On Sat, 23 Jan 2016 10:24:53 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote:

I removed the nails that secured a railing section into the posts, as
well as the nails from one side of 2 caps. This allows me to raise the
section of railing enough to shovel underneath it. The railings fit fairly
tightly between the posts, so I can't raise either end to their final
height in a single lift. To solve this, I built "stepped" supports,
allowing me to raise the railing incrementally until it is at its final
height.

Although this section of railing is now a bit shaky, I haven't made the
deck any less safe since the railing section can't go anywhere except up.
In the spring, I'll secure the section with a few screws just to tighten
it up until next winter.

I was at a 4th of July celebration. The small town has a community
center and there is a huge deck on the front. They have a band play on
that deck, so they need to remove part of the railing. I like what they
did. Each section of railing (about 10') sits into metal brackets on
both ends, and they just lift it out of those brackets. They have a lag
bolt with wing nuts on the top rail on both ends so no one accidentally
lifts it out of the brackets. Once it's removed, all that remains is a
4x4 post every 10'.

I've considered doing that on my porch, because I too have to toss it
over, or push between the rails. Our last snowstorm left snow as high as
my doorknob (3 to 4 ft). Come Spring, I plan to make the rear rail
removable the same way. In my case, thats only a 5 1/2' section. My
porch is only 5 1/2' X 8 ft, but when the snow is that deep, it's a pain
to remove it. If I dont toss it over, it has to go down the steps and
then I have to shovel it twice.