Western Railroad Discussion > Truckee CA - Bucket loader clearing snow on UP tracks question

This afternoon I was watching the Truckee CA UT camera and saw this front end loader clearing snow on the Bridge St crossing.  I was surprised to see it moving along the rails, using the open end of the bucket directly on the railhead.  At least once I saw the crossing gates flash and start to lower when the bucket scraped along the rails.  I was even more surprised to see it make repeated U-turns directly across the rails, well clear of the crossing panels.  Yes, there was snow on the ground, but it was bumping up and down as it climbed over the rails.  Is running along and across the  rails like this a normal, accepted practice?   Seems like it could cause some issues...

---

Kimball Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
 Is running along and
> across the  rails like this a normal, accepted
> practice?   Seems like it could cause some
> issues...

If it is a UP loader and they have the proper track authority, it's fine.

I think his question had more to do with "is a front loader driving / bouncing over the rails alot going to cause any damage?"

seen this many times over the years 

They keep the area clear it seems since the cam was available, all sorts of rr vehicles pull in there.    Wish they could clear the platform so Amtrak doesn't do 4 stops and tie up traffics 

You must be a registered subscriber to watch videos. Join Today!

The UPRR MOW is very protective of that little patch of real estate behind the gas station and fire station.  

Pull in and there's a good chance someone is going to start barking.  

There's a real big pile of plowed snow just out of view.  It's always one of the last of the snow to melt away in spring.  

Good question about the loader. 

Chuck

When they are clearing wrecks or rerailing rail cars and locomotives they run tracked sidewinders and cranes all over the rails. I can't imagine a rubber tired loader causing any harm. That ain't code 80 nickle siver rail out there!
Gonut

Gonut1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> When they are clearing wrecks or rerailing rail
> cars and locomotives they run tracked sidewinders
> and cranes all over the rails. I can't imagine a
> rubber tired loader causing any harm. That ain't
> code 80 nickle siver rail out there!
> Gonut

Most of those tracked sidewinders have rubber pads on their tracks so they won't damage the rails or the streets they run over.

They cleared as wide as the gates allowed.  Why would the UP care about clearing out such a wide area around the crossing?    Trains don't need it.  Good will gesture maybe?

I saw nothing on the loader or that white pickup that accompanied it to indicate UP.  I believe the same crew later plowed the parking lot East of the Beacon gas station/mart.  My guess is city or contractor.

siganal maintainers, crew vans, supervisors, MOW all use that area to clean out the switches,  railroad does need it