Passenger Trains > Next winter storm for east coast Sunday.

Even the NWS in Ohio has made several mentions of a major storm for the east coast this weekend. Highlighting “plowable snow” for most of Virginia. Will the various government agencies - including Amtrak - apply any lessons learned from last weeks failures? Will we see a repeat of gridlock on I-95?

Welcome to winter! Happens every year yet we still seem surprised each time.

Many Americans think that they are invincible when it comes to driving and they don't worry about snow or ice, especially if they own a big SUV with 4 wheel drive.  Yet Mother Nature wins in the end.  As for our railroads; we must always keep in mind that the big class one railroads have to worry about pleasing the big Hedge Fund owners, that is, make all the money that you can and cut costs no matter what.  Therefore these railroads no longer have the needed personnel to handle bad weather, nor do they maintain their right-of-ways, like cutting trees back from the tracks, as they used to do in the bygone days.  Also, they don't have the personnel along the tracks such as tower operators and station agents to keep things fluid as they did back in the old days.  It is a shame, but these are the facts, they save money for those shareholders and that is what counts today.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

Expect lots of cancelations Sunday and even Saturday - including the Crescent.

Predictions - if they hold up - call for up to a foot of snow in places, or even more.

ClubCar Wrote:  (in part)
-------------------------------------------------------
"[R]ailroads no longer have the needed personnel to handle bad weather, nor do they maintain their right-of-ways, like cutting trees back from the tracks, as they
> used to do in the bygone days.  Also, they don't have the personnel along the tracks such as tower operators and station agents to keep things fluid
> as they did back in the old days."

Yes, indeed - and this brings back a memory of my father working for the New York Central in Utica NY (snow country for real) who would, in severe weather, need to assemble a large crew of laborers to dig out and sweep out switches and more.  With a pocket full of cash supplied to him, by the railroad he would go to the various watering holes near the station (including the [in]famous "He's Not Here" bar), make a loud announcement that the railroad needed day (actually night) laborers for cash payment at the end of the shift.  A work force was usually quickly assembled and the Century would make it through pretty much on time. 

Yes, times have changed and in exchange for the many "advances" of our society (which I embrace), we have the impossibility of such actions today. 

RevRandy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ClubCar Wrote:  (in part)
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> "ailroads no longer have the needed personnel to
> handle bad weather, nor do they maintain their
> right-of-ways, like cutting trees back from the
> tracks, as they
> > used to do in the bygone days.  Also, they
> don't have the personnel along the tracks such as
> tower operators and station agents to keep things
> fluid
> > as they did back in the old days."
>
> Yes, indeed - and this brings back a memory of my
> father working for the New York Central in Utica
> NY (snow country for real) who would, in severe
> weather, need to assemble a large crew of laborers
> to dig out and sweep out switches and more.  With
> a pocket full of cash supplied to him, by the
> railroad he would go to the various watering holes
> near the station (including the famous "He's Not
> Here" bar), make a loud announcement that the
> railroad needed day (actually night) laborers for
> cash payment at the end of the shift.  A work
> force was usually quickly assembled and the
> Century would make it through pretty much on
> time. 
>
> Yes, times have changed and in exchange for the
> many "advances" of our society (which I embrace),
> we have the impossibility of such actions today.
 
It's sad we cannot handle things like we used....

NJ.com reports the storm may be more of a freezing rain, wind, and ice event in eastern NJ. Not good for overhead electric and tree branches.

https://www.nj.com/weather/2022/01/nj-weather-significant-winter-storm-looks-more-likely-with-snow-rain-damaging-winds-to-lash-state.html

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