Severe Duty Wrote:
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> Actually, yes! I think it would be worth some
> frostbitten toes to keep switchpoints clear for
> F-units, friction bearing-ed 40-foot reefers and
> old cabooses! And I'd have plenty of brandy to
> keep the rest of me warm, too!

Back in those days all the switches on the mountain except the ones under the sheds at Norden were in the open. The Crossovers at Andover, Cisco, Gap Balloon, And all of the Gap Switches.
Switches, even those equipped with electric or gas heaters, required 2 M of W men around the clock to keep the points and frog guard rails snow cleared.
It was when CTC was installed from Truckee to Switch 9 in 1967 that the controlled switches, except the Controlled Crossover at Truckee were relocated to Shed 47, Shed 10 and under I-80 at the Gap.