Western Railroad Discussion > A Balloon Track on Donner Pass ?

The other day, I was killing some time looking at the satellite map of the track work over Donner Pass. I was panning from east to west and when I approached part of the western portion of the right of way, I noticed a switch that took off to the right and low a behold it developed into a baloon track. I was surprised to see such a thing at such a location in this desolite area. My assumption for this return loop at such a location was for use of the snow removal equipmnt to allow them to revese their movement when plowing.

Would appreciate anyones coments on this odd area for a baloon track.

Jim

I am assuming this is the balloon at Fulda. You are correct, its used my snow removal equipment. Typically they flip between Truckee and Fulda. Truckee has a balloon too.

Posted from Android

I heard from a realtor friend in Truckee that the Truckee balloon track is going to be removed and the property used for commercial development.

wjpyper Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I heard from a realtor friend in Truckee that the
> Truckee balloon track is going to be removed and
> the property used for commercial development.

Wasn't there a lumber mill or somthing similar inside the Truckee balloon track until the late 1980's or so?

The Baloon tracks...You are both right.....the baloon track at Truckee is coming out and the UP has sold the land for development....And in the early 80's there was a lumber mill and there use to be a lot of loads coming out of the mill....

That land where the baloon track sits was sold a few years back, but i guess its finally come to the point where the balloon track will be removed. Its supposed to be replaced further East of its current location, but i dont know hoe since space gets tight outside of Truckee.

Posted from Android

wjpyper Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I heard from a realtor friend in Truckee that the
> Truckee balloon track is going to be removed and
> the property used for commercial development.

a great place for a hotel........

66

I thought that the balloon track had something to
do with 'Re-Max'...

goneon66 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> wjpyper Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I heard from a realtor friend in Truckee that
> the
> > Truckee balloon track is going to be removed
> and
> > the property used for commercial development.
>
> a great place for a hotel........
>
> 66

with a railfan platform

Fulda balloon: http://goo.gl/maps/0kzxs
Truckee balloon: http://goo.gl/maps/rixkm

BNSF6400 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> wjpyper Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I heard from a realtor friend in Truckee that
> the
> > Truckee balloon track is going to be removed
> and
> > the property used for commercial development.
>
> Wasn't there a lumber mill or somthing similar
> inside the Truckee balloon track until the late
> 1980's or so?

As I recall, the Truckee balloon track actually went INSIDE one of the lumber mill buildings. I was on a fan trip in the 60's that went through the building on the balloon to head back over the hill.

jmonier Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> BNSF6400 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > wjpyper Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > I heard from a realtor friend in Truckee that
> > the
> > > Truckee balloon track is going to be removed
> > and
> > > the property used for commercial development.
> >
> > Wasn't there a lumber mill or somthing similar
> > inside the Truckee balloon track until the late
> > 1980's or so?
>
> As I recall, the Truckee balloon track actually
> went INSIDE one of the lumber mill buildings. I
> was on a fan trip in the 60's that went through
> the building on the balloon to head back over the
> hill.

Correct

WAF Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jmonier Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > BNSF6400 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > wjpyper Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > I heard from a realtor friend in Truckee
> that
> > > the
> > > > Truckee balloon track is going to be
> removed
> > > and
> > > > the property used for commercial
> development.
> > >
> > > Wasn't there a lumber mill or somthing
> similar
> > > inside the Truckee balloon track until the
> late
> > > 1980's or so?
> >
> > As I recall, the Truckee balloon track actually
> > went INSIDE one of the lumber mill buildings.
> I
> > was on a fan trip in the 60's that went through
> > the building on the balloon to head back over
> the
> > hill.
>
> Correct


The Truckee Balloon encircled the log pond for Tahoe-Truckee lumber Co and the east leg of the balloon passed through a lumber storage shed.
Snow load collapsed the over the track portion of this shed in the 1980,s and the Superintendent (KAM) elected to operate with out the balloon by sending any equipment that required turning to Sparks.
After this exercise both Fulda and Truckee balloon tracks were considered vital installations for snow service.
The balloon at Fulda More famously know as the Gap Balloon was constructed in about 1953-55 to eliminate the short turntable at Emigrant Gap at the insistence of DJR after the 1952 passenger train incident. This project has some pretty hefty cut and fill sections and was constructed with curvature of around 17Deg. or the maximum curvature you could back an AS-12 around.
The 78 miles between Truckee Balloon and Fulda balloon were considered 100 miles in flanger and spreader Service. Flanger crews very seldom stopped for lunch at Norden as it cut into their compensation.

Ok, so why would the UP sell the land and do away with the balloon track?

P Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ok, so why would the UP sell the land and do away
> with the balloon track?

OK, so why would the UP eliminate 5 of the 9 SP rotaries?

I guess the UP thinks they can control Mother Nature :-(

The balloon track is supposed to be built somewhere else. not sure where, landscape of that size is limited in Truckee.

Posted from Android

The balloon track is supposed to moved a short distance (some number of yards) further east. It will still be west of the Hwy 267 overpass.

Wow, always thought it was up there in mileage but never knew the real number. That's a lot of 'flanging' as they say, but it also puts a number on how much spreading they could be doing. Either way that's a lot of snow to move around.

...
> The 78 miles between Truckee Balloon and Fulda
> balloon ...

TCnR Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wow, always thought it was up there in mileage but
> never knew the real number. That's a lot of
> 'flanging' as they say, but it also puts a number
> on how much spreading they could be doing. Either
> way that's a lot of snow to move around.
>

> > The 78 miles between Truckee Balloon and Fulda
> > balloon is round trip and is called a "Flanger Flip" with 100 miles pay.