Question: Is the Transcontinental Railroad over the Sierra being torn out?
From: "Jake Rudisill" jrudisill@comcast.net
I recently visited the CA Sierra, and while driving over the historic Lincoln Highway over Donner Summit above Truckee, observed at the visitor's pull-out that it appears that the track trough all of the snow sheds adjacent to the road had been removed. Is this true? How could such a national landmark and treasure be torn away? No more trains running above Donner lake, with the dazzling view below. Was my observation correct?
Jake Rudisill
Pleasanton, CA
posted from CPRR Discussion Group at 1:02 PM
9 Comments:
From: "Wendell Huffman" wendellhuffman@hotmail.com
Yes. Track on the original line was removed several years ago by the Union Pacific. Track remains on the newer line which runs through the long tunnel under Mt Judah. It seems sacreligious, but then neither you nor Union Pacific asked my opinion. I suppose with UP owning both this CP/SP route as well as the parallel WP line over Beckwourth pass a few miles to the north, the older line through the snowsheds above Donner was an unnecessary redundancy.
Wendell.
See two FAQ's relating to this question.
See the single vs. double track (and track removal) shown in the exhibit:
CONTEMPORARY VIEWS ALONG THE ORIGINAL CPRR SIERRA GRADE FROM NEWCASTLE TO DONNER PASS.
Actually the old line was removed in the late 1980s under Anschutz, long before the UP took over. There have been several times since that the operating department wished they had it still in.
Kyle K. Wyatt
Curator of History & Technology
California State Railroad Museum
111 "I" Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
My work address is: kwyatt@parks.ca.gov
My personal address is: kylewyatt@aol.com
The summit tunnel plaque states: "The last train went through in 1993."
"GREAT SUMMIT TUNNEL OF THE SIERRA NEVADA BENEATH THIS PLAQUE THE FIRST TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD TRAVERSED THE MIGHTY SIERRA NEVADA RANGE. THE 1659 FOOT LONG SUMMIT TUNNEL TOOK OVER 15 MONTHS OF CHINESE MUSCLE AND SWEAT TO BUILD. THE CHINESE PAINSTAKINGLY HAND DRILLED, THEN BLASTED THE GRANITE ROCK WITH BLACK POWDER AND NEWLY INVENTED NITROGLYCERINE. A VERTICAL SHAFT TOOK 85 DAYS TO COMPLETE AND ALLOWED TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION TO PROCEED FROM THE CENTER AS WELL AS FROM THE PORTALS. THE MOST DIFFICULT OBSTACLE FACING THE CENTRAL PACIFIC RAILROAD WAS OVERCOME WHEN THE TUNNEL WAS COMPLETED IN AUGUST 1867. THE FIRST PASSENGER TRAIN PASSED THROUGH THE TUNNEL ON JUNE 18, 1868. THE LAST TRAIN WENT THROUGH IN 1993.
DEDICATED AUGUST 7, 1999
CHIEF TRUCKEE CHAPTER NO. 3691
E CLAMPUS VITUS"
Later than I thought, but still Anschutz, not UP. I think UP has wished the line was back in more than once.
Kyle K. Wyatt
Curator of History & Technology
California State Railroad Museum
111 "I" Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
My work address is: kwyatt@parks.ca.gov
My personal address is: kylewyatt@aol.com
From: "Jake Rudisill" jrudisill@comcast.net
Thanks for the rapid response. I appreciate it very much. ... Thanks for the sad but true story. Very interesting.
Jake
From: "Jake Rudisill" jrudisill@comcast.net
... Having the last train run there in 1993 is one thing: having the tracks torn out is another. I still can't believe that they did it!
Jake Rudisill
From: littlechoochoo81@netzero.net
Subject: Original track over Donner
Just to set the matter straight. Do not blame UPRR for removing the original CPRR line through tunnels 6 to the xovers at Eder. This was at the "urging" of a man by the name of Moyers who had been recruited by Southern Pacific Transportation Company. Moyers came off the Illinois Central and believed with the paucity of traffic over Donner and the high cost of upkeep of the sheds and tunnels in that area that Track #1, mostly the original CPRR line built in the 1860's, was not necessary. It was he who called the shot to remove the track as he also had removed the second track in Nevada between Parran and Rose Creek roughly Lovelock to Winnemucca. The thought was to use the material for second track purposes on the Sunset Route between Los Angeles to El Paso, something followed up by the UP after their takeover in Sept 1996 ... I retired in 1985 followed by consulting for SPT until the take over and then helping UP with the transition period setting up their financial breakdown of the acquisition price.
—Lynn Farrar
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