Trains Through the Snow: UP Trains Climb Donner Pass

[@cq7415]

Fun to watch. Two trains at 9:00, six engines at 12:00, snow plow caboose at 14:00 and five engines at 14:50. Thanks for sharing.

[@sergelivernais7152]

Des remerciements à ce courageux photographe qui a bravé les frimas, pour un beau reportage hivernal !

[@Alwaystrains]

Merci pour les compliments. J'espère que vous pouvez pardonner le fait que j'ai utilisé google translate.

[@barbaraaspengen9810]

I love watching these Trains GREAT Videos thanks again.

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks Barbara. Happy to provide.

[@UnionPacific18]

Awesome video! Love the snow! Tremendous shots and I love the crew that came out to stand on the front of the cab, awesome. And UP leading Amtrak too just awesome.

[@Alwaystrains]

+UnionPacific18 Thanks Daniel! Very nice to hear from you again. Railfanning Donner in the winter has become an annual tradition for me train-wise, and it's always a fun time. I look forward to it each year. The UP ACe on the Zephyr was actually a total surprise. By the time I got wind of it, it was already 50-ish miles out. Thanks for viewing!

[@michaelpilyih6887]

Terrific video. One of the best snow train videos.

[@Alwaystrains]

Thank you Michael! I appreciate the sentiments. Glad you like it.

[@iusetano]

Looks like that fella missed his train. LOL. I totally enjoyed watching this video. EXCELLENT WORK!!!!!

[@Alwaystrains]

+iusetano Thanks! Who missed their train?

[@iusetano]

+AlwaysTrainsHD The guy running.

[@Alwaystrains]

+iusetano Oh yeah, now I see him. The guy running after the UP-led Amtrak. Yeah he was part of our railfan group that was out shooting trackside that day. We were all making some kind of effort to get back to our cars quickly to get to another spot.

[@UjjawalKashyap]

Lovely videos!

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks!

[@slimonion1975]

definitely good video of trains..lots of snow too..love it

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks Jamie! Indeed there was a lot of snow, enough to make the trails impassible without snowshoes.

[@ronturbinedoublemotorslow1883]

very good pictures in the winter time.

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks Ron!

[@TentativeDan]

I have such a new appreciation for rail fans now. I grew up loving trains, like a lot of people do. I just moved back to Pennsylvania recently and tried it myself for my last video...all I can say is...cold. Hah! Lots of respect for people putting out content like you are. Great stuff and thank you!

[@Alwaystrains]

Thank you Dan! Railfanning definitely teaches one the virtue of patience.

[@Nicola636128]

Great video and congratulations for their perseverance in remaining under the snow and the snow to make this video! Well done.

[@Alwaystrains]

+Nicola636128 Thank you Nicola! It wasn't all that bad since I had the proper snow equipment. It definitely wouldn't have been possible without snowshoes. Thanks for viewing!

[@charliebrooks2570]

Beautiful scenery! Nice shots!

[@heinzbreuer2674]

Tolle Aufnahmen Danke für die schöne bilder you a good 🎥man

[@Foomba]

Nice video, audio, locations and a willingness to get out in the weather. Just Nice.

[@Alwaystrains]

Thank you! It was a fun weekend for sure.

[@lynetteashman7763]

Fantastic footage. Thanks!

[@nigelstringfellow5187]

I sure hope they have good cab heating lol,thanks for the great video.

[@TrainsNStuff]

Awesome catches dude!!! Looks like the best of places to railfan!!!!

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks! It's one of my favorite rail lines to visit.

[@TrainsNStuff]

I would get that...

[@TrainsNStuff]

No problem!!!

[@mentallyilldarkjeroid5378]

The person could've built a snowman on the rails and watched the train disintegrate it.

[@MrMark85044]

Great job. In the past I have seen lots of videos of Donner pass but nothing this year. Living in the desert I have to use KZbin to see trains in the snow. Thanks for doing this video. I Sub

[@Alwaystrains]

+MrMark85044 Thank you! For years it has been tradition in my family to visit the Sierra every year during the winter for our dose of snow-sports. When I started railfanning, I took up my own tradition of doing just that for railfanning purposes. This season was no exception. Glad to bring you a dose of winter excitement.

[@johnmoore8016]

outstanding video; loved seeing the snow

[@Alwaystrains]

+John Moore Thanks John! It comes as a thrill to even those who live here to see so much of it at once nowadays.

