Winter on Donner Pass

[@pinecone01]

It's awesome that you guys are making the 'older' videos like this available on youtube, and you have my sincerest gratitude and thanks. 👍

[@hikertrashfilms]

That’s cause they are redoing this with 8K equipment now

[@TheLittlered1961]

I thought that this was about the snow this year. I have a disdain for people that reposts just to get more views on the same video. I call this lazy, and greedy. Thumbs down on this greedy ass crap.

[@jamielacourse7578]

Here's a big shout-out to whoever froze their butt off taking these shots for us to enjoy. Cheers.

[@jamesberwick2210]

One of my great uncles, returning from a business trip, rode the train. It snowed so hard the train was halted for several days before the snow equipment could reach them. The tore wood from inside to feed fire heaters to keep warm. This happened in the late 1940s.

[@jo9732]

Maybe 1952 city of San Francisco train.

[@zsoren42]

Man, I literally just got off my Flanger in Truckee after working the mountain and I open You Tube up to this, frickin awesome! For a little context on some things from the operation side, we have a DPU pool that specifically works only between Roseville and Sparks and back which are 100%DPU compliant both ways and have computer software that makes them wistand the heat in the tunnels. We call them 'Sierra Dups' and orginal they were the 5200 series c45s that you see in this video but since have become more open to other engine types but still have to comply. Manned helpers are still used out of Colfax and sometimes Truckee when the Canyon closes or other reroutes make more then normal amount of trains over the line, most of the time in the winter

[@7ideaproductions]

I did not know that about the DPU pool. Thanks for the info!

[@highwayroadrunner206]

Wow! Dude you got one big set of cojones!!! I heard about that area over the years from truckers heading for the valley.....NOT ME..LMAO! Greetings from Greenville, NC.

[@j_rainsgoat3929]

​@@highwayroadrunner206Greenville NC represented in the comments! I'm a lifelong resident here in Pitt County.

[@highwayroadrunner206]

Ah, so you are a native, that's cool. I'm a transplant. Moved here from north east NJ 7 years ago. Love it here, the people are nice and the climate is great !@@j_rainsgoat3929

[@RustySax1949]

@@7ideaproductions - Any idea what that contraption is on top of the flanger unit being pullled by UP 602?

[@vickyrumsey692]

I lived in Trukee for about 5 years!! When I first arrived our first winter was about 18 feet of snow and we managed to get out duem to some wonerful snow plow drivers!! Trukee is very dear to my heart! I lived across from the train tracks but where I worked I could watch all the trains coming and going!! They were a wonderful sight to see!! There next stop for some would bee Reno, Nv. Then Sparks and then onto where ever!! I road the Amtark Train many times both nice and bad weather and the tracks were always plodded!! Such a beautiful trip!!!

[@The1jonnyz]

Is the old style silver diner still in Truckee?

[@jerrybailey1980]

Lol

[@allan9603]

@vicky, now where are you?

[@vickyrumsey692]

@@allan9603 I am now after many years and many moves to different states, I am now living in Michigan!

[@allan9603]

@@vickyrumsey692 👍👍

[@normsweet1710]

OOPS forgot to thank the “voice” that narrates these fine videos ❤️👍

[@ScottKew-g8r]

This is Great Footage! Most people do not associate California and Donner Pass together. In Winter... White , Beautiful , Cold and sometimes DEADLY. THANKS FOR SHARING...will be watching this MANY vid times.

[@glennmandigo6069]

"Sometimes deadly" is actually an understatement as far as Donner Pass is concerned, even all these years after the fateful Winter of 1846-1847

[@normsweet1710]

I’ve yet to “drive U.S. 40 but was told by some old timers that it can be an adventure . Someday I’ll make it out there in my pickup, as I’m retired from Semi after 38 yrs. Thank You for your efforts to bring it home to my 65” TV. 👍🙏😃❤️

[@Aspen_Gold]

As a railroader in Chicago, I thought our winters were rough. The blizzard of 2011 hit us bad too. I worked that whole week and man did it suck- nothing worked right. Thank you for uploading this video here. It’s another excellent presentation!

