This is a road trip connecting multiple rail features, and a few non-rail items. The original purpose was to ride the Denver Post train behind UP 844. However, there is a steam festival the following weekend in Michigan, so that got added. I'll try to get caught up on dates during the next week or so.
Sunday July 12
I left home in the late afternoon via the Feather River Canyon. This is the lowest pass across the Sierras, "discovered" by James Beckwourth, who used it to build the Beckwourth Trail to the gold mines near Marysville. The Feather River route was much shorter and safer than Donner Pass for gold seekers. I prefer it to Donner for its stunning scenery, and in winter often find it dry when Donner has chain controls.
The Feather River rail route was completed by Western Pacific in 1909. Centennial celebrations are supposed to have been scheduled, but I haven't seen any announcements. It is considered an engineering marvel. The maximum grade is 1 percent, half as steep as the Donner Pass route. Two railfan features are the Keddie Wye (named after the route surveyer) and the one mile long Williams Loop (to gain track elevation on the west side in order to meet that 1 percent standard).
There wasn't any rail traffic in the canyon, which is unusual, and I spotted a possible reason near the Pulga Bridge: a hi-railer on a single-track section, so stopped looking for trains. Just past the summit I passed a freight moving westbound, though, so reversed course to get to the Williams Loop first for photos and a video of the train looped over itself.
I continued after dark across Nevada on US-50, "The Loneliest Road in America," beautiful country anytime, but especially by Milky Way-light and later by moonlight.
Article on railfanning in the Feather River Canyon
Photos and video (better video later).
Edit: Add railfanning link and photo link
Sunday July 12
I left home in the late afternoon via the Feather River Canyon. This is the lowest pass across the Sierras, "discovered" by James Beckwourth, who used it to build the Beckwourth Trail to the gold mines near Marysville. The Feather River route was much shorter and safer than Donner Pass for gold seekers. I prefer it to Donner for its stunning scenery, and in winter often find it dry when Donner has chain controls.
The Feather River rail route was completed by Western Pacific in 1909. Centennial celebrations are supposed to have been scheduled, but I haven't seen any announcements. It is considered an engineering marvel. The maximum grade is 1 percent, half as steep as the Donner Pass route. Two railfan features are the Keddie Wye (named after the route surveyer) and the one mile long Williams Loop (to gain track elevation on the west side in order to meet that 1 percent standard).
There wasn't any rail traffic in the canyon, which is unusual, and I spotted a possible reason near the Pulga Bridge: a hi-railer on a single-track section, so stopped looking for trains. Just past the summit I passed a freight moving westbound, though, so reversed course to get to the Williams Loop first for photos and a video of the train looped over itself.
I continued after dark across Nevada on US-50, "The Loneliest Road in America," beautiful country anytime, but especially by Milky Way-light and later by moonlight.
Article on railfanning in the Feather River Canyon
Photos and video (better video later).
Edit: Add railfanning link and photo link
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