[@johnmoore8016]

+AlwaysTrainsHD Thanks I live on the Mississippi gulf coast about 7 miles not of the Gulf of Mexico don't see to much snow, we see a lot of rain and get a lot of wind.

[@lydmik]

i always look forward to your postings...pls keep 'em coming!

[@Alwaystrains]

+Ms A Thanks a bunch! I do have more. Next one on the list is one from territory I've never explored before.

[@lydmik]

+AlwaysTrainsHD great...i'll look forward to it!!

[@dominichetherington2287]

hi from the u.k. one of the best vids I've seen in years if your not you should be a professional!! love this!!!!! 😊 will be following your future output regards

[@Alwaystrains]

+Dominic Hetherington Thank you very much Dominic! Glad to hear you enjoy the content. I'll be posting more content in the near future, but professional? Nah. I'm no professional. Though I take it as a compliment that you think I am.

[@FlyToChina0071]

One of the best train videos I have seen here on YT. I just pressed the "SUB" button Cheers Adam (from Denmark)

[@Alwaystrains]

Thank you very much Adam! Glad to have you on board. Greetings from the United States.

[@megatrains]

JUst subscribed!!! Great video buddy!!!

[@coxsj]

Very nice. Especially liked the shots around Cisco.

[@Alwaystrains]

+Coxy's Railroading Thanks. Glad to hear that, considering the hike I had to do to get up there.

[@coxsj]

+AlwaysTrainsHD Yeah, I was wondering how you did that! I imagine you had to leave your car a fair distance away?

[@Alwaystrains]

+Coxy's Railroading Yup you got it. I parked the car about a mile and a half down the hill in a gas station parking lot, and hiked up the road behind the gas station with permission from the owner. My friends and I made our way up with snowshoes.

[@coxsj]

+AlwaysTrainsHD Good plan. I've driven 80 many times in the winter but never had the chance to hike in and take some pics. Thanks again, the results are well worth it!

[@Alwaystrains]

+Coxy's Railroading Thank you sir! Glad you think so

[@JDsHouseofHobbies]

Stills of this video would make some beautiful Christmas cards!

[@Alwaystrains]

+WikdSeafood That can be arranged. I have a bunch of still pics from this trip. Thanks for viewing.

[@railroad9000]

That flanger does a good job keeping the rails clear.

[@Alwaystrains]

Yup. It's the railroad's first go-to for snow clearing.

[@railroad9000]

I knew that but thanks.

[@coldblue9mm]

Bill rouleau Actually that's no longer true. They send out the Snow Fighters first. As you may also already know this, for the people who don't, a Snow Fighter is a over sized Ballast Regulator fitted with wings to push back snow like a mini Jordan Spreader.

[@RestrictedProceed]

Donner pass in winter! Amazing video man.

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks!

[@johnmoore8016]

thanks for a good video; loved the snow. Thanks

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks John!

[@TRSPomerania]

Awesome movie, very picturesque winter locations. Best regards! :)

[@fritzd2116]

Very nice! You see so little footage of Donner Pass for some reason?

[@RailBuffs]

Wonderful shots!

[@Alwaystrains]

+riogrande5636 Thanks!

[@Thunderstixx77]

I like your shadow on the snow my friend !!!

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks Steven.

[@nitaleach6816]

There's nothing like camping at Donner State Park, and lessoning to the train come by.

[@jleveille2]

Engine 585 at the end of the video it looked like this engine could run on electricity or diesel. Thanks for the great scenes I appreciate your vodeo

[@Alwaystrains]

You're welcome. 585 is fitted with an icicle-breaker up top to knock low hanging debris from tunnel roofs as to prevent damage to run-through trains.

[@leediggs1398]

It's amazing how they can come down those steep mountains with all that weight in the snow and not lose control

[@Alwaystrains]

Indeed it's a marvel how such massive machines can work in that manner. It's their massive weight pushing down on the rails that allows them to stay on. That's not to say that the past isn't littered with accidents, but train control technology is now more modern than ever.

[@SunriseKing-Raven]

wowww..... AMAZING!!!

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks!

[@jimmarchand1550]

..Great video of Donner Pass in Summer and Winter .Did they use the big Rotary snow plow ether last winter or this pass on

[@Alwaystrains]

+Jim Marchand I don't have any clips of Donner Pass in the summer in this video. All of these clips were shot over two weekends in the winter. UP did use the weather as an excuse to TEST the newly rebuilt rotary #207, but didn't bring any out for actual work reasons. Last time a rotary came out for legit work purposes was in 2011. Thanks for viewing!