[@elizetes7313]

Is the train from Boston to Chicago encounter a lot of snow in February?

[@larryjanson4011]

i have live at the base of the pass most of my life (now 65) but i have been up there with over 20 deep of wet heavy snow in december, and up there in January with not one drop of snow to be seen. that year there was no spring as in feb right on through april one snow storm after the other. it gave us a record snow pack depth that year.

[@shable1436]

Who's watching from the comfort of their warm couches or beds, with their favorite blanket all warm?

[@CountryLivingOnTheFarm]

In front of the fireplace snowing where I’m at

[@G_de_Coligny]

Under 10 cats here… Warm and purring…

[@David-ty5hl]

Me. With popcorn.

[@cruisecrazy7066]

With a cold beer.

[@vladimirjereghi4080]

I'm working on my computer while I'm watching, during night shifts. Sorry to disappoint you guys...

[@silicon212]

I used to have a VHS tape of Pentrex' "Across Donner Summit" with much footage taken around 1991-1992. This is like a much updated version with better resolution. Thank you for posting!

[@7ideaproductions]

That is still a great video being in the Southern Pacific era and Richard Steinheimer as a guide.

[@shable1436]

There's channels on here of train hoppers sneaking through Donner's pass in freight cars, seems a little stupid to me, but hoboing has a niche on KZbin now

[@silicon212]

@@shable1436 It has been for some time, actually.

[@michaeldougfir9807]

I live near here. I have always loved the Sierras, and the same for trains. So this is special. Two hours well spent.

[@AnontheGOAT]

Winter train videos are the best!

[@fhowland]

Even keeping the crossing gates and signals working in those conditions must be a herculean task! So glad I got to see this area in person a few times...epic railroading!

[@bibledefinedbymartycozad]

You all are just the BEST!!! thank you so much.

[@BrettBarwick-ex3hn]

I'm from Australia and I think all of your content is fantastic and so informative. Keep up the great work 👍

[@anthonywilliams3951]

Videos and narrating are the best, #1 on my list keep up the good work 👍💯

[@7ideaproductions]

Thank you!

[@opwave79]

We’re getting more snow tomorrow! Bring out the rotary snow blowers. I can watch them all day.

[@randomoldguy3967]

Those rotary plows are absolutely epic! This was one of the best snow removal productions I have seen! Great job!

[@donaldbotsai5799]

my grandfather worked for the SP, retiring around 1962. lived in Roseville from about 1929. he used to have lots of stories about going over the hill.

[@normsweet1710]

What a way to spend a couple of hours sitting on my couch in S. Texas in Feb ….. I learned a lot 👍

[@stevenikitas8170]

Great video. I can't get enough of those rotary shots in the fresh snow. What a location....

[@alexguiver815]

Thank you for posting this, I could watch it all day long. I vacationed in the US in 2004 and drove from SF to Lake Tahoe, and saw the snow sheds above Donner Lake from the I-80 Vista Point opposite.

[@coletrickle-km7cl]

That old rotory whistle is just soooo haunting. If i ever see a ghost train that would be the whistle id expect to hear.

[@kathyrobello2787]

This is AWESOME!!! Love Trains. If I was younger I would 'try' to be a railroad engineer.

[@CookingwithSyreetta]

That shot of the snow hitting the camera was so epic! This was a great and informative video!

[@7ideaproductions]

Thank you! I got a black eye shooting that scene.

[@ForrestLambert.2022]

@@7ideaproductions Ummm OUCH!!!!

[@cjbeyer8340]

The the video’s of the past! Your creativity of the UP is totally amazing/awesome!! Thanks for sharing them to all of us! Love the UNION PACIFIC!!

[@KingRat543]

My great grandfather, a civil engineer, was brought west by the 'big four' to work with Theo Judah. My uncle donated some of his things to the railroad museum.

[@sonnicman]

I had to watch this again nine months after it was first published. There is just something about Donner Pass in the winter with the rotaries that is magical and takes me back to my childhood.

[@caseyjonessnr1200]

Fantastic footage. I have the VHS video “Battle for Donner Pass”. Your footage is just has good and the narrative is very informative. Thank you.

