With the Sierra Nevada firmly gripped by a winter snow storm mainline operations must continue on Union Pacific's Sierra crossing. Employing snow fighting methods perfected over time every significant storm is met by UP's dedicated snow fighters, who at times, through a super human effort keep the Roseville Subdivision running smoothly over the 'snow belt'. The first line of defense against King Snow in the High Sierra are Union Pacific's fleet of flangers, drawn by a pair of non-turbocharged EMD GP38-2s the flanger makes quick work of fresh snow, preventing it from building up in between the rails.
Cutting through howling winds and driving snow UP 600, which started life as SP 4841, hustles west with flanger SPMW 324 in tow on the #2 track. After 'flipping' at Fulda the flanger will return eastbound, clearing snow on the #1 track.
