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Trains and Travel's Feather River Express The Return of the California Zephyr Part 4



by Chris Guenzler



We exited Tunnel 32 at Milepost 280.4 onto the world-famous Keddie Wye.





This tunnel completed the wye at Keddie.





Our train passed another westbound Union Pacific train.





A green signal at East Keddie as we made our way to Quincy Junction.





Quincy Junction at Milepost 287.9, where the Quincy Railroad interchanges with the Union Pacific.





Looking down into the Quincy Valley.





Crossing the Chandler trestle east of Quincy Junction.





Approaching Williams Loop.





Our train went through the tunnel and started the trek around Williams Loop.





A minute later we completed our trip around the loop, a one-mile loop helping trains gain elevation on their climb to the summit at Beckwourth Pass. The loop actually crosses over itself on its one percent grade, which is the least steep grade for a transcontinental railroad in the United States.







Passing through Spring Garden at Milepost 296.8.





Entering Spring Garden Tunnel at Milepost 297.2.





Exiting the tunnel.









We then followed the Middle Fork of the Feather River and I went in to "Silver Lariat" for dinner.





A salad was served first.





The Middle Fork of the Feather River as we neared Portola.





The Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola. We pulled past the yard office to a switch and reversed into a siding, where a Western Pacific switcher from the museum's collection pulled us back to the interchange track into the museum. We pulled forward into the museum and the switcher pulled us around the balloon track.





My Prime Rib dinner arrived while all this was happening. After our trip around the balloon track, the switcher pushed us into the track beside the shop building. After a dessert of apple cobbler 00E0 la mode, Bill Bishop and I detrained for our ride to the Pullman House.





The train at Portola after a fantastic trip here, great service all day by the excellent onboard staff provided by California Zephyr Railcar Charters, and meeting new friends. We walked over to the museum's entrance to wait for the crew van to pick us up, which they did a few minutes later and delivered us to the Pullman House, where we would spend two nights.



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