The power for RS97 sits at Brooks Ave. in Gates, NY on the cold and snowy day of 2/4/1979. The caboose for RS97 is visible behind the pole in the distance. The head end could not couple up to the train because of a frozen coupler on the 4292. Not surprising considering all the snow packed onto the front of the 4292, no doubt obtained from leading SR94 up from Salamanca. Mark Gawel, in the blue coat, and the late Wendell Hagerdon were using flares to try to thaw out the frozen coupler. I'm not sure how they finally resolved the problem, since I got cold and went back to the warmth of my vehicle and left.
