Snow fence

"The line abounds in curves and grades," Mr. Thompson writes. "Snow fences are most conspicuous all the way, and vie with fire protection notices through the forests in catching the eye. [...]."

It did not need Driver Thornhill's revelations of winter snows to identify the purpose of rows of discarded sleepers flanking the alignment picket-wise in single and occasionally double formation. I had learned by bitter experience to recognise snow-fences!

On the Chicago & Illinois Midland Railway, a substantial saving has been achieved by planting some first-year seedling trees beside 2¼ miles of track where the snow fences had to be renewed every ten years.

The summit is in open moorland country, and snow fences protect the railway from drifts during winter blizzards.