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Yesterday I looked through the various subjects in the Flickr groups I belong to. My lovely partner heard me mutter about ‘nuts’ as in ‘nuts and bolts’. Five minutes later he was back from his workshop with a handful of shiny, differently shaped nuts. I had a good evening photographing and editing them. This is a flange nut. Who knew.
UP 569 leads a WTKTKF through Soda Springs on New Year's Day. Fresh powder is on the ground as the flanger starts up after waiting for an MROMI to get further ahead of it.
I said I was going to take a break from train photography. Well, it was short lived. Here, at Emigrant Gap, a westbound flanger train prepares to duck underneath Interstate 80. This was as close I could get to the rails, as the snow banks here were approaching a depth of eight feet! The winter of 2018-19 will be one for the books, for sure.
With the astonishing amounts of snowfall in Northern California this year the UP has been hard at work keeping the orignal Central Pacific transcontinental railroad route over Donner Pass open including with use of the famed rotaries. While I couldn't make it out this year alas, it reminded me of my one time experiencing the glory of the Sierras in winter a half dozen years ago.
After hiking on snowshoes in the high Sierras I found myself on this overlook with a few good friends and a whole bunch of other intrepid photographers. We camped out in the glorious sunshine, drank beer, and told stories while waiting for four hours before the rotary show finally commenced. But we were graced with four other moves, all on Main 1, before the rotaries finally came east to cut the bank on Main 2.
The only two freights the UP let over the mountain during our time up there were two eastbound Z trains. I've shared photos of both of them and the before but if you missed them these are the shots:
The only two westbound moves we shot from this lofty perch was the flanger set and Amtrak train number 5, the westbound California Zephyr. Here are those two trains to round out the show from this place known as Troy at about MP 184.6 on modern day Union Pacific's Roseville Sub. First up was the flanger set, running as train 2WTKTKF-25 sailing east on Main 1 winging out between the rails at speed with their specially equipped ex Southern Pacific GP38-2s 580 and 569 built in May 1980 as SP 4817 and 4805 respectively.
Donner Pass, California
Saturday February 25, 2017
The BAR crews while they liked the reliability of the BL-2's they were not wanted on the point in the winter becuase they were "Drafty". It's December 30, 1976 and I came upon this plow train in Brownville Village and chased them to South Lagrange where I lost the light. Here they are rolling through Carey's Crossing in Milo with the flangers working just fine. This would be the only plow train I would photograph with a BL-2 for power.
After catching up with Amtrak 5 at Casa Loma, I followed it down to Gold Run where I was met with a pleasant surprise. A flanger set carrying a reefer was sitting waiting for the westbound Amtrak to cross over. Leading the flanger was UP 583, an oddball among the snow fighting GP38s. While many years ago most were repainted to have a more current version of the UP scheme, plenty also rebuilt, 583 has managed to evade rebuild and keep its SP heritage very known while also still sporting and old variant of the UP scheme. This unit spends a lot of time as the shop switcher in Roseville so seeing it leading up the hill was definitely not on my bucket list that day. Lighting wasn’t exactly great at most spots as eastbound light in the afternoon and evening on Donner can be very unforgiving, so I had limited options. I settled with heading back to Casa Loma where I would set up for a head on shot of it crossing Casa Loma Road. After this I would part ways with the train and head down the mountain.
After a long night of flips between Truckee and Fulda on the Roseville sub, UP 572 eases back into Truckee making way for the spreader to do the heavy plowing to clear the upper heights of the Roseville sub.
The unmistakable sound of two EMD 645 prime movers and the sight of a huge snow cloud kicking up from the tracks means only one thing, a flanger is rolling through town. After missing the shot in the morning, my friend and I spent all day trying to get a shot of flangers doing what they do best, and an afternoon snow storm brought down enough snow in less than an hour to get some good plowing from the flanger. So we set up at Soda Springs on the way down the mountain and we waited for the flanger. After the MRVNP passed them at Norden the flanger was on the move and quickly made it to us.
Every year on Donner Pass, snow fighters are sent up the mountain in the form of flangers, spreaders, an army of crew members, and sometimes rotaries. This year, a special guest was added to the roster of snow fighters, UP 1983.
