I grew up in the Sierras, but beyond the rails. Have always loved trains, so I appreciate that you brought my mountain range and trains together in videos like this. It's been special.
+Norman Mcgill Thanks Norman! I love going up there in the winter. When I'm not railfanning, I'm snowboarding. I'm currently planning another few trips up there this winter, videos from which I'll post later.
Glad to hear it. I will admit I wished I could have had better light, but I decided I'd damn well keep it since the train kept me waiting for so long! Also you're welcome, I enjoy spending time up there, and it's my pleasure to bring what trains I see to youtube.
Well, the first few shots are of the same train in different locations. Donner Pass is a main thoroughfare for intermodal traffic bound for Lathrop and Oakland, with domestic containers going to Lathrop and internationals going to Oakland, respectively. Empty grain trains are common on this corridor as well since it's the shortest route back to the midwest from the central valley, where they were unloaded.
It just goes to show how much containers have grown in size in recent years. Lots of the tunnels on this route, as well as in the neighboring Feather River Canyon, have had notches cut into their ceilings so that the containers can slide through. Quite mind boggling to watch... Thanks for viewing
AlwaysTrainsHD i was spending a lot of time on donner while they were doing the tunnel work--and wondering why there was so little traffic in the daytime!
The interesting thing about that is that it actually isn't a wall. It's part of the snowshed, which was rebuilt in the 80s with concrete. Before being rebuilt, it was made of wood. The area where the train comes out and that structure both combine to form one unit. Inside the shed, there used to be a switch where the number 1 main converges with the number 2 main, which the snowshed was built to protect from snow and ice buildup. The number 1 main has been abandoned since 1993, and ran right through that wall-like structure prior to the removal of the track. The number 2 main is the one that is currently hosting trains. There also used to be an indoor turntable in that same location, which was used to turn snowplows and other MoW equipment prior to the snow-fighting HQ being moved to Truckee. At 9:30, the east end of the snowshed is pictured. At 5:20, the west end of the same shed is shown. As for where it is, if you are driving up interstate 80 going east towards Truckee, you get off at the "Soda Springs/Norden" exit. Follow the road as if you were going to the Sugarbowl Ski Resort. In a matter of minutes, you'll see this snowshed structure off the right side of the road.
AlwaysTrainsHD Thanks for posting. My grandfather was an engineer on the fire train that was stationed at Norden in the early 1950's, when the sheds were still wood. I used to play in the sheds when I was a boy visiting them. There were a lot of switches inside those sheds, most of them remotely controlled. Back then, both number 1 and 2 tracks came out of the sheds where only number 2 is now. There were only two trains a day back then, a morning train eastbound and an afternoon train westbound.
steevee1945 No problem. Thank you for sharing stories! Having personal experiences tied to railroad lines and equipment makes the history that much more interesting in my opinion
Thanks again Matthew. A lot of people who grew up in the 80's will tell you that they had a more enjoyable time shooting the pass when it was SP. But hey, time goes on.
Well I'm sorry it bores you that much. Just a friendly reminder, you don't have to watch it. Pretty sure there are videos on youtube of paint drying that would be much more suitable for you instead.
In retrospect it is normal, but the snow levels that are being considered "normal" are significantly lower than they used to be on the count of global warming. Drier winters in recent decades have meant less snow, so now when a storm comes along that dumps what was once considered normal, it's viewed as above normal simply because of the shift in judgement.
![[HD] BNSF Trains in Snow through Northern Arizona! January 2018](/img/n.gif)
Thanks so much I love trains 💓
I grew up in the Sierras, but beyond the rails. Have always loved trains, so I appreciate that you brought my mountain range and trains together in videos like this. It's been special.
Thanks Michael. Glad I could bring back some memories.
What beautiful country and very good videos. Thanks for posting as I would never get to see this otherwise.
+Norman Mcgill Thanks Norman! I love going up there in the winter. When I'm not railfanning, I'm snowboarding. I'm currently planning another few trips up there this winter, videos from which I'll post later.
+AlwaysTrainsHD I could handle the railfanning but not the snow boarding. I'll leave that to you while I look forward to the new videos.
lol thanks. I hope to pool all of my winter footage together for one larger video towards the end of winter, though that could change.
Somehow I must've missed this! What a great video! Awesome job.
Thank you Mike!
Like the lighting at 12:30.
And thanks so much for capturing so many beautiful locations.
Glad to hear it. I will admit I wished I could have had better light, but I decided I'd damn well keep it since the train kept me waiting for so long! Also you're welcome, I enjoy spending time up there, and it's my pleasure to bring what trains I see to youtube.