[@7ideaproductions]

Thank you! I will argue that "Battle for Donner Pass" is the best train video ever made.

[@heinzbreuer2674]

Das beste Video für winter imprisonen on World in railroad. Danke. Greetings von Germany Rhein side Düsseldorf ❤

[@7ideaproductions]

Thank you very much.

[@donhitchman4227]

I grew up at Tahoe from 1959. I spent a lot of time in Truckee including living in Truckee just yards away from the railroad tracks on the second floor above the cafe. I was there when the train derailed through the middle of town with a horrible sound and woke me up from from my nap. I also helped dig out the train that got stuck outside of the snow sheds on Donner pass. I forget what year it was but it was an amazing experience. I'm glad to see The other comments from people watching the KZbin video. I can remember living on the west end of Donner lake for one winter and we had to shovel a path to the door through about 18 ft of snow, so it was basically a tunnel just to get to the door. We couldn't park either one of the vehicles on that little cul-de-sac so we had to park down at the boat ramp parking lot on the west end of Donner lake and then walk to the cabin from there. I have no idea who was doing the narration for this video, but whoever it was to mostly a good job, except for the fact that in the Blue canyon portion of the video canyon was not spelled in Spanish but rather in English!

[@marilynbables8071]

Leon Bables, track repairman, 1923-1965! Rain, shine, sleet and snow! Dependable man! My Daddy!💯💪 Chicago Rock Island, Chicago & Pacific, Quincy, Burlington, Burlington Northern, and BNSF man! 🚂 Tom Bables, my grandfather, track repairman, c. 1895-1940, Missouri Pacific man! 💯💪🚂

[@oldad6207]

Thank you for your VERY DIFFICULT work.

[@bowlinerailfan]

A steam whistle on the rotary plow?! That's fantastic!!! Keeping the sound of steam alive in the mountains. Wouldn't surprise me if people think that a steam locomotive is coming down the line when they hear it.

[@Muziq4tune]

Great video. I took the Zephyr last year and saw some of those great sites.

[@jmhenon]

Awesome ! Just got notification of this new video & before I watch it on my TV I already know I'll love everything about it.... been through Donners Pass on Amtrak in winter, love the narration, the length of the videos.... ! Making the popcorn now and snuggle with the cat to watch another 7idea hit !

[@frankwolf3860]

Looking forward to seeing video of the epic February-March 2024 storm!

[@dpelpal]

Wonder if they could even get up there to film!

[@elflordsjourneys]

Hats off to the camera crew, excellent footage. Rode amtrak from Reno to Sacramento a couple winters ago. Fun experience. 😊

[@skruloos1]

I love watching these snow fighting videos..keep them coming please..

[@carlgomm9699]

I really appreciate and like this show, I'm a retired over the road truck driver, Donner Pass was a common place for me to be, I miss this part of the country, thanks to you folks I can see it again ❤

[@chanchalpal146]

It is AWESOME! A couple of days ago I watched a video shot at Steven Pass, I must say that one needs to push his or her physical strength to crazy limits to work in these frigid temperatures.

[@samueledyson]

I can’t believe how incredibly satisfying this is to watch and listen to.

[@davidm4689]

Epic footage, just epic. Thankyou!! Hopeing bigtime my trip on Zephyr looks similar. Regards from Australia.

[@HyenaEmpyema]

I really appreciate the writing style in both this video and all your others. This is how journalism used to be taught in the era before clarity was tossed in deference to outrage and clicks. I know KZbin wasn't in your original business plan, but I genuinely hope it ends up being more lucrative for you than selling discs. Either way you get a salute from me for posting.

[@normanbrown2137]

For me , seeing the Jordan spreader at work is fascinating. Built several of these in Ludington, Michigan.

[@asullivan4047]

Interesting/informative/entertaining. Excellent photography job enabling viewers to better understand what the orator is describing. Making this presentation more authentic and possible. Enjoying this presentation from the warmth/comfort of my computer room. Along the " Space Coast " of Florida 🐊🐊🐊 ( 2-17-24 ) wishing viewers a safe/healthy/prosperous ( 2024 ) 🌈🎉😉.

