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WP&Y snow problems 1943
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Author:  bobyar2001 [ Fri Feb 18, 2005 1:00 pm ]
Post subject:  WP&Y snow problems, 1943
Saw this on the White Pass & Yukon list, just thought some might like to read it, as much of the equipment mentioned still exists in one form or another, ranging from operable to buried as rip-rap. The US Army Transportation Corps was operating the RR at the time:


WP&YR Weekly Report (1943) Hq. 770th R.O. Det. -Feb 16, 1943

HEADQUARTERS, 77OTH RAILWAY OPERATING DETACHMENT
Office of the Commanding Officer

WPW/fbb

APO 985, Seattle, Wash. February 16, 1943.
Subject: WP&YR Weekly Report No.6 (1943) .

TO: Commanding General, Military Railway Service, St. Paul, Minn.
Commanding General, Northwest Service Command, APO 702, Seattle, Wash.

1. During the week February 5 -12, inclusive, a severe blizzard occurred over
the entire line making the operation of trains impossible throughout that
entire period.

2. In order to explain the severity of this storm I am giving below the daily
occurrences on the line during this period:

FEBRUARY 5 -Rotary plow with engines 8l and 62 in charge of the writer, were
held at Carcross from 10:.30 AM, February 5th until 12:15 PM, February 6th,
awaiting improvement in storm conditions, at which time it was decided that
weather was such as to make possible the efficient operation of the rotary.
All other traffic was held at terminals until line could be cleared by rotary.

FEBRUARY 6 - Southbound Rotary: Rotary fleet with engines 81 and 62, while
passing over north Fraser Loop switch, derailed lead engine trucks and all
drivers of engine 62 due to wide gauge of track at frog. Moderate wind from
the north with temperature 30 degrees below zero.
Northbound Rotary: At 2:11 PM Rotary extra 66-69 left the shops and plowed up
as far as Mile Post 16.5. On account of heavy snow and very high winds still
blowing on the hill, they were unable to get through and returned to Glacier
where they tied up for the night.

FEBRUARY 7 -Storm conditions increased. Very strong winds from the north with
temperature 30 degrees below zero. Unable to rerail engine 62 at Fraser Loop
switch due to severe weather conditions. Engines ran low on water and it was
necessary to "snow-up". An attempt was made to return rotary fleet engines
66-69 from Glacier to Shops but was unsuccessful due to bad snow drifts near
Mile Post 11. Engine 256 was dispatched from Shops at 12:17 PM to plow out
line to Glacier and enable Rotary to return to shops. Rotary and Engine 256
arrived at Shops at 3:10 PM.

FEBRUARY 8 -Rotary No.1 with Engines 71 and 10 , accompanied by engine 256 was
called out of Shops at 5:30 AM. Departed Shops at 7:30 AM, arriving Glacier at
9:50 AM. Engine 256, headed south, was coupled to rotary fleet out of Glacier.
At Mile Post 16.5 draw bar was broken in baggage car 203 and engine 256
brought car back to Glacier. Rotary returned to Glacier for water at 1:10 PM
and departed Glacier going north at 1:55 PM. Working their way through drifts
from 6 to 16 feet deep they made favorable progress to the American Shed where
two car lengths of drift was encountered inside the shed. Rotary was stalled
at this point and, while endeavoring to back away, broke casting in draw bar
of engine 71 and pulled out draw-head of rotary. They were successful in
patching up rotary and moving it back to a point about 500 feet north of
Bridge 19 A. Engine 10 ran out of water and fire was killed and engine
drained. Engine 71 and the rotary were kept alive by shoveling snow in the
tank but it finally became necessary to kill engine 71 account of shortage of
coal.
Engine 62 rerailed at Fraser Loop switch at 4:15 PM. Both engines 81 and 62
were out of coal and it was necessary to use ties to keep engines alive. Had
to shovel out snow from the north Fraser Loop switch back to Fraser ( ½ mile)
in order to get engines and rotary back to Fraser for coal and water. This
required all night February 8th and the early morning of February 9th.
Engine 256 returning to Glacier with coach after pulling out draw bar,
stalled in snow at mile post 16.5 where engine was kept alive for some time by
shoveling snow into the tank but it finally became necessary to kill engine
and drain her.
Summing the situation to date, we have one rotary at Fraser without sufficient
coal to move forward and snowed in back of rotary so that we were unable to
return to Log Cabin or Bennett for coal; one rotary 500 feet south of the
American Shed alive with draw bar out of south end; engines 10 and 71 dead at
north end of steel bridge; engine 256 dead at milepost 16.5.

