Snowplows are a crucial piece of BNSF’s Winter Action Plans to keep trains moving and protect employee safety. Snowplow season generally starts during November, and in some higher-altitude or more northern sections of our network, can last into April. BNSF’s Jordan Spreaders, Russell snowplows or “Fliers,” and rotary snowplows have been hard at work all winter to…
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Mid-February’s arctic outbreak brought a deep freeze to much of the nation. Worse, it was not just one event, but back-to-back winter blasts, including Winter Storm Uri, which delivered blinding white snow driven by high winds, coupled with icy precipitation. Temperatures dropped below zero. Power and water outages across the Midwest and South crushed communities,…
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In the midst of the many challenges people have faced in the past several months, it’s good to see that some things never change. BNSF trains keep moving freight, and railfans keep capturing magnificent images of them, even in cold winter weather. BNSF scoured the entries from this year’s Winter Photo Contest to find the…
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Weighing in at more than 150 tons and equipped with an 11-foot fan that can cut through deep snowdrifts, rotary snowplows play a crucial role in BNSF’s winter action plans. Rotary snowplows are used after dramatic snowfall events where snow volumes are deeper than the height of BNSF’s typical snowplow blades. BNSF’s regular snowplows can…
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Polar vortexes. Winter storms. Bomb cyclones. Extreme winter weather is difficult to work in, especially when mother nature is at her worst. However, freight must keep moving as the holiday season is one of the busiest for BNSF Railway. Long before cold weather hits, BNSF’s 10 operating divisions create winter action plans to ensure safeguards…
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In rain, shine or deep freeze, BNSF continues to move our customers’ freight. It can be tough for metal track switches to move when temperatures dip well below zero. In order to keep trains moving in the right direction, ice and snow that might be stuck in switches needs to be cleared from the tracks.…
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Winter months bring extreme and unpredictable weather in the Pacific Northwest. BNSF has the tools, training and resources, including our avalanche safety program, to safely and reliably respond. Avalanche forecasters are utilized throughout a mountainous, avalanche-prone section in Glacier National Park near Essex, Montana. When pre-emptive actions are necessary, the Daisybell, an environmentally-sensitive technology device…
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Even in the harshest winter conditions, BNSF is hard at work ensuring our customers don’t experience delays. Click above to learn of all the ways BNSF is working to beat extreme weather.
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Heavy snowfall resulted in the temporary suspension of BNSF train service on the Hi Line Subdivision in Glacier National Park, Mont. BNSF employees and contractors responded with specialized equipment to safely restore service. Click on the video above to see how BNSF works to keep moving safely even in the harshest conditions.
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In recent days, as severe weather hit parts of BNSF’s North Region, employees have been working to maintain service under challenging conditions. This video shows teams on BNSF’s Montana Division operating rotary snow plows and other equipment to clear snow drifts. On the Mobridge Subdivision near Lemmon, S.D., for instance, snow drifts were as high…
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Well before winter arrives, BNSF evaluates its winter action plans to ensure that resources and procedures are in place to address extreme weather conditions. During this process, teams examine their current procedures, priorities and responsibilities to determine whether adjustments are needed based on past experience and each division’s unique climate. As of today, all 10…
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