Photo ID: 114319 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 6, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Norden Norden, CA 16 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Roseville Union Pacific The original Central Pacific line over Donner Pass saw its first train run on June 18, 1868. For 125 years, trains ran over the Donner Pass Summit, passing through a 1,659-foot tunnel. In 1925, Southern Pacific added a second track to Donner Pass. Between Shed 47 and Norden, SP bored Tunnel 41 (known as "The Big Hole"), a 10,322-foot tunnel, at a much lower elevation than Main 1 over the top. However, SP used both mains until 1993. Then, SP removed 6.7 miles of Main 1 over the summit out of service to reduce operating costs. The rails were removed when SP shut down Main 1 in 1993. In this shot at Norden, the original Main 1 split from the new grade to run the 6.7 miles over the summit. The shed in the distance was Main 1, and a shot section of track still exists out of the shed. The manifest here is on Main 2, headed for "the Big Hole". Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114318 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 6, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Norden Norden, CA 15 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Roseville Union Pacific An eastbound UP manifest is climbing the west slope of Donner Pass on Main 1. It is approaching the control point at Norden, which is protected by a snowshed. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114317 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 6, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Norden Norden, CA 18 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Roseville Amtrak This dome car, the Northern Sky, was originally built by American Car & Foundry (ACF) in 1955 as Union Pacific #5003. The car was generally on UP's City of Los Angeles until 1973 when it used on Amtrak on the original Auto Train. In 1992, it was acquired and rebuilt in the current scheme. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114316 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 6, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Norden Norden, CA 19 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Roseville Amtrak, Union Pacific UP 5727 leads the westbound Zephyr out of the Norden snow shed on Donner Pass. Donner Pass averages around 30 feet (9.1 meters) of snow each winter. Several control points are built within snow sheds to help protect the switches from the snow so crews do not have to dig the switches out. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 114315 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, September 6, 2026 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Shed 47 to Norden Norden, CA 17 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Roseville Amtrak, Union Pacific The westbound Zephyr has just exited from Tunnel 47 (known as "The Big Hole") on Donner Pass and is continuing west on Main 1. UP 5727 was added to the train in Denver due to a mechanical issue. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.