Leaving Essex
The 2015 Valley Railroad Plow Extra leaves Essex Station on their way to clear the line to the north.
Moving Snow in Essex
A 100 year old plow leads an extra to clear the Valley Railroad's line
Across Old Deep River Road
The Valley Railroad plow extra heads north over the Old Deep River Road crossing in Centerbrook
Continuing to push snow North
The Valley Railroad plow extra continues to push snow north through Centerbrook
Towards MP5
The plow continues north towards milepost 5
At MP 5
The Valley Railroad Plow Extra heads past milepost 5 in Centerbrook
Snow Covered Tracks in Deep River
The former HT&W plow continues to move snow off of the tracks through Deep River.
Plowing Across Essex Street
Today's Valley Railroad Plow Extra crosses over Essex Street in Deep River, Connecticut.
Making the Tracks Reappear
The plow extra moves snow from the line, making the rails visible again.
A crowd at Deep River
The Plow Extra slows down at Deep River station as some members of the press cover the move. On had was a photojournalist from the Hartford Courant, as well as WFSB Channel 3 anchor Mark Zinni and his cameraman.
Clearing DR
The plow shoves snow through Deep River yard
Pausing in Deep River
The Plow Extra pauses in Deep River.
Snow Across the road
Shoving snow across a grade crossing at Deep River Landing
Past Tate's Cut
The Plow Extra continues north after passing through Tate's Cut in Deep River
Climbing the Grade
After crossing over the Dock Road grade crossing, the plow extra moves up the slight grade as they approach Ferry Road in Chester.
Past the Shanty
The plow extra passing the Hadlyme shanty in Chester.
Northward
Continuing to clear the line to the north
We've Been Working on the Railroad...
Sometimes the flangeways at a grade crossing are caked with ice. When that happens, manual labor needs to take over in chipping that ice out - ice that can easily derail the century-old plow.
Swinging the Pick
Valley Railroad foreman Rob Bradway works on a flangeway at the Chisolm Marina Road crossing.
Back Northbound
With the flangeways clear, the plow extra continues north.
Plow at Broadway
The plow extra emerges from the trees at the location known as Broadway in Haddam
Shoving Snow at Broadway
Continuing to move snow off of the tracks at Broadway in Haddam
Wider view at Broadway
A wider look at the plow clearing snow at Broadway. The white surface on the far side of the trees is the frozen Connecticut River.
Heading for Goodspeed
The Plow Extra makes their way north towards Goodspeed Station in Haddam.
