2008 has become my year for extensive train travel on the West Coast visiting parts of California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.  One thnks about the history of the places the rails traverse, the hardships involved in establishing the route and towns along it.  Mountain railroading, even in modern times is demanding to maintain and expensive to operate.  Modern mechanization for earth moving and power equipment is so much more productive compared to more manual and steam labor 100 to 150 years ago.  Yet here we are in 60 year old rail cars enjoying the labor of the rail building pioneers.

   
   
The cut slope above the above left tunnel portal is also railroad right-of-way.  Above right, the rails pass under Sugar Bowl ski area lifts east of Norden.
   
The original railroad grade dating to the late 1860's is visible in the above right photo and both photos below.  Of course, the eastbound Zephyr had to get in the way.  For more information on the building of the railroad through this area, I found a number of excellent web sites with maps and photographs.  I found the preceeding one through Wikipedia.
  
Out of service snowshed at Norden.  The diverging grades are evident in the below right photo with the Chicago bound Zephyr.
   
Inside the snowshed, the tracks separate with one shed feeding the vacant railroad grade.  No intermodal freight railroad traffic uses Donner Pass due to tunnel clearance issues.  It either goes on the Feather River route or through Barstow and Yermo California.
   
BNSF Railway has trackage rights over the Union Pacific from the SP merger.
   
Could lunch be imminent?
   
Still the high Sierra peaks eluded travelers on this particular day.
   

   
Didn't we see this train heading west on the preceeding Saturday?
   

Domes Through Donner Continued