image007-Sac-WP-708
Reno Trip, February 1984
Anne and I started dating in January 1984. I think it was in February that we took our first of what have been many train trips across Donner Pass, this one from Sacramento to Reno.
I don't recall much about the trip. Obviously, we had nice days for the ride up and back, with snow at the higher elevations. In those days, Amtrak added extra cars to the California Zephyr between Oakland and Sparks for the Reno crowd and we were back in the Sparks coaches.
We either got to the station very early or #6 was running late, as the Port Job came through with a WP GP7. UP had taken over the WP over a year earlier, but WP power could still be found on local trains in California. The Port Job was a Sacramento Northern operation, but often had WP power even before the UP merger.
#5 and a westbound SP freight also passed while we waited for #6. Not sure why I didn't get a photo of the front of #5. An SP SD45 and Amtrak F40 led #6 to Reno. The second F40 must have had some problem and been cut.
My out the vestibule photos show the usual suspects, Long Ravine, Cape Horn, snowy country near Troy, Shed 47, Andover, Donner Lake and near Stanford. Allowing for P42s and different paint on the Superliners, I some took similar photos on our trip to Truckee last month, 36 years after this first trip together.
We just went up on Saturday and returned on Sunday. I do recall that we called Circus Circus' reservation line and they got us a room in a motel somewhere north of the tracks. Anne was surprised that I had no interest in gambling after dinner. I got an A in Statistics and Probability in college and that kinda ruined gambling for me. The house will always win in the end.
Judging by what everyone was wearing when #5 arrived Sunday morning, it was cold in Reno that weekend, but our return found Sacramento more comfortable...and the UP's Port Job held behind us while passengers unloaded.
This was our first trip over Donner on Amtrak, and has been followed by I have no idea how many more in the subsequent 36 years....probably close to 100 between trips to Truckee and Reno and trips to the east coast. We'll probably continue as long as we are mobile enough to make the trip.
image007-Sac-WP-708
Reno Trip, February 1984
Anne and I started dating in January 1984. I think it was in February that we took our first of what have been many train trips across Donner Pass, this one from Sacramento to Reno.
I don't recall much about the trip. Obviously, we had nice days for the ride up and back, with snow at the higher elevations. In those days, Amtrak added extra cars to the California Zephyr between Oakland and Sparks for the Reno crowd and we were back in the Sparks coaches.
We either got to the station very early or #6 was running late, as the Port Job came through with a WP GP7. UP had taken over the WP over a year earlier, but WP power could still be found on local trains in California. The Port Job was a Sacramento Northern operation, but often had WP power even before the UP merger.
#5 and a westbound SP freight also passed while we waited for #6. Not sure why I didn't get a photo of the front of #5. An SP SD45 and Amtrak F40 led #6 to Reno. The second F40 must have had some problem and been cut.
My out the vestibule photos show the usual suspects, Long Ravine, Cape Horn, snowy country near Troy, Shed 47, Andover, Donner Lake and near Stanford. Allowing for P42s and different paint on the Superliners, I some took similar photos on our trip to Truckee last month, 36 years after this first trip together.
We just went up on Saturday and returned on Sunday. I do recall that we called Circus Circus' reservation line and they got us a room in a motel somewhere north of the tracks. Anne was surprised that I had no interest in gambling after dinner. I got an A in Statistics and Probability in college and that kinda ruined gambling for me. The house will always win in the end.
Judging by what everyone was wearing when #5 arrived Sunday morning, it was cold in Reno that weekend, but our return found Sacramento more comfortable...and the UP's Port Job held behind us while passengers unloaded.
This was our first trip over Donner on Amtrak, and has been followed by I have no idea how many more in the subsequent 36 years....probably close to 100 between trips to Truckee and Reno and trips to the east coast. We'll probably continue as long as we are mobile enough to make the trip.