Older snowpack that has had time to settle, compact, and freeze up as the base. Add in new snow at the rate that was seen in Buffalo only make it heavier and wetter. Now you have the recipe for slides which is why in some of the Cascade areas rotary plows were run like ABA units. Plow facing each way with the power sandwiched in between. Snow had the weight and consistency of wet concrete and took out everything in it's path.
Well, I know the implication of what it meant. Didn't mean to suggest I needed that education. Donner has a reputation of worst in the west due to sierra cement. (well, and cannibalism). That's the reason SP's Jordan Spreaders are engineered slightly differently and spreaders from elsewhere break. Of course we're splitting hairs here since both locations are drivin by the pineapple express so likely the same. I'm just saying I'd never heard the term Cascade Cement before. Even when living up there. Sierra Cement was the colloquialism I'm familiar with. In train videos and non train literature.
Short russell snow plow and double track snow plow. I also have an extra rotary plow from Dimi Trains.
A good snow fighter video is "Snow fighters of the Sierra Madres". Lots of action, to include a derailment, clearing ice in tunnels via detonation cord and 22 caliber rifle (for icicles) as well as rotary and Jordan plows and bulldozers. Video was filmed in the mid '90's I think when the line experienced over 13 feet of snow. Lot of effort to keep the line open. I usually watch the video on some really hot July or August day while I enjoy a popsicle.
