Plow Train  

When Theodore Judah, the Chief Engineer for the Central Pacific Railroad, surveyed the proposed route of the Central Pacific, he badly underestimated snowfall. In 1861, Judah wrote:

"The depth at which snow lies upon this route is plainly distinguishable at any season. The trees are generally covered with moss down to the level of the snow. The greatest depth of undisturbed snow is 13 feet at the summit. In places where drifts occur, the depth is of course greater. It is only necessary then to start an engine with snowplows from the Summit each way at the commencement of a storm, clearing the snow as it falls. A similar course of procedure at each successive storm will keep the track open during the entire winter…"