FEBRUARY 9 -Situation at Fraser beginning to look serious. With only six tons
of coal on hand at Fraser and with an insufficient amount to start south, with
the weather still 30 degrees below zero and a strong north wind blowing, a
total of 23 man in the outfit and rations low, conditions were serious. It was
decided that we would have to make every effort to keep engines alive with
ties, using only enough coal as was absolutely necessary. During the PM of
February 9th the the section foreman from Log Cabin with two men walked from
Log Cabin to Fraser to bring supplies they could carry on their backs to
assist us until relief could reach us. All hands were thoroughly exhausted,
however, morale was good and the men were caring for their health the best
they could under existing conditions. At 2:15 PM on the 9th we were successful
in getting engines 8l and 62 back to the tank at Fraser and were successful in
getting the rotary back to the tank at 3:45 PM. The storm continued with
temperature 22 degrees below zero. Arrangements were made with Bechtel, Price,
Callahan Construction Company to start a D-4 tractor out of Carcross towing a
sled with rations and to pick up four tons of coal at Bennett. Tractor with
sled left Carcross at 7:00 PM, February 9th.
Extra 66, north, was called from shops at 12:30 AM for Glacier and departed at
3:01 AM with a coach. The delay was due to water spout at the shops froze up.
They arrived at Glacier at 5:25 AM after being delayed while stuck in a drift
at M.P. 11.5, being helped out by engine 250 dispatched from the shops for
that purpose.
Engine 66 then tried to get up to the 256 at M.P. 16.5 but was unable to do so
on account of high drifts. Engine 66 departed Glacier for Shops at 11:45 PM,
but again became stalled in the snow at M.P. 11.5 and it was again necessary
to send the 250 out to assist her. Both engines arrived back at the Shops at
5:30 PM. Engine 250 again departed Shops at 7:00 PM with a car of men, tools
and rations, arriving Glacier at 8:00 PM. Engine 250 then returned light to
Shops, arriving 9:30 PM.
Summary of the Situation on February 9: We still have the South-bound Rotary
at Fraser without coal. We have the northbound Rotary 500 feet south of the
American Shed with draw bar out of south end. We have engines 71 and 10 dead
at north end of steel bridge. We have the 256 dead and snowed in at M.P. 16.5.

FEBRUARY 10 -Still storming. Temperature 22 degrees below zero. D-4 tractor
with rations and four tons of coal arrive at Bennett 4:55 AM. Left Bennett at
7:30 AM for Fraser, using the lake from Carcross to Bennett and the tracks
from Bennett to Fraser. At 2:30 PM tractor driver and two men walked into
Fraser and reported tractor stalled in snow 1½ miles north of Fraser. Men were
sent out from Fraser to assist in digging them out and the tractor with sled
arrived Fraser at 6:00 PM.
At 4:30 PM the right front cylinder head was knocked out of engine 81 while
making a move at the water tank at Fraser and it was necessary to disconnect
the right side of engine, leaving us with an engine and one-half and the
rotary.
Engines 66 and 69, coupled, departed shops at 6:00 AM carrying men, picked up
two outfit cars at Boulder occupied by Hatfield Electric Company, and arrived
at Clifton at 8:30 AM. where engine 69 blew top valve on right hand water
glass. It was necessary for engine 66 to return engine 69 and train to shops.
Engine 66 with engine 4 left shops 11:59 AM with one coach and men with
shovels, arriving Glacier 2:04 PM. Engine 66 remained at Glacier and engine 4
returned to shops at 9:05 PM.
Weather conditions unchanged. Very high north wind and snow blowing and drifting.
Summary of situation February 10: Same as February 9th except engine 69 in
the shops at Skagway, dead.

FEBRUARY 11- Weather clearing, wind ceased blowing. Temperature 15 degrees
below zero. During the night of February 10 and the early morning of February
ll, three trips were made between Fraser and Log Cabin with the D-4 tractor
and sled hauling coal, handling 5 tons the first trip, 6 tons the second trip
and 7 tons the third trip. At 12:45 PM the rotary with engine 62 only left
Fraser to plow snow as far as possible with a tank and then returned to Fraser
for water and put on the balance of the coal that had been sledded from Log
Cabin.
At 6:25 PM, on the 11th we left Fraser with the rotary fleet fully watered and
every available pound of coal aboard. We bucked snow from 6 to 16 feet deep
practically all the way, arriving at the Canadian Shed at 12:40 AM, Feb. 12th.
There was very heavy snow between the Canadian Shed and the Boundary Shed. The
rotary and engine 62 were out of water and it was necessary to syphon water
from an adjoining lake. We arrived at the water tank at White Pass at 8:00 AM,
February l2th, completely out of water and it was necessary to pack coal with
section-men from the north end of the Boundary Shed to the south end of the
Canadian Shed to keep engines alive and working.
At about 9:00 AM we were advised that the barge carrying engine 253 and
several hundred tons of rail broke loose at Haines and went on the rocks and
was entirely submerged.
Extra 66 was out of Glacier at 7:00 AM Feb. 11th with men to shovel snow and
attempt to move engine 256 from M.P. 16.5. Engines 250 and 69 were called to
leave the Shops at 4:00 AM and departed 7:01 AM, arriving Glacier 7:55 AM with
four cars of tools, rations and equipment.
At 7:00 PM engine 66 returned to Glacier and reported having pulled engine 256
down grade about 1000 feet but snow piling up behind plow stalled further
progress. Engine 66 returned to shops, arriving there at 9:00 PM.
Engines 250 and 69 then left Glacier to bring back the 256. They returned with
engine 256 in tow arriving Glacier 9:00 PM. All three engines, 250, 69 and
256, arrived at the Shops 11:25 PM.
Summary of situation night of February 11: Southbound Rotary working between
Fraser and White Pass. Northbound Rotary still alive with draw bar out 500
feet south of American Shed. Engines 71 and 10 dead at north end of steel
bridge. New engine 253 in the Bay at Haines. Weather moderating with wind down
and temperature 6 degrees below zero.

