I was with said it was one of the rotary plows.
Great video. Thanks.
As from the UK I was wondering why they don't have ploughs at both ends of the consist?
Wouldn't it be more efficient?
They do that on Donner Pass which does make sense because some years (like this year) they get a whole TON of snow for months at a time and then they can plow both ways. This route doesn't see heavy snow quite like that though. These only get pulled out and used a few times a year at most. Some years they may barely be needed at all. This way they can plow it all in one direction and be done with it.
7:31 that’s kinda tough on the rails, all that sideways thrust .😢
great aerial footage. What brand of drone are you using and what model number and where did you get it From. Have a safe lunch day.
I use both the DJI Inspire 2 and the Mavic 3.
As a 60 year photo and video I'm impressed
Great vid. Ill take a rotary over a jordan any day though.
Take a look at my newest upload then!
interesting contrast in their choice of power units.
So this is because they use manned helpers in Oakridge OR and they decided to split the snow fighting power and a helper set to make up the pairs you see here. Normally the two big units are used as helpers and the geep units are the snow fighting power.
Need some cleaning degreaser for the one locomotive. Very good video
Fantastic coverage of UP's Cascade Line spreader operations! Don't see a lot of photos and videos of snow ops on this line. I've bean enjoying getting out trying to shoot the flangers and spreaders here over the last two winters. I finally managed to catch a flanger run this past April, but only by dumb luck. Any tips on catching these guys? Many thanks and keep up the good work!
Thank you! I live in Eugene and it has been a major goal for years to capture the Spreader(s) in action. Unfortunately there isn't any good way to know unless you have a connection to inform you ahead of time. I know someone who helps me out with that but even then it has taken me years to capture them on account of most times I've received a heads up would be the night before and I would have to skip work to make it happen. Finally this year the stars aligned.
newbie question here: what is the pantograph looking thing atop the cabs of 604 and 605?
As far as I know those are ice scratchers for the ceilings of the tunnels to bust off icicles.
How deep does the snow have to get before they bring these things out? You said they’re only used a couple of times a year at most. So what amounts are we talking about here?
Great video May i ask what is on top of the cab of 605? It looks like a head ache rack out of an old pickup. And what is it use?
That is a type of ice scratcher they use for the tunnels! It helps to clear the icicles on the ceiling.
@@TheRailfanDan Great to know and thank you
Musical artist name?? Fits the vid so well!! STUNNINGLY beautiful video!! Subscribed!!
Thank you! Many artists in this video but it's music used from Artlist and Soundstripe.
cool vid... and a decent workday for the train crew because they'll be able to go home afterwards rather than stewing in a AFHT hotel
Rookie question....why plow and not blow like they do in the Sierras??
Rotaries are like a last resort after the snow has built up too high on the sides of the ROW to be plowed anymore. Snow levels don't get high enough here anymore to justify a rotary.
Love all the Crescent Lake footage. I go there about once a year and it's a great spot to do railfan things. Do you happen to know what the machine in the blue shed on the tracks at 21:50 is? I've wondered for years.
It looks like some kind of smaller plow to me but I'm not 100% sure.
@7:50 "Now get your ass out there and start shoveling!", my Dad screamed.
I bet you're right on that. If the snow is tall enough some of those would be totally buried. It looked like there were about 5 guys crammed into the front of those plows! The Crescent Lake area is just past the top a little ways and they have started to come back downhill a little but not much at all. The roads weren't too bad but I definitely needed 4wd for a couple of these locations.
@@TheRailfanDan That's what my Dad screamed at me if there was a 1/4" accumulation.
@@farmcat3198 Hey CZcams had a bit of a glitch that was a reply to someone else! Ha tough dad though!
👍👍♥🤟
Did they install an Amtrak horn on the plow?
F a n t a b u l o u s ! !
How did the trains turn around and switch direction?!
They turned on the wye. Its basically a triangle. Back on to one leg, then pull forward on to the other and you are pointed the opposite direction. Hope that makes sense.
Yes it did
Why don’t they have a v-plow shield at the front?
8:37 Does this side plowing put extra side pressure on the tracks?
Also at 10:52 has snow had been so packed/dense as to derail upward the plower?
Why use a GEVO with the Geep? Why not use any other locomotive with the Geep?
Idk how you guys deal with all the snow I couldn’t do it
HO scale?
Years ago they were called wings.
I think many still refer to them that way. Myself included.
That's one tired GE
I wonder if they ever accidentally start avalanches.
Good question
Instead of going main, siding, then back to main. Why not just do the siding first then the main with the extension on the siding side in