Where I lived and railroaded the most, we typically didn't have blizzards/etc. The rare snow/teen temps were a big deal because we weren't equipped to handle it. Here's a few pics to illustrate some of the hard ships of railroading in such conditions.
First, visibility is significantly reduced.
This slows everything down. Plus, the step ways and grabs ice over, further slowing things down on account of a full stop for the ground man to board or step off.
The switch locks freeze solid. Here's a ground crew thawing one out with a fusee.
Also, portions of the switches have to be cleaned out before they can be thrown. When switching in a yard during heavy snow, you'll have to clean the same switch more than once.
During such conditions you pretty much do whatever it takes to keep operating. Many have been the times I've been on the ground with the ground crew chipping ice from between points with a switch broom and helping as best I can. Their job was tough enough, I figured they could use a hand.
Note: The above pics were taken before electronic devices were verboten. After the rules went into place prohibiting such, all such photos by me ceased being taken.
As for air lines, I've never had to do it, but I've been told by old head railroaders that they would cut the air out between the lead unit and the rest of the consist/train, and pour in some isopropyl alcohol, Then re-snap the line back together and cut-in the air.
Lastly, I also remember that during freezing rains and or freezing precipitation, I would make a light set of the brakes every few miles to free up the brake rigging's/etc and make sure I still had brakes. Learned that from an experience a friend of mine had descending a long grade with a coal train. Went to make his normal set... and nothing. Pulled off some more air... still nothing. In desperation, pulled off a maximum set... and that did the trick and the brakes freed up and he had brakes again. Had that failed, his next move would have been dump the air and hope for the best. I learned from his incident to be mindful of one's brakes during such weather.
Railroading is a world unto itself and used to be one of the best jobs you could have.
Andre
