Working for the sp, and sharing an interest in railroad history, has given the. His description was first published as an article in a nashville, tn newspaper in the spring of 1847 and later in a book published in 1879. New visitor center at donner pass about more than just one. Nov 22, 2017 he noted that the donner pass opening through the sierra nevada has been used for centuries. Arguably donner pass is the most important square mile in california with many firsts. Apr 16, 2018 he is a founding member of colfaxbased placersierra railroad heritage society. Ghost towns, lake tahoe, railroad or trains, truckee, and winter sports. Donner pass unique and important on donner pass you can stand in one place and see the parade of history. The railroads first and second lines of defense against snowstorms flangers and spreaders were unable to keep the tracks clear due to the depth of snow walls, so the rotary was required to clear large amounts of snow in a timely manner. Aug 18, 2016 with our alltime donner pass map from february 2015 in hand, i drove to colfax, where an eastbound stack train was climbing the grade at a leisurely pace. The pass has been used by the california trail, first transcontinental railroad, overland route, lincoln highway. This book i thought was very immformitive about the southern pacifics donner pass. Like the sierra nevada mountains themselves, the pass has a steep approach from the east and a gradual approach from the west.
Coates during the last three ice ages, glaciers covered the truckee river basin and surrounding mountains carving out donner lake and many other lakes. In the donner party tragedy, twothirds of the men in the party perished, while twothirds of the women and children lived. History of the truckee area truckeedonner historical society. Truckeedonner historical society was founded july 24, 1968 to preserve the history of the truckee donner area. History of truckee railroads since very early on, railroads have played a major part in the development of truckee. It continues to discuss the history of the big four railroads of california, the southern pacific, santa fe, union pacific, and western pacific. With our alltime donner pass map from february 2015 in hand, i drove to colfax, where an eastbound stack train was climbing the grade at a leisurely pace. Oct, 2018 the donner pass summit tunnel hike is one of the best hikes i have been on in a long time, if only because it is so historic and unique. Railroads of nevada county by andrew brandon arcadia.
Congress in 1862 to build a railroad eastwards from sacramento, california, to complete the western part of the first transcontinental railroad in north america. Track work, the summer chore of every mountain railroad susceptible to snow in the winter, was underway, and even stacks out of oakland are not immune. Truckee became home to expansive locomotive facilities for helper locomotives on trains westbound over donner pass after the completion of the transcontinental railroad. Please join us in our efforts and enjoy the website. Signor the full story of rail operations over the wests. Batterdale books buys and sells secondhand books on british and overseas railways, canals, trams and buses, and industrial history. Digitized and orthorectified aerial image courtesy usgs click to enlarge. Southern pacifics sierra crossing, by signor, john r. It depicts the history of the area and the people who came into this part of the sierra, including local native americans, the donner party, and builders of the transcontinental railroad. Postcards, posters, maps, and books about the human and natural history of the area are for sale at the museum. She was well aware of my passion for donner pass, skiing, and the sp. The donner party hike is a weekend of fun interpretive hikes and talks sept. In 1862, the central pacific and the union pacific railroad companies began building a transcontinental railroad that would link the united states from east to.
We join his story about three weeks after the donner party arrived at the blocked pass. Some of the migrants resorted to cannibalism to survive, eating the bodies of those who had succumbed to starvation and sickness. Through the end of the 19th century, additional railroads were constructed, bringing the outside world closer to the remote corners of the county. Winter on donner pass is only at the halfway mark but already is proving one to be remembered. Specializing in western railroad history books by john r.
Choose from seven unique hikes on saturday, followed by lunch, music and a historical talk that ties all the hikes to the history. Donner pass is well known for two different incidents that occurred near the. The sps venerable donner pass was actually completed by predecessor central pacific. The book starts with a history of the railroads of california starting with the central pacific. This volume presents all you ever wanted to know about southern pacifics rail passage over californias donner pass. The 2020 truckee river railroad operating schedule is now available. Sps sierra crossing, that i received from my grandmother at 18 years old. The nowabandoned tunnels were built for the transcontinental railroad on the route where the first wagon train entered california.
