Railpictures.ca - Jason Noe Photo: During a day filled with snow squalls and heavy winds, Ontario Southland Railways crews were hard at work plowing both their lines to Tillsonburg and St. Thomas. Here, the plow is seen uncoupled beside the Salford shop as the pair of FP9u’s had went ahead to battle some deep drifts solo just outside Salford. A short time later, the FP9u’s would return and couple to plow 401005 resuming snow clearing efforts for the remainder of the afternoon on the St. Thomas Subdivision. | Railpictures.ca – Canadian Railway Photography

During a day filled with snow squalls and heavy winds, Ontario Southland Railways crews were hard at work plowing both their lines to Tillsonburg and St. Thomas. Here, the plow is seen uncoupled beside the Salford shop as the pair of FP9u’s had went ahead to battle some deep drifts solo just outside Salford. A short time later, the FP9u’s would return and couple to plow 401005 resuming snow clearing efforts for the remainder of the afternoon on the St. Thomas Subdivision.

Caption: During a day filled with snow squalls and heavy winds, Ontario Southland Railways crews were hard at work plowing both their lines to Tillsonburg and St. Thomas. Here, the plow is seen uncoupled beside the Salford shop as the pair of FP9u’s had went ahead to battle some deep drifts solo just outside Salford. A short time later, the FP9u’s would return and couple to plow 401005 resuming snow clearing efforts for the remainder of the afternoon on the St. Thomas Subdivision.

Photographer:	Jason Noe [1120] (more) (contact)
Date:	02/18/2025 (search)
Railway:	Ontario Southland (search)
Reporting Marks:	OSR 401005 (search)
Train Symbol:	Not Provided
Subdivision/SNS:	Tillsonburg Spur (search)
City/Town:	Salford (search)
Province:	Ontario (search)
Share Link:	http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=58390

Click here to Log-in or Register and add your vote.


15 Favourites	Photographers like Gold.Log-in or Register to show appreciation
View count:	299 Views

Share this image on Facebook, Twitter or email using the icons below
Photo ID: 57060

Map courtesy of Open Street Map

Full size | Suncalc

All comments must be positive in nature and abide by site rules. Anything else may be removed without warning.

2 Comments

RonaldB

February 15, 2026 at 4:38 pm

Don Broadbear always said F units made good plows.
RonaldB

February 15, 2026 at 4:44 pm

Salford was usually the location of the heaviest drifting on the Port Burwell Sub. The cut right near where the shop is now, would fill in sometimes higher than the train. It was common to make two or three runs to clear that cut. One time I was on a plow and we kept derailing at that location. After reraling the plow about 5 times, the company called a contractor to bring in a huge front end loader to clear the cut. After he finished, we ‘tweaked” it a bit and continued all the way to Port Burwell. The reason we kept derailing, was that the company failed to run a plow on the weekend when the late Friday snow was softened by Saturday rain and by the time we were called Monday, a flash freeze had turned the whole mess rock hard.

Cancel reply

To comment you must log in. Not a member? Click here to register

RonaldB

February 15, 2026 at 4:38 pm

Don Broadbear always said F units made good plows.

February 15, 2026 at 4:44 pm

Salford was usually the location of the heaviest drifting on the Port Burwell Sub. The cut right near where the shop is now, would fill in sometimes higher than the train. It was common to make two or three runs to clear that cut. One time I was on a plow and we kept derailing at that location. After reraling the plow about 5 times, the company called a contractor to bring in a huge front end loader to clear the cut. After he finished, we ‘tweaked” it a bit and continued all the way to Port Burwell. The reason we kept derailing, was that the company failed to run a plow on the weekend when the late Friday snow was softened by Saturday rain and by the time we were called Monday, a flash freeze had turned the whole mess rock hard.