The DM&E ditcher has been put to work on this Jackson, MN turn in the past 4 days. The ditcher ran out to Jackson on 2/26 just flanging with the nose. The next 3 days, coming back east, the ditche... (more)

Shoving DM&E's Jordan Ditcher towards Mason City, this Mason City extra has 5 miles of ditching left before reaching Mason City for the night. IC&E's ditcher is broke right now so the IC&E has bee... (more)

When you got to either be dug out or dig yourself out of the front door, you know that you've been hitting some good drifts. The wind was blowing quite hard today filling in drifts between Austin,... (more)

The same 2 guys run the plows jobs around the Mason City area each winter. Takes some talent and nerves to put up with all the headaches that go with working with this 1955 equipment. Here the ope... (more)

The Lower 7 is the nickname for the 1st 7 miles of track between Mason City, IA and Plymouth Jct., IA. MP 5 is the only place I have heard the IC&E having a train stuck at this winter. That was d... (more)

After a train ahead gave up it TW the Plow set heads for deeper drifts South just north of Mason City,Iowa

Lot of wind makes for drifting, Seen here working a deeper one with the wings out all the way and at a slow walking speed, It is leaning from more snow on the North side

And with the temps about 35 the snow is sticking to everything, Time to clean up the windows , Horns and give the train ahead time to give up its track warrant.

With the front blade down flanging, working about 2' of snow at a speed of about 30 MPH or 48.2 KPH. it throws the snow clear of the ROW. With the plow set following the local ahead there is less... (more)