Truckee donner historical society was founded july 24, 1968 to preserve the history of the truckee donner area. It told quite a bit about not only the operations on the railroad but also about all of the equipment that is used to keep and mantain the railroad through the harsk sierra mt. History of the truckee area truckeedonner historical. Patrick breen was a member of the donner party and kept a diary of their ordeal during the winter of 184647.
In 1846, a group of settlers from illinois, originally known as the donner reed party but now usually referred to as the donner party, became snowbound in early fall as a result of several trail mishaps, poor decisionmaking, and an early onset of winter that year. The transcontinental railroads western leg was known as the central pacific, the vision of theodore d. The pass has been used by the california trail, first. Bhi publications publishes railroad photo books intended for use by manufacturers and modelers. He is a founding member of colfaxbased placersierra railroad heritage society. Mar 10, 2017 the plow cut through snow that reached depths of feet, across 14 miles near the donner pass. For an interesting study of the harshness of winter weather at donner pass see the article by mark mclaughlin, reign of the sierra storm king. The entire hike is basically walking through an old abandoned railroad tunnel that has been overrun with graffiti but is still a fantastic example of the history of northern california. Judah, an accomplished engineer who surveyed a manageable grade through the sierranevada range running 115 miles from sacrament to the nevada state line. Postcards, posters, maps, and books about the human and natural history of the area are for sale in the visitor center. While most books written about the donner party emphasize the. The pass over donner peak in northern california is known as donner summit. Discover donner pass summit tunnels in truckee, california.
The tragic story of the donner party legends of america. Rotary snowplow returns to donner pass cool video ice. The most difficult challenge in its construction was the crossing of the sierra over 7,056foot donner pass. Central pacific railroad photographic history museum. Donner pass summit tunnels truckee, california atlas. Donner pass southern pacifics sierra crossing john r. The donner pass region is at the crossroads of a nation, where native americans traveled for millennia, emigrant wagon trains made their way to california and where the country built its first transcontinental railroad and highway. Examining the smoothed and striated rock along old highway 40 near donner pass, one can still see much evidence of this glacial action. Southern pacific puts you at the controls of southern pacific diesels in the early1990s, taking trains between roseville, california and reno, nevada through the foothills of the sierra nevada and high up through the incredible 7,000foot donner pass. Keseberg was the last member of the donner party to arrive at sutters fort on april 29th. Some of the migrants resorted to cannibalism to survive, eating the bodies of. The donner party sometimes called the donnerreed party was a group of american pioneers who migrated to california in a wagon train from the midwest. Despite this, the route is a vital artery in ups system today between chicago and oakland, california.
The rail motorcar on the class 1 railroads of the united states, by keilty, edmund, interurban press special no. Summit tunnel at donner pass, central pacific railroad, 1999. In 1862, the central pacific and the union pacific railroad companies began building a transcontinental railroad that would link the united states from east to west. It was the first major civil war conflict to take place in northern territory and resulted in more than 20,000 casualties in one day. Apr 09, 2018 truckee became home to expansive locomotive facilities for helper locomotives on trains westbound over donner pass after the completion of the transcontinental railroad. The plow cut through snow that reached depths of feet, across 14 miles near the donner pass. Posted in uncategorized monthly meeting for march canceled. Donner pass and the snowsheds that have faded away. Now, with donner pass, he has expanded his coverage of great mountain railroads in the west to include the grandfather of them all, sps sierra crossing. The reader will find lots of railroad history in addition to some really good storytelling. Incorporated in 1861, cprr ceased operation in 1885 when it was acquired by southern pacific railroad as a leased line.
As the donner party approached the summit of the sierra mountains near what is now donner lake known as truckee lake at the time they found the pass clogged with newfallen snow up to six feet deep. Ncngrr museum hosts book discussion and signing event yubanet. Working for the sp, and sharing an interest in railroad history, has given the author an ability to probe deeply into his subject. Track work, the summer chore of every mountain railroad susceptible to snow in the winter, was.
