@Jourei
In the second video, where the train is clearing trees with just a cow catcher on the front of the locomotive, not even a snowplough, they go rightfully through some very large trunks. The locomotive is very heavy, it would take a large rockfall or damage to the tracks to derail it.

@Susan60 @collectifission

@Susan60

The Q&A video with the younger driver who was on the track-clearing run says it all.

It’s Canada, they can’t wait for perfection so they just sent an empty train on a bright clear day to clear it. They let the cow catcher force the trunks down under the wheels of the train. Only branches less than 10 cm could get through and the windshield wipers kept the view clear.

The image of a locomotive pushing forward through the snow is classic, one that stays with you having seen it since childhood.

@collectifission

@Sorchus

The younger engineer on that run followed up with a Q&A more recently.

Apparently there *were* a lot of trees down in central BC after the first big snow that year. This video is an empty grain car train that was sent through to clear the track for others. It just had the regular *cow catcher* on the front, not even the plow.

https://youtu.be/IxeEoiFTK6M

@Susan60 @collectifission