Western Railroad Discussion > Sixty Years Difference, More or Less

I’ll openly profess to having many “favorite spots” on Donner Pass, but the perch above the tunnels at Cisco is definitely in the Top 10. Looking west with a careful eye, you can spot eastbound trains from a couple of miles out on the single track approaching Shed 10. You can see a mile or two up the track to the east as well. If only there was a mute button to cut out the sound of semi-trucks on Interstate 80, it might be perfect. (I’ll take the sounds of nature mixed with 16k-26k HP of prime movers working a train up the grade over the noise of a freeway anytime.)

Photos and Video: UP 6682 is seen leading the eastbound MRVGR up Donner Pass on the morning of Monday, July 27, 2026. The grade for what is currently Main 1 (right side in the images) was laid through this area in the mid/late 1860s, with the adjacent Main 2 constructed in the mid 1920s. While many of E.H. Harriman’s more ambitious plans for Donner Pass failed to be realized, the eventual posthumous completion of double tracking and difference in construction capabilities sixty years apart is notable at Cisco.

Cheers,
Sean
 

---

---

You must be a registered subscriber to watch videos. Join Today!

Great visuals. I've never been ther and likely will never be. Thanks for sharing for an "east coaster".
Gonut

Sean, excellent video and pictures as always. Coming up on 80 years of age & being on the east coast, not sure if I may make it out to the west coast. I did do a lot of hiking in the Sierra's years ago. Your videos and pictures from areas like this bring back good memories of those days.
John Breitigan
Washington. PA. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/01/26 15:29 by jmbreitigan.

Gonut, John, happy to bring you along.

I grew up in the Upper Midwest and then lived in the Northeast / Mid-Atlantic for half a decade before moving to the Bay Area of California 22 years ago. I was pretty pumped to experience places like Tehachapi, Donner Pass, and the Feather River Canyon once I moved here. These were iconic railroad locations that I had only previously experienced through books and magazines. I feel fortunate to have a cabin near Donner Summit that allows me to experience mountain railroading minutes from my place, and I'm happy to share those experiences with others.