I have just finished watching the Donner pass DVD combo and highly recommend it. The first title "Battle for Donner Pass" is all about the snowfighting efforts to keep Donner Pass open during winter. Lots of Jordan spreader and rotary plow action as well as trains battling the pass. The second title "Across Donner Summit" is an excellent DVD all about Donner Pass. If it's tunnel motors you like then lots of action to watch. Also plenty of trains working the grade and fantastic scenery shots. I have 5.1 surround sound and hearing the locos work was making the room vibrate. I really recommend those who love modern railroading to get this one. Here are some more screen captures from the DVD http://www.railimages.com/albums/album15/aam.sized.jpgIMG] [img]http://www.railimages.com/albums/album15/aan.sized.jpg Hope you enjoyed the pics as much as I enjoyed watching the DVD. [ 06. March 2004, 10:12: Message edited by: Colonel ]
Have Battle for Donner Pass, on VHS. Best tape folks ever got me for Christmas, so says Mom!! It's an excellent tape!!! Would highly recommend it also!! Gotta get the DVD soon. Just don't know when.
Paul. Those pictures are beautiful...I have driven on I-80 over Donner summit hundreds of times and am always amazed at the view of Donner Lake. About 3 months ago, my daughter and husband took Amtrack from Sacramento to Reno and back. They said the view was beautiful but were sure disapointed in Amtrack. I can drive it in about 2 1/2 hours. They said Amtrack took 3 1/2 from Sacramento to Reno and over 4 hours from Reno to Sacramento. They said it was the slowest train ride they ever had and would never do it again. I suggested that maybe a freight train got in the way.
For obvious reasons, rail over Donner is a high maintenance area and trains ... including Amtrak are restricted for speed. Heck! If I were in a hurry to get from Point A to Point B, I'd fly. But I can not think of any better way to travel if time is not an issue.
I have tried two different copies of this DVD, and both would not play "Across Donner Summit". Has anybody else had this problem with it? Thom SP#1
Paul - Look close at the windshield of the Jordan Spreader and you will see what looks like circles. These are the rotary windshield wipers that SP developed so the crews could see better. They were installed on the spreaders, flangers and rotaries and on some locomotives. Also note on the 4841 the icicle breaker above the cab to knock down icicles in the tunnels and snow sheds.
Gil, Yes the DVD does have commentary about both the rotary windows and the flangers, lots of snow clearing action and using the flangers and jordan spreaders. Alan, I use powerdvd to watch DVD's on my computer it also allows screen captures. Power DVD They also offer a free trial version
Paul - The summit is at Norden where there used to be a small cTc machine that controlled the upper portion of the mountain. There was an interlocking there and a turntable in a snowshed. They turned some of the spreaders and flangers there plus some diesels. There was also several company housing units that were all connected by covered walkways and they had a company resturant there during the winter months. Many of the track and signal people and the cTc operators lived there. The cTc machine is gone and I understand the housing is also gone.
While we're recommending the DVD I'll recommend one of my absolute favorite books. Donner Pass: Southern Pacific's Sierra Crossing by John R. Signor, written in 1985 I think, is an incredibly rich documentation of the pass for its entire history. If you have any fascination whatsoever about the pass or mountain railroading at all I highly recommmend it
I just finished watching this DVD set with my 4.5-year old son, and I agree that it's great. One question, however -- does anybody know of a link to an online map of the current track layout over the summit, including a designation of the places where the original transcontinental line (track 1?) was removed after these two videos were shot? We're heading up to the Truckee area this evening, and I'd like to have my facts straight before I head up there! Thx. We'll hopefully be hiking through Coldstream Valley/Coldstream Canyon to Stanford Curve on Saturday (or maybe Sunday) in time to catch the westbound Cal. Zephyr, and driving home over the summit on Sunday over Donner Pass Road rather than I-80. -- Neal [ 26. March 2004, 19:04: Message edited by: naparish ]
I don't know of an online map, but it's pretty easy to remember which is the old/new mainline, because for the most part it's exactly the same. The removed the double track in numerous places, but the right of way is the same as the original over the entire pass with the exception of the mainline from Eder (the east end of the 2 mile summit tunnel) to Summit (at the west end of the tunnel) that goes along the side of the mountain through almost entirely through snowsheds, which has been abandoned. All traffic goes through the tunnel now. Everywhere else the line is either on or very near to the original line. Have fun I've always wanted to hike around back there...
I have lent this DVD to a friend once itis returned I will see if I can take a screen shot of the map
Sorry I guess I should have thought of TerraServer. They have aerial photos and USGS 7.5 minute topo maps of various ages. The Donner-area map, luckily, is from 1998 but it doesn't show the trackage as "abandoned", but you can see where the tunnel cuts off the track winding around the mountain. Try this link, I found it for you: http://www.terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?t=2&s=12&x=914&y=5442&z=10&w=2 Zooming out, unfortunately, takes you to a different scale and date of map so it's difficult to get an overall view. www.terraserver-usa.com is a fun site, I'd recommend becoming familiar with it. Derek
