Epic Blizzard of 2013 Discussion

[Tracer]

NEC dispatcher just mentioned a "work extra" heading west as we speak, not sure if they have the plow. Sounds like there somewhere around readville as of about 9pm.

[Dick H]

These are the "modern" MBTA plows. I believe they were originallly
B&M plows and were rebuilt and modernized by the Hobo Railroad shop.
Thanks to Dave Hutchinson for the photo from January 2011.

http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo ... &key=bmcdr

[sery2831]

Yes, these are ex B&M plows. They should see some use at some point after the storm.

[octr202]

As of just before 9:00AM Saturday, MEMA is saying that the MBTA will not be running at all on Saturday.

[TomNelligan]

A Fitchburg Line snow-pushing extra (a standard coach consist with an F40 at each end) just went west through Waltham at 15-20 mph.

[sery2831]

There is a power outage in Quincy. This is effecting the Red Line and maybe the cause for a radio/communication failure for the entire Rapid Transit digital radio system. Until the system is back online, trains will not be able to carry revenue passengers.

[octr202]

MBCR plow extra was through Andover EB about 12:15 (on the Robot Foamer at Shawsheen at 12:19). Heard it coming back WB about 2:30 PM, but by the time I got across the street it was pretty far past for a photo. It was one of the gensets with the two MBTA plows.

[wicked]

Last I heard, the entire city of Quincy was dark. That was early this AM, though.

[Dick H]

Here's that plow extra that Mr. Nelligan mentioned.
Passing through Lunenburg.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq3G3sETD0Q

[sery2831]

MBTA put out a 9pm update saying ALL service is suspended for Sunday 2/10/13

[BostonUrbEx]

Oak Grove has a massive amount of parking missing thanks to snow piles, and the platform is still 75% buried in snow. Malden has massive piles around the busway. Wyoming Hill, Cedar Park, Highlands, Greenwood, and Wakefield all looked in decent shape. Although it seems they buried the plowed tracks again at some stations when they cleared off the platforms. For example, it looks like they piled a foot of snow onto the inbound track at Wyoming Hill again. When I went to Cedar Park, the gates were stuck down. I'm not sure if I was the first one there if others had been there and turned back already. I though I was lucky to be catching some plows, maybe, but alas... nothing turned up. The gates were down for at least 20 minutes before the men with blue flashing lights showed up. As for parking at commuter rail stations, they all looked good (although I couldn't get to the parking at Cedar Park to see it) except Highlands, which has most of its parking buried.

[octr202]

Didn't get to post it, but the (or one of the) snow trains was out on the Western Route last night. A little after 10 pm what (from a distance) to be a passenger consist with F40's on both ends came through Andover westbound, slowly.

The Shawsheen Robot Foamer showed a westbound PAR freight about 5:20 am Sunday morning, so it looks like Pan Am is starting to stir as well.

[BostonUrbEx]

A little after 10 pm what (from a distance) to be a passenger consist with F40's on both ends came through Andover westbound, slowly.

Yep, that's what it was. Saw that consist going through Malden at approximately 9:30. There were approximately four or five single level coaches in the middle.

[octr202]

Looks like they're back at it this morning, heard a rumble here in Andover about 9:00 AM, and sure enough, the 1005 is on the robot foamer at 9:07 am eastbound.

http://shawsheen.com/RobotFoamer/

[octr202]

T is now saying limited service will resume at 2pm Sunday on:

Red Line
Orange Line
Blue Line (Orient Hgts to city only)
Green Line (Lechmere to Kenmore only)
Buses: 1, 23, 28, 29, Silver Line Washington St

Regular service to resume tomorrow morning.

http://www.mbta.com/winter/