Truckeedonner historical society welcome to the truckee. Today, it hosts both interstate 80 formerly us route 40, the lincoln highway and union pacifics roseville subdivision. Rotary snowplow returns to donner pass cool video ice age now. At the summit, over 90 feet of snow falls annually. Donner pass summit tunnels truckee, california atlas obscura. Donner pass is a high mountain pass located in the sierra nevada mountain range, through which emigrants first traveled to california in 1844. While there were many who put great time, energy, and money into the venture his unyielding efforts in what he called his railroad central pacific laid the groundwork and firmly believed an acceptable route with manageable grades could be built through californias seemingly. Railroads of nevada county by andrew brandon arcadia publishing. For thousands of years people have been crossing the sierra at donner pass and have left behind evidence of their activities. He noted that the donner pass opening through the sierra nevada has been used for centuries. Promoted heavily by theodore judah, the engineer who plotted the donner pass route in 1860, central pacific held its first stockholders meeting in sacramento on april 30, 1861. Besides maintaining the historic joseph research cabin the gateway cabin, the society is also responsible for operating the old jail museum which was built in 1875.
Donner pass and the snowsheds that have faded away trains. Truckee became home to expansive locomotive facilities for helper locomotives on trains westbound over donner pass after the completion of the transcontinental. Arguably donner pass is the most important square mile. The railroad society and truckee donner his torical society are jointly planning the new museum our vision for the truckee history railroad museum is a timeline of. It took two months and four relief parties to rescue the entire surviving donner party.
Dana hunt conductor, naugatuck railroad thomaston, conn. The sierra nevadas were finally conquered by the central pacific railroad, after almost five years of sustained construction effort by its mainly chinese crew about 10,000 strong, with the successful completion at donner pass of its 1,659foot 506 m tunnel no. The placersierra railroad heritage society psrhs was formed to preserve and protect the history of the donner pass route portion of the transcontinental railroad. The central pacific railroad was the first railroad to enter nevada county as it constructed eastward in 1865. November and december were mild, but in january things began to shift the pace and strength of storms seemed to increase, but only incrementally, and not really alarmingly. Winter weather wallops operations on donner pass trains. The planning for the new truckee history railroad museum is underway. Preserving railroad history along the donner pass route. Following that is a discussion of the historic shortlines which have served the golden state. Americas first transcontinental railroad, which was finished may 10th, 1869, established an important train yard in downtown truckee.
The central pacific railroad cprr was a rail company chartered by u. It was october 28, 1846 and the sierra snows had started a month earlier than usual. Read about its history and use today by union pacific. Ncngrr museum hosts book discussion and signing event. The donner pass summit tunnel hike is one of the best hikes i have been on in a long time, if only because it is so historic and unique. The pass has served as a route through the sierras for thousands of years and was used as a migratory trail long before the donner partys fateful attempt. The transcontinental railroad connecting california with the eastern states was completed in 1869. At the base of the eastern slope of donner pass, the railroad established a construction camp, now known as truckee, before following the truckee river to the nevada state line. The northern pacific railroad, the sioux, and the panic of 1873 by m. The best land under heaven is incredibly i picked it up in a bookstore in truckee in part because it was the staff pickif youre looking for a book on the donner party, the locals in an indie bookstore ought to know the contendersand because of those two, selfproclaimed selling points. In 1846, a group of settlers from illinois, originally known as the donnerreed party but now usually referred to as the donner party, became snowbound in early fall as a result of several trail mishaps, poor decisionmaking, and an early onset of winter that year.
Apr 09, 2018 the central pacific railroad was the first railroad to enter nevada county as it constructed eastward in 1865. The route over donner pass was originally the vision of theodore d. The book starts with a history of the railroads of california starting with the. Donner memorial state park, a california state park. Beaumont hill sps southern california gateway 1990. Arthur sommers has previously authored auburn, a visual history of placer. The trains are heavy, the railroad is tough and the scenery is awesome.
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