❄️Witness the daunting task of clearing heavy snowfall on Donner Pass.
🚂Experience the winter journey of trains as they navigate the steep Sierra Nevada mountains.
🌨️Learn about the challenges faced by the maintenance of way equipment in harsh winter conditions.
🛤️Discover the history and engineering behind the Transcontinental Railroad's route through the Sierra Nevada.
🌬️Appreciate the determination and effort required to keep the mainline open during winter storms.
What is Donner Pass?
—Donner Pass is a mountain pass in the Sierra Nevada, located in Northern California.
How do trains handle heavy snowfall on Donner Pass?
—Trains on Donner Pass utilize snow-fighting equipment such as flangers, spreaders, and rotaries to clear the tracks.
When was the Transcontinental Railroad built through the Sierra Nevada?
—The Transcontinental Railroad was completed in 1869, with Donner Pass being a crucial part of the route.
What challenges do workers face in maintaining the tracks during winter?
—Workers face challenges such as heavy snowfall, harsh winter conditions, and the need to continuously clear the tracks to ensure safe passage.
What is the elevation of Donner Pass?
—Donner Pass sits at an elevation of 7,056 feet.
00:04Donner Pass is part of the original Transcontinental Railroad route.
03:08Flangers and spreaders are deployed to keep the tracks clear of snow.
08:10Rotaries are used for heavy snow removal, even in challenging winter conditions.
12:13Snow sheds, once covering Donner Pass, are no longer in use.
17:32Tunnels 35 and 36 provide shortcuts through the granite mountain.
18:26The legendary snowbound incident of the City of San Francisco is recounted.
22:00The reduced track configuration creates a bottleneck for traffic on Donner Pass.
26:38Tunnels 35, 36, and 37 offer picturesque views of trains passing through.
28:09Yuba Pass marks the transition to granite within the Sierra Nevada mountains.
