After meeting the long Union Pacific freight, we continued up the grade towards James.
Going underneath California Highway 70 which would follow us up the Feather River Canyon.
Climbing the grade to Tunnel four.
Our train entered Tunnel four, Milepost 224.7 of the Canyon Subdivision of the Feather River Division.
After passing through James, we crossed the West Branch of Lake Oroville on a double-deck bridge with the railroad on the lower level.
Crossing the West Branch of Lake Oroville.
After plunging into Tunnel five at Milepost 227.3, we exited to a brief period of daylight.
Dark Canyon is where the Western Pacific had Ford trucks escort trains through the canyon in bad weather.
The train exited Tunnel eight at Milepost 230.4 onto the North Fork bridge.
The North Fork of the Feather River.
The North Fork bridge.
The access bridge across the North Fork of the Feather River.
Our train climbed the one percent grade which the Western Pacific was built to.
At Poe, Milepost 236.6, we passed a westbound BNSF freight in the siding.
Entering Tunnel nine, Milepost 236.3.
Working up the grade of the Feather River Canyon.
Passing through Tunnels ten, at Milepost 237.0, and 11, Milepost 237.3, on our way to Pulga.
We crossed a small bridge over a stream dropping into the Feather River Canyon.
Our train kept climbing.
The North Fork of the Feather River.
The twin bridges at Pulga. The taller bridge is a truss arch that was built in 1932 and received some repairs and a seismic retrofit in 2002. It carries State Route 70 over the river and over the Western Pacific (now Union Pacific) Railroad Bridge 170 feet below. This portion of State Route 70 was established as the 'Feather River Scenic Byway' by the USDA Forest Service and includes about 130 miles of road carved out of the Feather River Gorge through the Sierra Nevada.
Pulga at Milepost 240.1.
The North Fork of the Feather River.
Our train continued the climb.
The North Fork of the Feather River.
The rock wall across the river is impressive.
Tunnel thirteen at Milepost 245.0.
Interesting geology.
Our train still working that one percent grade.
A tunnel on Highway 70.
A dam on the North Fork of the Feather River.
The North Fork of the Feather River.
Our train approaching the Rock Creek Trestle.
The Rock Creek trestle at Milepost 249.1.
The grade continued as our train climbed higher.
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The twin bridges at Tobin.
The North Fork of the Feather River.
A green signal ahead.
The North Fork of the Feather River.
Camp Rodgers at Milepost 256.3.
Another dam on the North Fork of the Feather River.
The Honeymoon Tunnels at Milepost 257.4.
That beautiful lake along the Honeymoon Tunnels.
Crossing another small bridge.
The North Fork of the Feather River.
A water pipe from Lake Almanor.
We took the siding at Belden, milepost 260.6, for this westbound Union Pacific train.
This view shows the one percent grade.
Highway 70 and the North Fork of the Feather River.
Still climbing!
The North Fork of the Feather River.
We continued our ascent.
Rolling east through Rich Bar at Milepost 264.5.
We had reached Spanish Creek which we would follow to Keddie and beyond.
The trees were still trying to show their autumn colours.
Crossing another high trestle.
The trestle on the High Line came into view, meaning that we would go through Tunnel 32 and then cross the world-famous Keddie Wye.
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