Steam & Excursion > "The Day It Snowed" On This Very Day 67 Years Ago!

For anyone who follows the history of the Sierra Railroad of California, February 5 is a special day.  It was on this very day that 2 noted railfans and also fast friends decided to take advantage of a snow storm that was hitting the lower elevations of the Sierra Nevada Mountains where the Sierra RR ran.

For years railfans had been coming to the Sierra Railroad for special excursions sponsored by various Western railfan groups.  2 of the most avid fans of this all-steam shortline were Al Rose and Guy Dunscomb.  The 2 men did more to chronicle the Sierra RR on film than anyone else.  So, when Snow was predicted for the foothills above Jamestown on February 5, 1949, they both piled into Al's car and headed out from their homes in Modesto towards Jamestown.

They were lucky to catch Sierra 2-8-0 #18 as she was pulling out of Jamestown and heading East to the logging town of Tuolumne.  The elevation quickly changes over this rout and they soon encountered the snow storm they had come to film.  The resulting images from that day are still among the most famous ones ever recorded by these 2 railfans.

So, sit back, grab a warm cup of coffee and enjoy their fine work from "The Day It Snowed".

Martin



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 02/05/16 04:07 by LoggerHogger.

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Those pics are BEYOND classic!

Thank you Martin for posting these wonderful classics. I used to have a color postcard of this train which is somewhere in my stuff, maybe I'll find it one day. 

Tom

OH MY!!!!  Simply amazing.

If you hadn't identified the railroad I wouldn't have guessed it was the Sierra RR. The snow changes everything.
 

Wonder how quickly they ran out of sand? Great shots, talk about things you can't replace!

Out

Martin, you have just made my week, and then some! Thank you, once again.wag216







1

Check out the 'tail end' in No.3.
It appears to be the old Angels Camp combine.

--Classic!

-Jim Baker

Yes - that was Combine #5 from the Angels Camp Branch.

Martin

LoggerHogger Wrote:

 So, sit back, grab a warm cup of coffee and enjoy
 their fine work from "The Day It Snowed".
 Make that an iced coffee here in the State of Sierra!

Martin -  Great photos in the snow!!  I was just two weeks old when they took those photos!!

Ron