Engine #73, a 2-8-2 built in 1947, pushes Steam rotary plow #1 through the wye at the shops in Skagway, Alaska.
Going through the flats known as "American Shed" the rotary starts to make progress as the sun finally makes an appearance.
Trying to pound through the last mound of snow at Bennett, BC, the rotary stalls with a jet black plume of smoke.
A bulldozer tries to make life easier for the rotary plow in a deep rock cut at Canadian Shed. At this point the snow is about 20 feet deep and heavily packed.
WP&Y diesel locomotive sits by the shops in Skagway. this 1200 HP locomotive was built by Montreal Locomotive Works in 1971.
The last snow drift on the route from Skagway to Bennett, BC sits in front of the station...at Bennett, BC.
GE diesel #98, pulling the chase train, sits and waits as the rotary consist prepares to make a run across American Shed ~ shortly after crossing the border into Canada.
After a hard day, engine #73 prepares to park the rotary for the night.
Roger heads for safety as the rotary starts to send a spray our way. Unbeknownst to us the chute was turned in our direction just before the rotary started up. Moments later the blocks of ice start to fly and I lose my snowshoe in a tree (long story).
Frozen to the cold ground a small boat sits in front of the station at Bennett while the rotary crew talks with the steam crews prior to pounding into the last snowdrift.
GE diesel locomotive #92 sits at the US-Canadian border with a work train.
Breaking through the final drift after several days of hard pounding for the rotary plow and the crew on the steam engines.
A snow plow and .....a snow plow. Two very different pieces of equipment, but they both get the job done.
That's it!!! The route from Skagway to Bennett, BC was now entirely clear of snow for passenger trains to start running.
