I guess more specifically during 'Drive Time'.
Anyways, they put that snow plow in front of a locomotive or 2 and push like hell. At the approach of every crossing or switch or bridge there is a flanger sign that tells the snowplow operator to lift the flange (or plow) to avoid hitting the obstacle between the rails. (first pic below)
I asked the guy how he knows when to lift when he can't really see. He said he knows the territory like the back of his hand.
Some where on the youtube is an old old video of a locomotive pushing the snow plow up and over 12ish feet of snow. Like the plow ramps slowly up the snow and tips over. Slow speed but spectacular. I can't seem to find the right keywords.
Railfans are like bird watchers, that's why you'll see 'Nice catch man!' in some of the train vid comments.
No snowplow in this train vid, but watch the snow fly! (You will also see rotary snow throwers in the sidebar.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4txvrIQK2M
Here's a railfan posting a video of our equipment at work on the main line: (excavator and flat cars are ours, caboose and railcar mover belong to CN)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S459h7tb9CU
On approach to the obstacle, the Flanger sign is on your right, so this plow is over the obstacle already because this sign is on his left. There would have been another flanger sign on his right before he went over the obstacle.
