Canada's Battle With Snow

CANADA’S BATTLE WITH SNOW - by Dave Emmington

Thumbing through some old Popular Mechanics magazines recently, I came across an article about the CNR’s battle with snow in 1951. Memories stirred as I recalled a visit to Blue River, B.C, during the same winter. I had arrived by freight train in the comfort of the caboose, watched over by the Conductor who just happened to be my father. Ten years old at the time, I can still see visions of the roundhouse and station, a railyard and village piled high with snow. Residents, a majority of whom were employed by the railway, would tunnel,out through sub terrainian passages under the snow between the hotel, Dunc’s Pool Hall and the railyard.

This area consistently recorded the heaviest snowfall of any point along the 25,000 miles of CNR’s huge network of rail lines. By mid September, the snow line had crept down from the mountain tops to blanket the peaceful valley below, storms dropping four feet of fluffy white flakes were not uncommon. This presented a serious picture to the men responsible for the locomotives and machines designed to combat the onslaught of winter.

Giant Rotary Ploughs, winged ploughs and spreaders were prepared in readiness and spotted for immediate pickup of “Plough Extras”. Stories are told of livestock trains stalled in high drifts in freezing temperatures and of passenger trains mired down, each being rescued by the brave crews doing the most dangerous job on the railway. In 1950 both the CPR and the CNR faced unprecedented snowfalls in the Fraser Canyon. Ploughs, bulldozers, extra locomotives and 300 men were sent as tons of snow was unleashed from the high country to block the mainlines. Crews struggling to free trains didn’t take their shoes off for thirteen days! As the Pacific snow closed in behind work trains, the temperature slumped to 25 degrees F. below zero. A work train with three locomotives flanked by a Rotary Plough at both ends finally enabled the train to retrace its path for much needed boiler water and fuel.

The Fraser Canyon challenge was unusual, more regular occurrences were on the Robson Subdivision and at Blue River. Engineers recall slides 45 feet deep and 600 feet long. Today it is difficult to imagine such conditions. Rotary ploughs are almost unheard of, the winged variety are fewer in number each year. Modern diesel locomotives equipped with snow deflecting pilots keep the lines clear with frequent movements and switch heaters keep turnouts free of snow and ice.