FEBRUARY 12 - Southbound Rotary laid up at White Pass for rest of crews, this
being the first rest crews have had since February 4th.
Extra 66, north, called at 4:00 AM, departed shops 5:40 AM for Glacier with
one coach. Arrived Glacier 6:35 AM. Crew of 65 men worked cutting down drifts
and blocking out snow to a point where the rotary could handle it.
Rotary No.3, received on Feb. 7th, left shops at 2:00 PM with engines 69 and
4, arriving Glacier at 2:50 PM. The No.4 returned to Shops. The Rotary with
engines 69 and 250 then preceded to plow out drifts between Glacier and steel
bridge. They picked up engine 10 and returned to Glacier, went back to steel
bridge and picked up engine 71 and returned to Glacier. Then with the rotary
No.3 they plowed out to the Rotary stalled 500 feet south of the American
Shed. Rotary #3 was then returned to Glacier and the engines went back and
picked up the stalled rotary and moved her to Glacier.
Engine 66 broke rear driving wheel axle at M.P. 15 and while returning this
engine to shops, engine was derailed at M.P. 12.5. Engine was rerailed at 4:30
PM, Feb. 13th, and returned to the Shops at 6:55 PM.
Summary for February 12th: Southbound Rotary at White Pass on rest.
At Glacier Rotaries 1 and 3; engines 10 and 71 dead; engines 250 and 69 alive
and O.K.; engine 66 derailed at M.P 12.5 with a broken axle; new engine 253
submerged in the bay at Haines.

FEBRUARY 13 -Weather calm with light snow. Six inches of new snow, very light.
S.B. Rotary left White Pass at 10:15 A.M. found drifts 6 to 15 feet high
between White Pass and the American Shed and south of the American Shed for
500 feet where Rotary No. 3 had plowed up to Rotary No.1. S.B. Rotary No. 2
derailed forward trucks of rotary at M.P. 19 caused by ice over rails. Engine
250 with coach and 60 men was sent from Glacier to shovel snow between
derailment and where Rotary No. 3 had stopped and to clear track so that
engine 250 could shove rotary back on track. Engine 62 handling this rotary,
could not handle her up hill and rerail her. Engine 81 on one side was
helpless. Rotary No.2 was rerailed at 6:10 PM. Left point of derailment at
6:20 PM, arriving at Skagway 9:00 PM. Engine 69 had moved engines 10 and 71
and Rotary No.1 from Glacier to Skagway, arriving 7:10 PM. Engine 250 moved
the balance of work equipment and Rotary No. 3 from Glacier to Skagway,
arriving 8:55 PM. Road clear of all equipment
9:00 PM, Saturday, February l3th. We also had word that engine 253 had bean
recovered from the bay at Haines.

FEBRUARY 14 -REST.

FEBRUARY 15 -Due to the storm that had existed after the southbound rotary had
arrived at Fraser, it was necessary to run a rotary over the line to Carcross
before train operations could be resumed. Consequently Rotary No.2 with
engines 71 and 62 departed from Skagway at 5:15 AM Monday, February 15th,
followed by Extra 250-69 with company coal, arriving Log Cabin at 3:45 PM,
account heavy snow between Fraser and Log Cabin necessary to return to Fraser
for water. On return to Log Cabin from Fraser, at M.P. 29 rear axle of rotary
tank broke. An extra has dispatched from Skagway immediately with a pair of
wheels to replace and when accomplished rotary will proceed.


WILLIAM P. WILSON
Lt. Col. -TC
Commanding
Author:  joecomer [ Fri Feb 18, 2005 4:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: WP&Y snow problems, 1943
WOW! Thats an amazing story...
Author:  Mike [ Fri Feb 18, 2005 5:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: WP&Y snow problems, 1943
Just reading it makes me shiver
mw
Author:  WP&Ymike [ Fri Feb 18, 2005 10:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: WP&Y snow problems, 1943
This incident clearly shows how the Army's "Keep the freight moving at any cost" attitude contrasted with the WP&YR policy of waiting till the blizzard stopped then sending in the rotary fleet.
MJ
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