This discussion just reminded me of an aircraft jet engine that Contrail Conrail rigged to blast ice and snow from track. I saw it in action one winter during the years (1972-2004) my wife and I lived in Richmond MA in a house about 400-500 feet west of, and about 25 feet higher than, Conrail's Boston MA to Selkirk NY line (ex Boston and Albany). It came through after a particularly bad blizzard, and I heard it approaching from a long way off, thinking,"What in tarnation is that?! Boy, did that thing send snow and ice chunks flying! You didn't want to be anywhere near it.