[@alexk3462]

What’s that metal cage on top of the locomotive at 13:19. Kinda looks like a pantograph haha.

[@Alwaystrains]

Alex K It's an icicle-breaker. It knocks icicles off of tunnel portal roofs

[@alexk3462]

AlwaysTrainsHD cool! Thanks for your reply!!! Great video btw!

[@Alwaystrains]

Alex K yeah no prob. Thank you!

[@CSXEMDTrainLover]

awesome train video

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks!

[@robertharsh3178]

AlwaysTrainsHD

[@MrEd-qg8td]

Comparing Donner pass to Cajon pass I think Donner is a lot harder to climb. Great video BTW!!!

[@Alwaystrains]

Yeah, the grades between the two routes are more or less the same. Snow in the winter really makes the difference. Thanks.

[@americanrails]

Great video, I enjoyed it!

[@Alwaystrains]

Glad to hear it! Thanks for tuning in!

[@N330AA]

What's the deal with the UP on the Amtrak?

[@charlesdell2864]

Great video. I'm just getting into this railfanning stuff and I have a question, although myself I think it's a stupid one,but how am I going to learn. With no crossing in sight, WHY? is train sounding it's horn.

[@Alwaystrains]

Each train that blew its horn was doing so for a crossing, the crossings are just not seen in the frame. In all of these cases, the crossing is either in a spot where the camera can't see it, or it's behind the camera. Trains also have to blow the horn fairly early before hitting a crossing. There are however some cases where there is no crossing, and the engineers are blowing the horn just to be friendly. But in almost every case, there's an unseen crossing around the corner that they're blowing for.

[@jennifermorgan1305]

nice work ! thank you!

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks Jennifer!

[@hebertbarajasbetancio785]

Jennifer Morgan u

[@hebertbarajasbetancio785]

Jennifer Morgan l

[@chrisnzella]

People think I'm crazy because I wave to the engineer when he blows the horn on these videos. ...I don't care either. LOL

[@Alwaystrains]

Hey, I'm not judging here.

[@michaeldougfir9807]

Great content, with good details. (Yuba gap, etc.) Has anyone made rail videos of Reno, Nevada? I ask because a few years ago they wanted to reduce train vs street traffic problems in the city. So they dug the Train Trench through town. Temporary rails were laid. So we had trains going by my corporate offices for a while. (2nd Street) It was great. I was sorry when the gigantic Trench was finished and they removed the rails near my work. Now trains go through Reno in huge, concrete lined ditch at below ground level. (Anyone knowing more/better about this is welcome to chime in. I live north of there so was not around full time for every part of the doin's.)

[@michaeldougfir9807]

How much snow on the rails can a locomotive tolerate?

[@Alwaystrains]

I have filmed clips in Reno. I have been to the trench a few times, and filmed UP and Amtrak inside it. There are other railfans on youtube who have videos of the rails at street level before the construction, and a couple who have videos of the temporary track. Feel free to search around. Videos I have from the area are up here on my channel. Thanks for viewing!

[@Alwaystrains]

The railroad pulls out the flanger plows when snow gets to more than 3 inches above the top of the rail-head, I think.

[@Alwaystrains]

Michael Nguyen That's the channel intro. keep watching past that if you want to see the content

[@tycho3301]

jeez those things get DIRTY!

[@kellyjames9317]

At 13:18, UP585 appears to have a pantograph raised, is that what I saw?

[@Alwaystrains]

No, that is not what you saw. A pantograph can only collect electricity from a catenary system, which is non-existent on Donner. What you saw is an icicle-breaker, which is used to knock icicles off of tunnel ceilings.

[@kellyjames9317]

Thanks for the clarification...I'd never seen one until this video.

[@Alwaystrains]

You're welcome. Locomotives fitted with icicle breakers tend to be more common out west in mountain ranges where the weather creates harsher extremes.

[@kellyjames9317]

That explains the rarity...Southern California doesn't get much in the way of icicles... I think the railroad industry has some of the most specialized equipment in the world for maintenance and repairs.

[@thebusterdog6358]

Excellent.

[@Alwaystrains]

Thank you.

[@alexklingfus3474]

what cars were those at 7:00? I see them all the time near my house and I have no clue what is in them.

[@Alwaystrains]

Those are autorack cars, used for transporting automobiles. Each unit is two rows tall, and cars are loaded in via ramp. Railroads often run complete trains of autoracks all going to the same destination, but a stray autorack can be seen on manifests from time to time.