Man I wish that was true, it would be cool to see that on spreader operations. So what is this ridiculous looking setup actually for then? Every year, the city of Colfax holds an event called Colfax Railroad Days. This event is very fun, lots of venders selling all sorts of things, art, wood sculptures, handcrafted clothes, model trains, food, etc. It even brings in folks such as Cal Fire, Placer County Sheriff, and even Union Pacific. While the other guys will usually bring an old car or truck and set up a tent with merch and information, Union Pacific tends to do a bit more.
In previous years, UP would go all out on their display, bringing an interactive experience for people to get a small inside look of what the railroad is like. However, in more recent years UP hasn't gone this far, bringing some fire fighting cars to put on display, but nothing interactive. That changed this year, when word got out that supposedly they were sending up snow equipment and a heritage unit. They did just that, and I made my way up the hill to see them set up the equipment for the event.
It started off by 1983 pulling away from the flanger, which is what you see in the photo. After backing into a separate track, the spreader would be dropped so 1983 could run solo. The reason for this was because UP wasn't just displaying snow equipment. After throwing the switches for the main and crossover, 1983 went to pick up some fire cars on a spur track. UP has sets of fire fighting cars based in strategic locations all over California and Oregon, as many regions out here are very easily susceptible to massive wildfires. After waiting for Amtrak 6 to clear, they brought the cars back to the yard to set up for the event. I didn't stay for the whole thing, as sure seeing it was cool, but it gets boring after awhile.
On the day of the event, UP, along with Operation Lifesaver and Amtrak, set up a rotation of tents to talk about rail safety and some of the equipment. Many guys from UP's MOW, snow fighting, and fire service were out there, so my buddies and I got the chance to talk to a lot of these folks. There were some very interesting stories and information that these guys had to tell. One of the guys even gave us a whole rundown on how the rotaries were set up and how everything operated, this man was one of the main mechanical guys for the snow equipment. As we went along, we got to see the inside of the displayed flanger, and shoot the water cannons on the fire cars. Afterwards we stuck around for awhile to just chill before going to get lunch as a group.
What I believe was a late-running CP 2-287 with UP SD70ACe 8751 up front, squeals through the curvature of the urban canyon surrounding Seeboth St, Milwaukee, where searchlights still stand. The wet night seemed to amplify the noise of hundreds of flanges fighting the curvature, the cacophony echoing off every building. Meanwhile I was fighting the darkness, and did my best with what the trusty old T3i could handle. I have since upgraded to the 90D, which so far seems much happier in low light conditions.
Flanging in between drifts X5-- works East to Manchester where the make a turn South to work drifts to Cedar Rapids.
Exiting the west end of Tunnel 41, Union Pacific 566 and Flanger “Norden” begin their descent along the western slope of the Donner Pass Route. The UP 566 will continue west for another 25 miles before making “the flip” and returning towards Truckee. During the winter months, consistent flanger operations allow Union Pacific to operate the “snowiest mainline route in America”.
Running just above the busy mainline is the “Village Gondola”. This system transports skiers and visitors between the parking lots of Donner Pass Road and the Lodge at Sugar Bowl. In the 1930’s, the Southern Pacific Railroad ran ski trains from the Bay Area to Norden. Passengers aboard the “snowball specials” would leave Oakland at midnight, arriving at Sugar Bowl by daybreak.. Could a modern day ski train could alleviate traffic along the busy Interstate 80 corridor?
UP 566 — WTKTKF 13 — Norden, California
March 13th, 2025
jakemiillephotography.com
Flanges squeal as empties for Elmore pass Lincoln on the Guyandot Branch as the sun begins to sink below the hills of West Virginia.
A pair of GP38s lead a flanger eastbound through Soda Springs. A decent storm the day before had enough snowfall to run the flangers. However, the previous day’s storm was the least of their problems. Despite the nice weather this day, the upcoming night another storm rolled in and would be much worse than the previous one. It was expected to have several feet of snow so the snow crews were working all day and into the night to keep the tracks clear.
Suite aux récentes chutes de neige, c'est le balais de chasse neige sur la ligne du Lioran en Auvergne. L'heure est ici aux finitions avec la pousse par la BB 69191 d'un des 6 (?) wagons Flanger 80 dédié au déboudinage, cad retirer jusqu'à 15cm de neige située entre les deux files de rails. Ceci est utile notamment en cas de gel comme c'est le cas ici. Le convoi est fermé par un chasse neige type Nevers dont le soc a été mis à contribution sur le trajet aller. Le train est ici vu entre Neussargues et Murat alors qu'il fait son trajet retour en direction d'Aurillac.
