Truckee's Railyard played an essential role in building the transcontinental railroad

"Did you know ... Truckee's Railyard played an essential role in building the transcontinental railroad?" by Greyson Howard, © Sierra Sun, January 10, 2008. (News Article)

"... the empty lot east of downtown Truckee began as a supply and staging area for rails, railroad ties and rolling stock brought over the mountains by wagon ... Once the line was completed, the Central Pacific Railroad Co. made the Railyard home to a massive wooden roundhouse, large enough to accommodate around 20 engines when completed in 1898. Along with maintenance and repair facilities for the railroad, a lumber mill was built on the site to provide rail ties and bridge timbers, with millions of board-feet of timber passing through the mill. The railroad also stationed fire trains and snow plows at the Railyard, and built the 'balloon track' loop of rail to give the plows a place to turn around and head back over Donner Summit. ... " [More]

[Courtesy Google Alerts.]