❄️ Freight Train Struggles Uphill in the Snow ❄️ | Merry Christmas

He said "Eight and Sand", as in run eight (full throttle) and sanders on. The real trouble at that spot is the sharp curve, Six axle locomotives loose a lot of their traction in curves and that can put them down to a crawl. That lead locomotive appears to have a "rail cleaner" system, which is a separate nozzle from the sanders down by the lead wheels that directs a jet of air at the railhead to blow off snow, leaves, ect.

I'm 70 years old and I've seen alot of trains in the snow and I've seen alot of videos but I've never seen anything like this. This was really cool to watch. Thank you so, so much. I really enjoyed this.

This is how I rung in Christmas of 2019. 3 in the morning with an underpowered (surprise, surprise...) 17000 ton grain train, full days worth of snow on the rails and just over 8 miles of heavy grade to get over. Took the bottom of the hill at 27 mph, less than 3 minutes later we were down to just over 4. Brakeman and I jumped off brooms in hand and ran ahead just shy of 2 miles sweeping the rails off. When he finally had somewhat decent traction and a bit of speed built up, right around 8 mph, the hogger yelled at us over the radio to jump back on (which was fun seeing as he couldn't slow down, otherwise everything we'd done would have been for nothing). We spent the rest of the trip up the hill wedged on the footboards on either side of the pilot, hunched over the front with our brooms on the railhead clearing them off until we got to the top. Hell of a way to ring in Christmas, but we made it to the top, so the frozen hands, frozen face and seezed up shoulders were nothing a little liquid Christmas cheer couldn't fix after we finally made it home haha.

Rowan, I said a year ago and I'll say it again, you could have a serious career in media, both in front of the camera and production. I grew up in the same neighborhood and went to school with Mike Rowe and he was an intelligent, well spoken young man. You could do what he's done. He got his start pitching products and real estate on tv. Now a serious documentarian. He didn't grow up wealthy. I really enjoy your videos. There are thousands of people uploading similar content, you are one of the best. Merry Christmas! Be well.

Great respect to you for getting out there in some tough conditions to record this for us, Rowan. 12000 plus horsepower and it takes a broom from Dollar General for that power to split the green! Merry Christmas to all!

It's a great video, thanks. How often would anyone see someone with a broom sweeping snow off the rails so the engines can get traction? PRICELESS!

I Loved the onscreen track diagram that you showed at 10:04 I’ve never seen that before in any other train videos.

"Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas" as they struggle on the curve.

That’s dangerous glad that conductor didn’t fall he must have been frozen gettin out like that man you jus gotta absolutely love freight trains

That was FREAKIN AWESOME!!! I love watching trains in snow...especially in the comfort of home... I’m here in Florida, 60* outside, 73* inside, and I had to get a hoodie on!!! Watching this makes me shiver! Brrrrr.... Merry Christmas from a guy who used to live on the other side of Massanutten!

When an onboard computer detects that the locomotive's wheels are starting to slip, the ARC directs high-pressure jets of air onto the tracks at supersonic speed. This serves to blast away not only snow, ice and water, but also contaminants such as gravel, grease and rust. As a result, the wheels quickly get up to 30 percent more traction.

Thanks for getting out there in the cold snow to document these moments in railroading. Your video contributed to much Holiday Cheer here!

Have a great 2021!! 🚂🚃🚃🚃🎉🎉👍

Great video!! Living at the base of Sherman Hill in Wyoming, I understand and appreciate how difficult winter railfanning can be.

Incredible action at 12:00 onward, I was there last January and caught a monster of a 15T with mid-DPUs, and boy were they working, it took a long time to pass! Vaugh and Summit is one of my favorite sidings on the H Line aside from Acadia and Solitude, big grade there too at Lithia, Nace, and Kinsey, so I wonder how they faired down there.

That was epic! This is my first visit to your channel from here in England, thanks for undergoing personal discomfort to bring us this.

13:43: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas xD

Good old broom, I never leave without it!

Wow Rowan, what a superb session - Shenandoah for switching, then gradient struggles and faster running through the snow. You had a tough day but we all appreciate what you provide. Happy Christmas!

I enjoyed this. It reminds me of WP trains (Now UP) climbing the hills of the Sierra Nevada in California's Feather River Canyon in winter. Great view of the sanders.