With heavy snow falling, it doesnt take long for the flanger sets to build up snow. This was after 37 mile trip from Truckee to Fulda.
Friends of the Cumbers & Toltec Scenic flanger charter greets the new day at Mile 286 on the C&TS west of Antonito, Colorado, March 12, 2016. Photo by Joe McMillan.
Here's a shot from eight years ago and my first and so far only visit to Donner Pass. Even eight years on I still struggle with putting my feelings into words. It was truly a dream come true having the opportunity to experience one of the rarest and most impressive sights in all of railroading, the run of the rotary snowplows, something that had happened not more than 10 or 12 times in my lifetime up to that point.
After hiking on snowshoes in the high Sierras I found myself on this overlook with a few good friends and a whole bunch of other intrepid photographers. We camped out in the glorious sunshine, drank beer, and told stories while waiting for four hours before the rotary show finally commenced. But we were graced with four other moves, all on Main 1, before the rotaries finally came east to cut the bank on Main 2.
The only two freights the UP let over the mountain during our time up there were two eastbound Z trains. I've shared photos of both of them and the before but if you missed them these are the shots:
The only two westbound moves we shot from this lofty perch was this flanger set and Amtrak train number 5, the westbound California Zephyr. Here is the former looking down from atop the hill at Troy, about MP 184.6 on modern day Union Pacific's Roseville Sub. Until about 1975 Tunnel 40 cut through the hill at left, and the track that today is Main 2 was then a center siding.
The flanger set was running as train 2WTKTKF-25 heading west downgrade on Main 1 winging out between the rails at speed with their specially equipped ex Southern Pacific GP38-2s 580 and 569 built in May 1980 as SP 4817 and 4805 respectively. Flanger SPMW 325 was originally built in 1938 and rebuilt in 1971 and again in 2006.
Unincorporated Troy
Donner Pass, California
Saturday February 25, 2017
At Wisconsin & Southern's Granville Junction on Milwaukee's far northwest side, WAMX 3893 idles with a crew aboard, waiting to meet the North Milwaukee-Horicon job before doing some local work. The result of some morning flurries is evident in the flangeways on the N 107th St crossing.
G&U S4 1001 is headed south with the company's wooden flanger, G&U #2. I remember Dad telling me he had no idea this would be running, just stopped by North Grafton and ran into it. Sometimes you just have to be lucky!
Scanned from slide K64 Canon F-1
© Robert C Barnett 2022
In case you ask, I'm sorry but I do not participate in commenting groups, but I'm always grateful for your visits and would like to thank you now for stopping by, and any comments you may leave. Much appreciated, John...
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Back in mid March 2018 the third Nor'Easter in a week dumped 18 inches of fresh snow on the Boston area. As I've shared in a few other photos this storm led Keolis to break out the pair of MBTA owned ex Boston and Maine snowplows on the north side lines. Down south out of Readville they also took the ex Conrail flanger out for a spin. To date this is the only time I've photographed either of these two pieces of equipment being used.
Who knows what the 2021-22 winter will bring? Will there be a need to see them on the rails? The railfan in me hopes so but the railroader side would rather not since that means a lot of snow and some typically miserable days at work....time will tell.
Here are a pair of MBTA F40PH-2Cs bracket flanger 64711 headed back toward Readville in this going away view as they come off the siding on to single track at Baker interlocking on the MBTA's ex New Haven Needham Branch. The weather had warmed significantly and much of the snow had melted so as you can see the flanger didn't have much of anything to do at this point given how little snow was left between the rails just a couple days later.
West Roxbury
Boston, Massachusetts
Thursday March 15, 2018
Wisconsin Central plow flanger No. 302, pushed by lone WC EMD SDL39 No. 586, leaves Tesch, Michigan, in a stir of snow on December 28, 1996. The sign on the right is to warn plows that there is an impediment ahead, such as the grade crossing I’m standing on, so the operators can raise the flanging devise to clear the obstruction for safe passage. This part of the former Soo Line, later WC, is unfortunately abandoned.
A flanged male relaxing at the top of a tree in the tropical forests along the Sekonyer River in Tanjung Puting National Park, Kalimantan, Indonesia. The flanged males are the dominant males in the area, characterized by their large cheek and neck pouches.
