Snow Chains
That's right, but not just basic car ones we are talking about TRUCK ones
These chains were used to help get trucks in and out of the mountains in the area, much of these trucks were used in the Snowy Hydro like:
Without chains most trucks would never had been able to get into some places during the wet and/or snowy months.
Tho these days there is newer types out there, but most still come back to the old ways and Snow Chains are required in much of the Snowy mountains to this day.
History Of Snow Chains from Wikipedia.
Snow chains were invented in 1904 by Harry D. Weed in Canastota, New York.
Weed received U.S. Patent 0,768,495 for his "Grip-Tread for Pneumatic Tires" on August 23, 1904.
Weed's great-grandson, James Weed, said that Harry got the idea of creating chains for tires when he saw drivers wrap rope, or even vines, around their tires to increase traction on muddy or snowy roads.
At this time, most people in rural Northern regions wouldn't bother driving automobiles in the winter at all, since roads were usually rolled for use with horse-drawn sleighs, rather than plowed. Automobiles were generally not winter vehicles, for a variety of reasons until the 1930s or 1940s in some areas.
Only in urban areas was it possible to remove snow from streets.
He sought to make a traction device that was more durable and would work with snow as well as mud.
In July 1935, the Canadian Auguste Trudeau obtained a patent for his tread and anti-skidding chain.