Snow Removal was a big deal for the gang assigned to Fields Station between Oakridge and Crescent Lake in Central Oregon. Fields is at the end of a steep 7 mile long dirt road that can only be called a thrill ride. The Company provided free housing to the workers willing to put up with the commute. There had already been a few heavy storms in October and November 1988 but the snow had all melted away before long. The storm that started in early December just kept going and soon the snow and ice were piling up.
Elevation makes all the difference when it comes to snow. Oakridge at 1500 feet hardly ever gets more than a few inches at a time and it always soon melts. Fields is at 2500 feet where the snow starts sooner and sticks around longer than the lower elevations. The summit at Odell Lake is just under 5000 feet and the snow gets deep and stays deep.
For the last few weeks we had been cleaning snow by hand with our shovels and brooms keeping the switches clear beyond the reach of the gas powered rail heaters. There are big propane tanks that feed the flame torch heaters attached to the rails for about 75 feet on either side of the swi just enough to keep the switch open at both ends of the various sidings along the way. Our job was to clear a space for the train to dump any snow they might be plowing before filling the switch.
We started our day as usual cleaning each switch as we worked our way up the mountain following trains from switch to switch as we had been doing for weeks. We were making good time since the wind was blowing and the snow was light and dry so it could never get high enough to cover the top of the rails before it blew away. Then around 10am the wind stopped and the snow was coming straight down in a thick blanket.
By lunch we only had two of the 6 sets of switches done compared to the last few days when we had been eating lunch at the summit. It was obvious today would be overtime if we didn't get help from above, meaning the gang from Crescent Lake would have to come down help. We were encouraged for a minute when we heard over the radio that they were on the way but then we got word that the snow was piling up down the hill where it usually rained so now we would have to go down to help after we finish on top and it would still be overtime.
Then the heavy snow started and before we knew what to do our motor car was stuck. We could not go up or down the tracks and we were forced to hole up in the warming shack at the west end of the siding at Cruzette waiting to be rescued. We had radio contact with the dispatcher and he said there would be one last train coming down the hill and then no more after that, all trains are stopped until further notice. Our best chance was following that last train down the hill but we were on the siding and had to dig our way out by hand and then it was too late to catch up with the train. The snow was coming too fast and falling back on us in the cuts and soon we were stuck again.
We made a brief effort to shovel our way out but it was obvious that we were worse off than ever. Now we were stuck between sidings and would present a hazard if another train did come. We discussed taking the motor car off the rails but that would be a last resort. So instead we made our way to the nearest tunnel and built a warming fire near the entrance where we had stashed diesel fuel and wood for such situations. It was already 3pm and the sun goes down early that time of year and we only had a couple of small flashlights which are not much help during a blizzard at night. Everyone took stock of the leftovers in their lunch box as we prepared for the worst.
Then we heard the good news, the work train was on the way with the Flanger. The Flanger is a single 40 foot custom car with a snow plow on the front that just fit over the rails with one Train Engine to push it along up to 40 miles an hours. Now we could finish the run from Oakridge to the Summit and back in less than four hours. Once they cleared a path to our stranded motor car we were able to take it back down the hill to the motor car shed at the east end of Frazier. It was a warm and comfortable relief to finally climb aboard the Flanger where there were supplies to go along with the stove.
There were only two positions for the Flanger blade, up and down. There was one big red button to toggle the position and the operator had to know just when to go up in order to miss the switches, road crossings, rail greasers and other locations that were marked with red reflector posts positioned to stick out of the deepest snow. It was not uncommon for the flanger to derail but it was easy to put back due to specially equipped outriggers that kept it from going to far off the rails.
We made it up to the summit and back to Fields by 9pm and they were already calling for the Flanger to make another run back on top. The Superintendent even got involved and told us to take our 8 hours rest since the weather report was calling for even heavier snow tomorrow. The Flanger and crew went all the way to Oakridge to spend the night in the Motor Lodge while the rest of us returned to our Company housing in Fields.
We were dog tired but It was a fitful night of sleep knowing what was coming the next day. And that will be the next chapter in the series of stories about Railroad Days : Snow Removal Day 2.
No comments:
Post a Comment