Rio Grande spreader AX-41 plows snow at the east end of Cliff siding at Pinecliffe, Colorado, on March 21, 2003. They are removing deep snow up to the last car of a westbound coal empty that never made it beyond Pinecliffe during the storm and now has to be dug out. Power for the spreader was a fitting Rio Grande GP40-2 No. 3100 and Union Pacific GP60 No. 1900 (former D&RGW No. 3154). This major blizzard closed transportation through much of Colorado during the March 17-20 storm. Denver received 31.8 inches, while Coal Creek Canyon got 71.8 inches and Rollinsville 87.5. With Pinecliffe located between the two, it received a whopping 6 to 7 feet of heavy, wet snow! To see how deep the snow is CLICK HERE and notice the men standing there next to the spreader!
