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Reply to "Rail-fanning on The OGR Forum 🚂 Welcome: Pictures YOU have taken! • Hope to see you out rail-fanning."

Colton, South Dakota
BNSF Madison subdivision
I took off from work a bit early on Tuesday (OK, a lot early😁) to go check out a snow plow being run from Sioux Falls to Madison (?), SD. I carefully drove up a still somewhat snow packed I-29 and then cut west to intercept it. I found the plow getting ready to hit the heaviest stretch immediately north of Colton. I parked my Forester and found a spot to catch the action. The plow backed by three engines began to move and then rammed into the start of the nearly mile long drift. It didn't get very far! Suddenly, the plow was off the rail and at a 45 degree angle on its side. I drove down, got out, and took a look. It was pretty obvious the plow was done for the day.😳 It looked like a Hulcher moment there. I talked briefly with some of crew. Fortunately no one was hurt but somebody did spill their coffee.
Heavy equipment showed up the next day and began digging everything out. Not only was the plow dug out and lifted back on the tracks using a sideboom dozer, but the entire mile long drift was dug out with a combination of excavators, bulldozer, and tractor mounted snowblower. This took three days plus and I can only guess how many tens of thousands of dollars. The drifts were not only deep (over 10 ft.) but the 50 mph winds had packed them like concrete. I was able to walk on them as if on a sidewalk.
The plow sat forlorn for several days, looking a little battered. A pair of bright orange BNSF engines showed up this afternoon and pulled it back to the shop, its tail tucked between its legs. Looking at where the heavy equipment was still attacking the drift on the north end, I have no idea why someone thought a V plow was going to get through any of that.😕
I don't normally like to post this many photos, but I think these do tell the story.

PS--More heavy snow is again in the forecast.

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