by William O'Neal Stringer

Created on: December 22, 2011   Last Updated: December 25, 2011

Snow removal from railroad tracks has been a problem since the early days of railroading. With the immense power of a locomotive, it would be easy to think that a train could just plow through any snowfall on the track. The truth is, even powerful locomotives have their limitations. Today’s locomotives, most of which have a small permanent plow on the front of the locomotive, can handle a snowfall of a foot or two over the track. 

For many years, railroads have been using the large “wedge” type of snowplow. This type of plow is pushed by a locomotive and is most effective while running along at a modest speed to throw the snow some distance from the track. A wedge plow is made intentionally heavy to prevent derailments while plowing. While still used, the wedge plows have been superseded by the more cost effective rotary snow blowers. Rotary snow blowers, like the small ones used to do personal driveways, can be handled by railroad maintenance crews without the necessity of a train crew. These rotary snow blowers are huge and can handle snowdrifts over 10 feet deep. This is something a wedge plow could never do for any distance. A powerful railroad snow blower can pick up the snow closer to the rail and then throw it to either side of the track quite some distance. 

Most railroads also employ the use of a jet engine type snow blower that is self-propelled and blows hot air at high speed into switches to clean them out. This type of snow removal equipment is cost efficient and operates on kerosene. It does have some drawbacks in that it melts the snow causing water to form. After the switch freezes again, the water becomes ice and it may render the switch unusable by train crews. The other problem is safety. Other employees and train crews must stay 500 feet from a jet blower because of the tremendous amount of debris it stirs up. Operators must use eye and hearing protection. 

Railroads also employ the use of switch heaters in yards and in remote areas. Heaters in yards are usually electric. They have heating rods mounted to the rail to keep snow from forming on or in a switch. In remote areas, propane heaters are used to heat the switches by flame. They are easy to spot because of the large propane tank nearby and the switch itself will have covers up close to the rail, shielding the flame from the wind. 

Before the use of powerful equipment or technology, the track department removed snow by hand. They have special

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