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.