[@JohnnysTrainVideos]

Nice catches and video...

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks Johnny.

[@RestrictedProceed]

What's that thing on the roof of #585 at 13:18 ?

[@Alwaystrains]

It's an icicle breaker. Icicles often form over tunnel portals, and if ignored can hang low enough to become damaging to passing trains. Snow service engines are equipped with these roof-mounted icicle breakers to knock the icicles down before they become a problem.

[@RestrictedProceed]

There aren't many tunnels in my country, so I've never heard about this before. Thank you for reply.

[@garrisondelgado7386]

they must have left somebody at 6:10

[@jplaw2508]

He was leaning out the window of that last Amtrak car to get a good shot and then, whoops....lol

[@luisbolanos3201]

UP 8512 . porno monopoliza

[@barbaraaspengen9810]

So cool thank YOU

[@Alwaystrains]

You're welcome. Thank you for tuning in.

[@DJshekky]

well done. i love watching these videos to gain perspective on new railfanning locations on the pass. i didn't know you could access the tracks off cisco. do you have to park and walk?

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks! To get to Cisco, I parked about half a mile downhill from the RoW at a gas station parking lot. I made the hike in the snow with snowshoes.

[@DJshekky]

i tried on new year's eve but there was a burly man with a big truck directing people away from the road...

[@nettvshumen]

Great video

[@Alwaystrains]

+nettvshumen Thanks!

[@jamesburnside3023]

Looks like a problem on car 12 opening scene the container looks wrong just saying great video.

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks. I don't see the issue

[@baronlocal8569]

2:38 interesante vagoane cu platforma decupata pe o parte pt a fi mai usoare .. pot transporta dar 1 container spre deosebire de vagoanele portcontainer cu podea joasa , dar pot duce si semiremorci Pare mai greu de scos semiremorcile de pe o asemenea platforma , mai greu de ancorat etc Oricum cele mai usoare pt transport pe calea ferata sunt semiremorcile care se ataseaza pe niste boghiuri ..

[@Alwaystrains]

Cred că ramele mai ușoare ale containerului sunt de fapt mai ușor de descărcat remorcile de pe. În Statele Unite, feroviarii se referă la aceste mașini ca la "mașini de spate". Acestea au fost de fapt dezvoltate decenii inainte de modernul dublu-stack container de masini (cunoscut sub numele de masina de bine). Sper ca răspunsul meu are un sens, a trebuit să folosesc traducerea Google. Scuzele mele.

[@DJshekky]

hey, is that first train at glenshire a westbound on the one track?

[@Alwaystrains]

+shekky The train is UP's hot-shot westbound ZG2OA (Global 2, IL to Oakland, CA). As for which track its on, I'm not sure. I believe it was all left-hand running that day, but again I'm not sure.

[@DJshekky]

maybe the UP was doing something to the two ( right hand) track that day.

[@Alwaystrains]

I never saw any MoW crews out that day though. Could've just been the day's choice of operating practices

[@LuizCarlos-rv4gf]

ótimo vídeo gostei muito (São Paulo Brasil)

[@Alwaystrains]

+Luiz Carlos Obrigado!

[@mikesgoodmann9349]

Nao ha muito neve no Brasil! LOL

[@SantaFe19484]

Awesome video! Did the Amtrak train break down, or did it just need extra power to climb the mountain?

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks! I would think just a break-down. Normally the 2 Amtrak locos are enough to get the train over the grade.

[@SantaFe19484]

That must have been so flustering to be a passenger in a train that breaks down. But at least engine failure will not cause a train to crash like it would if it were an airplane.

[@ashevilletrainman6989]

Little history: back in the pre trains era the donner party got stuck up here

[@Alwaystrains]

Out of the roughly 80 people who made it to the mountains, only half of them made it to California. The party was faced with frostbite and snowdrifts deep enough to bury a person. People got lost, and many resorted to cannibalism when someone died. A majority of the survivors were children.

[@michaelpass2176]

Seems to be going a little slower.

[@ericcharles8081]

How many trains cross this pass every day?

[@Alwaystrains]

While the traffic can fluctuate day-by-day, I have observed roughly 6 trains in daylight plus another 4 or 5 in the night-time hours, and that's on a good day. I usually stay the night to railfan for two days.

[@ScareFestTTV]

Why are the trains at the very end of the video so dark and freaky looking?

