What happens when a train gets buried in snow – 1952 Donner Pass Incident



In today’s video, we take a look at the time in 1952 when a passenger train got stuck in the snow, and the near impossible task of …

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27 thoughts on “What happens when a train gets buried in snow – 1952 Donner Pass Incident”

  1. please do a video on
    the porters steam loco
    the Japanese class d5,
    the Chinese QJ 2,10,2
    or just exsamples of asian trains
    how do gear trains work
    something on saddle bolier and side tanks (like the big water boxes) tank engines
    double ended diesel trains (and electric)
    eletric trains
    American and European switches other then the British class 07-09
    what to do if the train stalls
    one talking about the different types of steam funnles and there uses,
    a video on steam locomotive combination breaks (steam and vacuum brakes)

    a short video on how a Armstrong turn table works
    what did train flagman do
    what did trains (mostly steam) do when going in tunnels, ive heard of gas masks or just useing a wet cloth, or did they bring in other engines like later on they used electric trains, or were there no bigv tunnels.
    evaluation of electric trains

    why are some trains wagion tops (the stream lining thing to boilers)
    railway terms abd slang
    one on the meaning of flag and lantern colors like green on rear engine means theres another one coming soon,

    the different types of cut offs/reversers/Johnson bar
    some are a big lever, some are a big valve wheel, and ive also seen some that are like rods, one exsample is train sim world 3 and im not sure where to find the other reverser

    and how much water do steam trains take usually, and how much would the crew drink

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  2. In April 2011 we got stuck for over 24 hours in the middle of North Dakota on Amtrak’s westbound Empire Builder due to spring flooding. Half of the toilets were almost immediately put out-of-service because they became full. Somehow people opened the doors on the stalled train so they could smoke. We drank booze or free coffee, chatted and all enjoyed each other’s company. In the pitch North Dakota darkness all we could see was water surrounding the train! They eventually returned to Fargo and rerouted us on a freight track line. Amtrak gave us all a $150 voucher for future train tickets that we swore we’d never take ever again! Lol
    Yet that June I made use of my voucher and put it towards three tickets for my friends and I to take the Empire Builder (once again) to Glacier National Park. Near Cutbank Montana the train once again had to stop but this time due to high winds! As we were sitting in the dining car waiting for the train to move a train conductor I recognized from the North Dakota adventure walked by! I immediately said hello and reminded him of our time stuck together on the April ride. He remembered me, smiled and said to me (as if I were bad luck) “Stay off my train!” 🤣
    We had a good chuckle and we’re soon moving again. Train travel is great!

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  3. Brings back memories of being stuck on a BR train outside Cumbria, December 1980, after trying to get back to Belfast from Leeds Uni. We had to travel North from Leeds after returning due to a breakdown, then go cross country towards Liverpool for the ferry, finally wedged in a huge snowdrift for about 8 hours after finding that ferry cancelled. We did make it to Stranraer only to be faced with utterly monstrous seas halfway across to Larne. At least the restaurant was empty and we could get served 😆

    The things we used to put up with as students….

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  4. I mean it’s actually not surprising that nobody sued the rail company, the railroad company and its staff went above and beyond to ensure the passengers comfort and safety in such harsh conditions, they did everything they possibly could at the time and I think the passengers understood that

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  5. My, what an adventure that must've been! I have to think hard to imagine that this happened in Sunny California and not in one of the northern states like Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota or New York. I can't be sure if I did read about this before in a magazine but if I didn't, then it is always a treat to hear stories like these from you!

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  6. This is a much better retelling of the story than listening to 4 drunk people try to tell it 😛

    A fascinating telling nonetheless! I'm curious what safety precautions have been learned from this since

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  7. In the end of the 80's an avalage blocked the track and stranded our train at the station of Garmisch partenkirchen in Southern Germany
    Local power from the railway station and some portable gasheaters from me and other passengers made that situationa an experience i will never forget.
    Everybody becomes equal in such dire situations
    I will never forget how happy people can be when you brew several cans of morning coffee on a portable gasstove in the enterance halway of a carrieage.
    It lasted 3 days before the line was cleared.
    At the final destination we all had a cup of coffee made on a portable gasstove at the platform of Insbruck.
    The Traincrew bought local Ausrian treats "apfelstrudel" for us passengers.
    Sometimes you yust have to make the best of it

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