Bomb proof turntable at Donner Pass

[Cardinal51]

While hauling some containers I was passing through a roofed track / snow tunnel / snow shed (don't snow the correct words) and noticed there was even a turntable

Donner Pass - (38).jpg (100.49 KiB) Viewed 485 times

Why was it so important to have one up there that they spent so much money on it ?

It seems that after that "tunnel" it is just down hill so the only thing that comes to mind is that some engines had to turn around there because they where only needed to assist in hauling the load up the mountain.

I am also wondering whether there are some real photos available of this turntable ?

[GaryG]

Lots (and lots) of snow - It would be buried all winter.

GaryG

[PapaXpress]

On the track charts there are a few turn tables, but I don't recall seeing any that were under a snow shed. Mind you, I could have missed it. Its a long route. Where did you find it? I can look it up tonight and see if its there.

[LandN]

I would guess that one of the reasons for the turntable would be to turn plows and flangers on as they are not good at backing up through switches. That is also the reason for the balloon tracks.

Jay

[Cardinal51]

............... Where did you find it? .....

According to the screen shot's name --> Screenshot_Donner Pass Southern Pacific_39.31636--120.35552_17-23-32
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=39.31636+-120.35552

..............That is also the reason for the balloon tracks..........

Where are those located ? Did not see them yet.

[PapaXpress]

Remember that UP has spent some time upgrading DP, so it will not look like the RW route which was based on the late 90's track spec. My track charts are from 2001, so it was a few years after UP acquired SP, however they were still assessing what parts of the SP lines needed attention.

[Chessie8638]

Used to turn Cab Forward steam locomotives. Norden was once THE winter headquarters for Donner Pass. Once hosted a small town and the famous "Cook House." SP stopped using the turntable when it dieselized and put extra bracing in the pit. But maintained a fuel pad on Track #1 for diesels and snow equipment. SP removed Track #1 over the summit right before the UP takeover, and UP removed the whole turntable and turntable snowshed in the early 2000's.

Norden Cook House: http://www.donnersummithistoricalsociet ... uary11.pdf

Norden in the 1960's:
Page One: http://www.snowcrest.net/photobob/nord1.html
Page Two: http://www.snowcrest.net/photobob/nord2.html

[arizonachris]

Nice stuff, Chess. Wonder where the rest of Fong's story is. Stops at page one. No matter, like I say interesting stuff you find!

[Chessie8638]

Continues on page 3 in that PDF.


If anyone is interested. Pentrex has "Donner Combo" on sale for $9.95 USD this week. It features two programs: "Battle for Donner Pass" (hour and a half) which is about the snow fighters who work to keep the line open in the winter (happens to be the winter of 1992 / 1993 which saw the rotary snowplows seeing action). And "Across Donner Summit" (two hours) which is a survey of the line in 1993 and is accompanied by narration and photography of the late Richard Steinheimer. I have Donner Combo and recommend it to anyone!

http://www.pentrex.com/donrdvd.html

[Cardinal51]

After seeing the image in the pdf this afternoon I read up on those impressive rotary snow plows this evening, a very interesting subject.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frBh5vO_2g0

I guess we can only dream about something like this for this sim, but how about a simpler version ? Are there any wedged snow plows in TS or add-ons ?

[Cardinal51]

I have located some more images

This is what is left of the turntable:

Very nice collectio at http://www.flickr.com/photos/36116546@N06/sets/72157621227135971/with/3716892077/

Norden turntable:

http://www.railroadforums.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/61273/title/norden-turntable/cat/505

Norden Turntable:

fgberwb.JPG (180.22 KiB) Viewed 385 times

http://www.flickr.com/photos/natebeal/4375901648/sizes/z/in/photostream/

[LandN]

IIRC, the balloon tracks are at Truckee and Colfax.

Jay

[arizonachris]

We have at least one snow plow that I could find: http://railworksamerica.com/FileLibrary ... snow+plows I think Great Northerner has another one, too. No rotaries yet, tho. Those would be sweet!

[Cardinal51]

Can one use that Russel Snow plow as a normal user ? Or does one need to create a special scenario in order to use it ?

[PapaXpress]

You can add it to an existing scenario if you like. There are no special requirements.