Classic Norden
Another from "Rotary Day" exactly four years ago. Even two years on I still struggle with putting it into words. It was truly a dream come true and the opportunity to experience one of the rarest and most impressive sights in railroading. Something that has happened not more than 6 or 8 times in my lifetime!
But I guess sometimes it is better to be lucky than good. This was my first trip to Donner Pass, a place I'd dreamt of seeing ever since I was young child, and I got to shoot the rotaries working! We use the phrase once in a lifetime a lot...but this time it was apt!
While, rebuilt #207 on the east end did most of the work, unrebuilt #209 (Alco-Brooks September 1929) was alive and spinning as seen here drifting out of the snowshed at Norden. After working east to the 6972 ft top of the pass at the Big Hole, summit Tunnel 41, they are headed back west down the 1.88% grade passing beneath what was then the last remaining original Southern Pacific searchlight signal bridge on the pass. Symboled WTKTKF 25 they are on Track 1 at MP 191.7 on the modern day UP's Roseville Subdivision having just exited the more than 1000 foot long concrete snowshed protecting the crossovers at this truly legendary location.
Norden
Donner Pass, California
Saturday February 25, 2017
Classic Norden
Another from "Rotary Day" exactly four years ago. Even two years on I still struggle with putting it into words. It was truly a dream come true and the opportunity to experience one of the rarest and most impressive sights in railroading. Something that has happened not more than 6 or 8 times in my lifetime!
But I guess sometimes it is better to be lucky than good. This was my first trip to Donner Pass, a place I'd dreamt of seeing ever since I was young child, and I got to shoot the rotaries working! We use the phrase once in a lifetime a lot...but this time it was apt!
While, rebuilt #207 on the east end did most of the work, unrebuilt #209 (Alco-Brooks September 1929) was alive and spinning as seen here drifting out of the snowshed at Norden. After working east to the 6972 ft top of the pass at the Big Hole, summit Tunnel 41, they are headed back west down the 1.88% grade passing beneath what was then the last remaining original Southern Pacific searchlight signal bridge on the pass. Symboled WTKTKF 25 they are on Track 1 at MP 191.7 on the modern day UP's Roseville Subdivision having just exited the more than 1000 foot long concrete snowshed protecting the crossovers at this truly legendary location.
Norden
Donner Pass, California
Saturday February 25, 2017