Western Railroad Discussion > Tunnel Vision, Tunnels 38 and 4

On multiple days over a two week span I picked the wrong main or showed up too late to get into position to get the shot I wanted east of Cisco. One such day was Friday, July 26th. I really wanted a train on Main 1. A later than usual IOANP was climbing Donner Pass followed by a manifest. In hopes of catching the train on Main 1, I set up outside of Tunnel 4. With little warning of a train climbing Main 2 and coming through Tunnel 38, I missed getting my video rig framed and focused properly. Instead of moving I stayed put, foolishly hoping that the manifest that was following a ways behind the IOANP might get routed up Main 1 for the climb to the summit. This wasn’t the case, but I did have the video camera set to record a movie of the train between Tunnels 38 and 39, as seen through Tunnel 4.

Photo 1: UP 7767 leads the IOANP east up the west slope of Donner Pass at Cisco, CA, on the morning of July 26, 2024.
Photo 2: The manifest that was following the IOANP gave up a good amount of time while chasing it east from Colfax. I was getting to the point where I was going to leave, but like I’m sure many of you have done, I just keep telling myself 5 more minutes, it’ll be here. The train was led by UP 8181.
Video: I liked the way that the sound of the locomotives would build as they approached Tunnel 39 off to my left, and then be almost completely muted by the tunnel only to erupt in a cacophony of diesel noise as they exited the east portal. If only the sound of traffic on I-80 below wasn’t so constant, I might have heard the train coming up from Shed 10.

Cheers,
Sean

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Awesome pair!

Outstanding pictures in beautiful mountain railroad pass!
Sure seams like a train would scrap the side wall of tunnel 4 traveling on that curve, I'll bet it's really close!

I remember, years ago, while filming at Donner, waiting for a train (any train!) at Cisco (not this same location) for over 4 hours.  Finally gave up.

Curt Wrote:
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> I remember, years ago, while filming at Donner,
> waiting for a train (any train!) at Cisco (not
> this same location) for over 4 hours.  Finally
> gave up.

I am sure one showed up within minutes of you leaving. That's how it works for me :)

I've lost count of the number of times a train would show up as I've been leaving or had just left.

This is a fantastic pair of images, with a good video as a bonus!

That’s a great way to frame a shot (photo or video)!

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