Over Donner Pass

Turning northeast from Sacramento we pass the huge rail yards at Roseville. Literally hundreds of Union Pacific locos awaiting service. Almost makes me want to change prototype.

We proceeded at a stately pace up the hill toward Emigrant Gap and Donner Pass. One advantage of going up such a steep hill is that the train doesn't go much more than 35MPH, making it a little easier to try to shoot vistas through the trees.

We follow the American River Canyon up the hill to Emigrant Gap, then switch over to the other side of the ridge and follow the Yuma River up to the summit. mWe are well over a mile above sea level, so my ears are poppin' just like heading up in a plane.

Most of this route parallels Interstate 80. But I prefer to see it from the train.

Toward the summit is Donner Lake, site of the unusual pioneer gastronomy.

The summit, at over 7K feet, is in a long tunnel. When we emerge and begin to descend the vegetation becomes more desertlike.

This is the Truckee River, and it's gorgeous. I'm in the last car, so it's easy to see the locomotives as we round curves. In some cases the tracks are doubling back to ease the grade.

Wooden flumes still carry water down the hill to power hydroelectric generators.

One of the more charming stations along our route; apparently the tracks used to go right through Reno at grade level, causing constant traffic holdups. So the city put the whole route in a trench. As always, exquisite taste in Nevada.

A very satisfying day so far.