Very fine video.
Robert
Thanks Robert! I'm happy with the way it turned out.
Nice you caught dash-9s i miss them a lot when I railfanned when I was little(before my channel started)
Not quite dash 9's, they're AC4400's. Basically the AC version of the dash 9.
I like train videos on TH-cam 😀
Excellent video.
+iusetano Thanks!
Muy bien titulado ; soberbio video. Muchas gracias.
Thanks Carlos!
great catches!
Thanks!
Nice coverage up on the pass!
+Larry R Wendell Jr Thanks Larry!
AlwaysTrainsHD You are so welcome :o)
Good video!
Nicola636128 Thank you!
Why is it that all freight trains consist of either shipping containers or covered hoppers? Beautiful location shots, thank you!
Well, the first few shots are of the same train in different locations. Donner Pass is a main thoroughfare for intermodal traffic bound for Lathrop and Oakland, with domestic containers going to Lathrop and internationals going to Oakland, respectively. Empty grain trains are common on this corridor as well since it's the shortest route back to the midwest from the central valley, where they were unloaded.
HA! i never noticed how them doublestacks barely fit under the freeway...
It just goes to show how much containers have grown in size in recent years. Lots of the tunnels on this route, as well as in the neighboring Feather River Canyon, have had notches cut into their ceilings so that the containers can slide through. Quite mind boggling to watch... Thanks for viewing
AlwaysTrainsHD i was spending a lot of time on donner while they were doing the tunnel work--and wondering why there was so little traffic in the daytime!
Where is the wall at 9:30? It must be new, I don't remember it before ??
The interesting thing about that is that it actually isn't a wall. It's part of the snowshed, which was rebuilt in the 80s with concrete. Before being rebuilt, it was made of wood. The area where the train comes out and that structure both combine to form one unit. Inside the shed, there used to be a switch where the number 1 main converges with the number 2 main, which the snowshed was built to protect from snow and ice buildup. The number 1 main has been abandoned since 1993, and ran right through that wall-like structure prior to the removal of the track. The number 2 main is the one that is currently hosting trains. There also used to be an indoor turntable in that same location, which was used to turn snowplows and other MoW equipment prior to the snow-fighting HQ being moved to Truckee. At 9:30, the east end of the snowshed is pictured. At 5:20, the west end of the same shed is shown. As for where it is, if you are driving up interstate 80 going east towards Truckee, you get off at the "Soda Springs/Norden" exit. Follow the road as if you were going to the Sugarbowl Ski Resort. In a matter of minutes, you'll see this snowshed structure off the right side of the road.
Always Trains HD There it is!!! Sorry, I knew it was there and forgot.
I thought you were at the end of the tunnel.
AlwaysTrainsHD Thanks for posting. My grandfather was an engineer on the fire train that was stationed at Norden in the early 1950's, when the sheds were still wood. I used to play in the sheds when I was a boy visiting them. There were a lot of switches inside those sheds, most of them remotely controlled. Back then, both number 1 and 2 tracks came out of the sheds where only number 2 is now. There were only two trains a day back then, a morning train eastbound and an afternoon train westbound.
steevee1945 No problem. Thank you for sharing stories! Having personal experiences tied to railroad lines and equipment makes the history that much more interesting in my opinion
Thanks Jim!
Great video. Wasn't Donner Pass owned by Southern Pacific, but was taken over by Union Pacific?
Thanks Matthew. Yes, that's correct. The line was originally built by the Central Pacific, which got taken over by SP. And SP got taken over by UP
AlwaysTrainsHD I heard that when this line was owned by the SP, it was more popular. Anyways, keep up the good work on your videos!
Thanks again Matthew. A lot of people who grew up in the 80's will tell you that they had a more enjoyable time shooting the pass when it was SP. But hey, time goes on.
Did you snowshoe up to the summit?
I did not do any snowshoeing on this particular trip, but there have been others where I have had to snowshoe to get into each location.
Nineteen minutes? Could have done with three. Like watching paint dry.
Well I'm sorry it bores you that much. Just a friendly reminder, you don't have to watch it. Pretty sure there are videos on youtube of paint drying that would be much more suitable for you instead.
oha :-)
+Nils Czimenga Thanks for viewing!
AlwaysTrainsHD yes please :-)
Normal. Not Abnormal
In retrospect it is normal, but the snow levels that are being considered "normal" are significantly lower than they used to be on the count of global warming. Drier winters in recent decades have meant less snow, so now when a storm comes along that dumps what was once considered normal, it's viewed as above normal simply because of the shift in judgement.