Tracking West
The Last Stand
For many years Norden held the last active searchlights on Donner Pass. Though several older signal bridges like this one had turned searchlights, this one stayed in service even after the other searchlights were torn out in favor of newer Safetrans. However, by the mid 2010s these signals were running on borrowed time but despite that managed to survive up until Thanksgiving Day 2022. In late October 2021, just over a year before the signals were torn down, the ZLTG2 was seen rolling past the old signals as it approaches Donner Summit. By this point the new Safetran Vaders had already been put up a while ago and were waiting for their moment to enter service. Today, there’s no remains of the Norden searchlights but at least some, such as the signal bridge, have been sent to new homes where they wait to be put up on public display.
The Last Stand
For many years Norden held the last active searchlights on Donner Pass. Though several older signal bridges like this one had turned searchlights, this one stayed in service even after the other searchlights were torn out in favor of newer Safetrans. However, by the mid 2010s these signals were running on borrowed time but despite that managed to survive up until Thanksgiving Day 2022. In late October 2021, just over a year before the signals were torn down, the ZLTG2 was seen rolling past the old signals as it approaches Donner Summit. By this point the new Safetran Vaders had already been put up a while ago and were waiting for their moment to enter service. Today, there’s no remains of the Norden searchlights but at least some, such as the signal bridge, have been sent to new homes where they wait to be put up on public display.