[@Alwaystrains]

Tunnel grime. The power-move at the end of the video consists of gevos that UP keeps in helper service on Donner. As a practice carried over from SP, UP keeps a pool of units in Roseville to help push outbound manifest trains over the mountain. The helpers are then cut out at Sparks, and sent back to Roseville when a decent number of helpers are gathered up. Because these units spend so much time on the mountain grades clawing through tunnels, they have become coated with exhaust stains, earning them the affectionate nickname "Dirty Donner Gals."

[@davidanderson7465]

where is Bonner pass

[@Alwaystrains]

Donner Pass is the mountain range that straddles the California/Nevada border. Good cities and towns to search for reference are Reno NV, Truckee CA, Colfax CA, and Auburn CA among others.

[@coldblue9mm]

David Anderson You obviously slept in History class. You never read about the "Donner Party"? No, they weren't sitting around drinking kegged beer from a red plastic cup, they were immigrants trying to make it to California and got trapped at the north end of what is now known as Donner Lake. The snow depth that winter was around 23 feet. Google it and educate yourself. It's not that hard, honest. Bonner Pass? SMFH....WTF, are you drunk?

[@missasinenomine]

1.28 Someone stole a container!

[@forbeshutton5487]

Never stop for lunch in the Donner Pass.

[@Alwaystrains]

Whatever few restaurants there are between Colfax and Truckee, yeah. Not a whole lot to choose from other than fast food, which is good in a pinch but doesn't offer a whole lot.

[@forbeshutton5487]

I'm referring to the history of the pass, specifically the party the pass was named for...

[@Alwaystrains]

Oh, right. Eat or be eaten...

[@jleveille2]

last engines on this video look like they came traveling in tunnels or from the coal mines

[@Alwaystrains]

Ah yes, the notorious "Donner gals." They are the DPU sets that stay on the route between Roseville and Colfax, often assisting trains over the hill in each direction. Years of running through tunnels has coated them so thoroughly, that conventional washing won't even get the grime off. They'd have to be fully repainted.

[@jleveille2]

Thanks for the answer I appreciate

[@evertonsouza3947]

vídeo muito top parabéns

[@danielyoung6630]

wow!

[@StingFlight]

After those recent huge storms, here's what it looked like from the air! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpbFmniQfJegmc0

[@Alwaystrains]

Neat video! Crazy how it went from not enough snow, to more snow than we know where to put it!

[@arunbhoopathyt6503]

Snow flak tons 2 good

[@jreichel1]

Very nice! You braved a lot of cold weather. 886 Likes! (and also 49 Dislikes from some losers)

[@Alwaystrains]

Thanks John. Yeah 49 people are just bummed that they didn't get to it first.

[@captainmorgan757]

At 2:31, the door is open on the lead locomotive, while moving on the mainline. That's a potential investigation, at least for my previous employer.

[@allanegleston13]

the still cameras ruined it for me.

[@Alwaystrains]

Yeah it's kinda difficult to prevent it when you're railfanning with friends who prioritize still photography. I usually try to stand a decent distance away from the tripod just for this reason.

[@DesertDigger1]

Choo Choo train mungus.

[@roselyly6085]

...........GEANT

[@josesalcidosalcidomi7873]

Like freight trains when i.was. goin to California.froom.el.paso.tex..and.kansas.coloradi.and.ldaho.new.mexico also.what.better.way o.travel.when.you.dont.have.any.m9ney.abd.tgey call you.llegal.this.bastards.i.never.forghiter.

[@Alwaystrains]

Please forgive me, but I could barely read that. Trying my best to decipher the message.

[@davidanderson7465]

get a job at the rr

[@Alwaystrains]

I'll try

[@eagleone9574]

Ship by truck. Trains R 2 slow and undependable...!!!

[@Alwaystrains]

Quite the contrary, trains are more efficient. The average locomotive can haul one ton of freight over 200 miles on one gallon of diesel fuel. A truck can only haul that same ton of freight 54 miles with the same gallon of fuel.

[@peterclarke945]

You seem so enthusiastic for road transport, that you wouldn't take time to spell ARE (R) and TOO (2) . Shame on you !!!

[@coldblue9mm]

Eagle One Trains keep moving over Donner Pass when they have you parked at Auburn drinking lukewarm coffee. A trucker trolling a railroad video. Wait, I forgot, you're doing this while parked account of snow, my bad. lol

[@williamgilkey7039]

Lmao

[@Duggie_dug]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/f6nPp6usfJ2thac nuff said?