Western Railroad Discussion > Donner Pass tunnel vision

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/04/16 08:13 by Cajon92.

Very nice indeed!!!

>where the stiff 2.42% grade to Emigrant Gap awaits.

The grade between E/E Long Ravine bridge and W/E Emingrant Gap varies between 1.7%. and 2.3%. Checking the 1998 UP roadmaster's charts shows that there is a piece of 2.43% on #2 track (2.42% on #1), about 100-300 feet long between Cape Horn (the cliff) and the former W/E of Cape Horn (the siding). Since it's so short, it hardly counts, which means that saying things like "the stiff 2.42% grade to Emigrant Gap awaits" are a bit misleading.

a) great shot Ryan!
b) Ryan probably meant "2.24 instead of 2.42" but got the numbers reversed while typing it. Big deal. 
c) Being that fussy over such a minor detail is a great way to get a quality photog like Ryan to stop posting his shots on here (and is precisely why I don't post any of mine anymore).

>c) Being that fussy over such a minor detail is a great way to get a quality photog like Ryan to stop posting his shots on here (and is precisely why I don't post any of mine anymore).

You're a fan and supporter of urban legends?

Beautiful shot Ryan.  I hope we see more.

AJ

Cajon92 Wrote:
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> Thanks for looking,
> ~Ryan

Thanks for the great photo. I don't care if you got the grade % exactly right, your story tells of the challenges of mountain railroading.

While the drama might not be out in the open like the countless QRVWC/MWCRVs incidents on Tehachapi, there's no denying the challenges that "Mountain Pool" crews face to climb the stiff grades of the Sierras. Yup, somewhere in the middle of the forest, someone heard a tree fall (or an engine crap out) and now the train is stuck!

Nicely framed...

Really nice shot, Ryan; I especially like the striking contrast.  Thanks for posting.

Gary

Looking good Ryan, I hope all is well.

Bob

"A portal to the past..."

Awesome image Ryan! Really cool scene.

Jake Miille
Chico, CA
Jake Miille Photography

Excellent, thank you! 

Chris Donhost
Vacaville, CA 

JamesSchlinger Wrote:
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> a) great shot Ryan!
> b) Ryan probably meant "2.24 instead of 2.42" but
> got the numbers reversed while typing it. Big
> deal. 
> c) Being that fussy over such a minor detail is a
> great way to get a quality photog like Ryan to
> stop posting his shots on here (and is precisely
> why I don't post any of mine anymore).

I understand that some of us can be quite critical on this board, myself included. However, Etoin was just clarifying the facts.

The challenge of the Mountain is descending, not climbing. Takes a long time to learn how to manage the varying grades.

OK, clarifying facts is one thing. But accusing someone of being deliberately "misleading" is entirely different. Some of us railfans get real tired of others just sitting at their computer and being overly critical and nitpicky over details with every post. If it's your job to get a train up/down that grade, you probably care about the exact grade. Otherwise, who friggin' cares about the exact ruling grade on Donnner. It's just a hobby for fun for most of us.

Having said that, if your goal in the hobby is to get all the "facts" 100% accurate, and you take offense to others getting them wrong, then by all means point out others' erros, but just remember that more times than not, "it's not what you say, it's how you say it" that counts...

JamesSchlinger Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> OK, clarifying facts is one thing. But accusing
> someone of being deliberately "misleading" is
> entirely different. Some of us railfans get real
> tired of others just sitting at their computer and
> being overly critical and nitpicky over details
> with every post. If it's your job to get a train
> up/down that grade, you probably care about the
> exact grade. Otherwise, who friggin' cares about
> the exact ruling grade on Donnner. It's just a
> hobby for fun for most of us.
>
> Having said that, if your goal in the hobby is to
> get all the "facts" 100% accurate, and you take
> offense to others getting them wrong, then by all
> means point out others' erros, but just remember
> that more times than not, "it's not what you say,
> it's how you say it" that counts...


Certainly a fair amount of tact should be exercised :)