Remarks: Well Mother Nature is doing her best to make railroading on the Omaha Sub as hard as it can be. Here 4 units wasnt enough power to get thru this drift at MP 408. All 4 units are having different snow related problems, which in turned cause this train to become stuck. Contractors are on their way to dig this train out. Be another 20 hours and 3 more engines added before this train will move again. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=310406 is a photo from the next day.
Remarks: Although from this angle it doesn't look like much, but the Jordan Spreader is plowing alot of snow in this long drifts a few miles east of Odebolt. Both engines are wide open trying to keep the speed up while the spreader nose plows this line back open after 5 days of no trains and strong winds. Still 12 miles left to Arthur.
Remarks: The DM&E wedge plow is pasting MP 200 as they make their way east towards Mason City. This power and plow has been working the last couple days on keeping the Sheldon Sub open from Mason City to Sheldon. Strong winds keep blowing things closed making it difficult to keep trains moving. MP 200 is 82 miles west of Mason City.
Remarks: Well it has been over 8 years since the CN has any type of plow equipment in Iowa other than wedge plows to fight winter. Here the Jordan is nose plowing down the Omaha Sub working towards Ida Jct., where they then will head down the Ida Grove Sub to Arthur. Arthur Ethanol Plant is in desperate need of service since no trains have been able to get down the line for the past 5 days, and this line has completely drifted in with the last snow storm.
Remarks: Well it has been over 8 years since the CN has any type of plow equipment in Iowa other than wedge plows to fight winter. This year 2 Jordan Spreaders have been brought out to try and work the drifts back to help out all the bad power and stuck train problems. Here the Jordan works back drifts on the Waterloo Sub at MP 365, or 10 miles east of Ft Dodge.