17/04/2017 www.allenfotowild.com
Rolling east across the single track mainline between Switch 9 and Shed 10, Union Pacific 583 leads a flanger into Yuba Gap, California. This seven mile stretch of single track is one of two bottlenecks along the Donner Pass Route (Tunnel 41 being the other). Dispatcher 9 has to be tactical in his decisions in order to keep trains moving through here.
In this shot, the UP 583 is escorting a heavy (and slow) eastbound manifest. With the UP 566 and Amtrak 5 working west between Norden and Troy, timing will be tight for a meet at Shed 10. Highball!
UP 583 — WTKTKF 13 — Yuba Gap, California
March 13th, 2025
Jakemiillephotography.com
My new AT130 (5 inch refractor) mounted in the observatory. Since this picture, I have added a Moonlite focuser 1.75" flange and replaces the SBIG STi Guide camera with a SX LodeStar X2
Wisconsin Central plow flanger No. 302 flanges the main line west of Hermansville, Michigan, on December 28, 1996. The snow isn’t deep enough to utilize the large wedge plow up front, but it is just as important to clear the flange ways of snow and ice with the plow’s flanger apparatus to keep the trains moving safely in cold and unforgiving winter conditions.
BNSF 940008 flanges the BNSF Appleton Subdivision just outside of Big Stone City, SD as they make their way west to Aberdeen.
A flanger set sits in Truckee waiting for the next call. Snowfall from a recent storm sits on top of the locomotives and flanger practically camouflaging the train from above. Very soon the train would be on the move.
With a leader you won't ever see on T004 again, WAMX 4219 heads west near Lima Center as they clear out the flange ways cut by T003 the previous night. No drift busting action on this afternoon. But the stiff wind kicked up the snow nicely making the appearance of speed. Don't let that fool you; they were going 10 mph.
Nearly two years ago now, the Upper Great Lakes were hit by a hard cold snap which lasted a few days starting on January 29th. As a precaution to the cold weather, many jobs were annulled and the whole WSOR was slapped with a 10 mph speed restriction.
The morning started out by chasing T006R out of Madison. Normally, the 40 mph track speeds allow for two shots (if there are no slow orders). At 10 mph though, it was a whole different ball game. While chasing T006, we kept a close eye on T004 knowing that the sun would eventually swing around for them. After finishing T006 at Edgerton, we broke off and intercepted T004 just east of Whitewater.
I've posted a few more shots of this train in my Waukesha Subdivision Album.
The ground is shaking, wheel flanges are squealing and a westbound BNSF coal train appears around the bend at Skyline Trestle, quite an impressive show, especially when the pushers arrived.
The SP MW205 (formerly known as SP 715) snowplow, was built in 1920, converted to electric in 1958, retired by Union Pacific in 2004 and was donated to the Railroad Museum in 2008. Since then, the historic snowplow has been housed in the Shops in the Sacramento Railyards except for short-term displays at the Railroad Museum each winter.
Video of the rotary at Donner : www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjBQ3MaBYiU
As background, the rotary snowplow is the most powerful of all snow-fighting equipment. Railroads use them only when flangers, spreaders and other equipment cannot keep up with very heavy snow accumulation. The rotating blades throw the snow into cones, propelling it through an opening in the top of the hood. The snow’s depth and density determine the speed at which a rotary can run. In deep snow, the speed might only reach one mile-per-hour. The Union Pacific Railroad owns the largest remaining fleet of rotary snowplows in the country. However, even the massive and powerful rotary snowplow is no match for an avalanche or icy rails. Nature, it is safe to say, always has the final word, but human beings possess the hubris to keep trying to defeat it.
On a VERY cold January 4, 2014, BKRR RS-3 #605 and flanger head east along Skellie Road near East Greenwich, NY. We're all still waiting on a nice flanger run here in 2015...
34/366
Taken for the Macro Mondays theme of 'The Odd One'
M8 x 1.25 Flange Head Nut and I really don't know any other way to sex it up!
After weeks of heavy snowfall, Union Pacific’s snow fighters finally caught a break in the weather. Even with a couple days of mild conditions on the forecast, crews remained hard at work. In this shot, the UP 569 heads east through Soda Springs on fuel run.
Many of Union Pacific’s contracted piston bullies work along remote sections of the railroad. Because of difficult access by roadway, fuel has to be brought along the rails. The flangers are responsible for fueling multiple piston bullies and generators located along the Donner Pass Route.
UP 569 — WTKTKF 07 — Soda Springs, California
March 7th, 2023
jakemiillephotography.com