In all my years of railroading, I have never seen anything as incredible as three steam locomotives trying to break through the snow, ice and rock at windy point. The snow was as tall as the rotary OY in the slide area, and was frozen solid. The steam rotary and the two K36 would ram the snow bank spiting snow, ice, smoke and cinders until they would grind to a halt. Then the whistling would begin between the three steamer and they would back up. They would then proceed froward and hit the bank again until grinding to a stop. This was done many times before they were able to brake through. Even thought a fan trip was mixed in with the clearing of the line for the summer season. This was as real as it could get, The steamers and crew were giving it everything they had to open the line. The sights and sound were incredible. It's some thing I will never forget.
