Western Railroad Discussion > Special Guests and Regularly Scheduled Programming

After the derailment at Elsey on the Canyon Sub early this month, UP detoured a number of westbound trains over Donner Pass while they worked to get the Canyon reopened. While I was hoping the reroutes would last a couple of days, it seems that things were quickly cleaned up. I managed to catch one of the detoured trains on the afternoon of Thursday, July 3, and just missed another that came shortly after that due to a family commitment. I also got out later to catch the BNSF trackage rights train heading west.

Photos 1 and 2: I got to this spot at approximately MP 190.4 near Soda Springs just as the train was arriving, and I didn't have time to set up a camera for video. I believe this was the INPOA detouring over Donner Pass. Despite the manifest traffic up front, most of the train was a mix of stacks. There was another train right behind this, I believe the detouring MGRRV or MNPRV, but they had to stop at Norden to deal with an issue with PTC or one of the units. I had to bail for a family commitment by the time they rolled about 20 minutes later. It was a bit of a bummer given the lack of westbound traffic on Donner these days, especially in good afternoon light. (I didn't have anyone around to slug for the ditch-light padiddle.)

Continued...

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Later in the evening I returned to the same spot to record the westbound BNSF trackage rights train.

Photos 3, 4, and Video: BNSF 5144, 7840, and 6555 lead a short H PVOSTO1 (UP symbol QPVBCJ) west at MP 190.4. Sunset is still 23 minutes away, but the sun has dipped behind the mountain peaks and ridgelines to the west.

Continued...

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I stopped by Van Norden Meadow after the BNSF passed to watch the light show. I need to figure out a way to work a sunset view like this, as seen looking across Van Norden Meadow towards Mount Judah, into a rail related photo.

Cheers,
Sean

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Keep the great videos coming!

texchief1

Spectacular shot at Summit Meadows! 

From the Marin I-j.  Local transportation authority wants to trim Golden BGate Bridge buses for SMART Trains.

https://www.marinij.com/2025/07/17/smart-preps-for-hiring-spree-more-trains/

Rare three DMU train at Windsor station dedication.

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