[@lindascharf70]

I love this video! I lived in Truckee and Donner Lake in the early 60's. Was there during the winter Olympics in Sqawvalley. My Aunt and Uncle lived in Soda Springs. They owned and operated Soda Springs Ski Hill. Uncle was a ski instructor and also on the Avalanche Patrol. My Aunt was a second grade school teacher at Tahoe City. I miss this area very much . I am in Arizona now. What a change. Thank you for this video. It is great 😊!!!

[@janellekm]

I would like to thank those who brave the cold and snow to get us these great shots of the trains. Thank you Mr Narator for all of the information. I am Australian, and I have vaguely heard the name Donner Pass when I was planning my trip to America. Having seen this video, a train ride through this area will have to be done. 😊

[@ElDarren]

What a great video! Donner Pass is always beautiful in the snow but it sure looks like a headache to keep plowed. They nailed all the perfect HD angles in this one! 🤩

[@glennmandigo6069]

If you know the history of that Pass where snow is concerned, you wouldn't think it so beautiful... SIDE NOTE: If actually do know the history, I apologize, I meant no offense, I was just saying the reality

[@johnhenry6637]

Awesome,Awesome, Awesome with lots of amazing Awesomeness. Thank you.

[@jamesberwick2210]

I think I was one when it happened. I've driven across between Sacramento and Reno and drive through an open top tunnel 20 to 25 feet deep each side of the road. Thanks for the date. Uncle Don passed before high school.

[@mondo2417]

Thanks for sharing and all your hard work putting all this footage together, very enjoyable.

[@OvermarsGaming]

Hard-working trains and hardworking documentary crew during heavy snow storms. My hats off to you guys

[@marilynbables8071]

Thank you for this amazing view of railroad operations!

[@brucehughesman5238]

this is a fantastic video very well filmed and narrated this now is my favorite site to watch please keep up the good work i am looking forward to seeing more new videos thank you

[@Matoakas]

This was actually surprisingly nice. Slow and chill. The narrator talking now an then, the trains doing their job. Yeah, i liked it

[@larryfreeman7979]

not really a train guy, but I thoroughly enjoyed this whole episode. At the start , figured no way could I sit thru 2 hours but the great footage and no BS narration kept me entertained. " Just the facts" wonderful!. Wondering if, with the more recent double stackers coming on the scene, if all the tunnels had to have their opening height increased, or were the tunnels already tall enough? Greetings from Alberta, Canada.

[@7ideaproductions]

Hello Alberta! To answer your question, the tunnels had to be notched in order to fit the doublestacks. This was done back in 2009. During that time, I filmed a program on the Feather River Canyon which was the route for stack trains then.

[@telsat]

This is a fantastic documentary about trains I love it ❤

[@scr2392]

Those 567 sound so good

[@MaggieConstantine]

This is a wonderful video. Thank you so very much for creating it. It cannot have been a simple task! I will watch this again and again.

[@lola_rock3312]

Absolutely loving this!

[@kylehendrix9103]

The video quality is stunning.

[@junkiexl86]

Nice shot of the California Zephyr going by

[@GaryRichardson-lt7gh]

What a show, HEAVY TRAINS VS COLD WINTER DAYS ON DONNER SUMMIT, this gets 💯 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟👏👏👏👏👏 in the railfans book of Donner Pass of Excellent. 👏🫡😌💫 Since SP did it all from 40's to all the way to their retirement in 1996, they overcome the challenge and beat the odds. 🫡😔 A tribute to the Donner Party and Central Pacific crews that shovel, hammer and pick, plus blast they way to the Pacific. 🍻 "A toast to the old school in very long years pass since their victory over Donner Pass."🍻 Now, it's UP turn to make future history over Donner Pass & for those winter storms, they will overcome the challenge just like it was in the beginning. Because, "They Can Handle It."

[@TransformerDad]

It's cool to see an old B unit still in use.

[@lynnnystrom]

enjoy seeing the older steam rotaryplow, my dad used to run the up steam rotary plow up till 2010

[@Judy-wv4mx]

I found this film amazing!! Thanks for posting.

[@RandyGreen-z3p]

Brought lots of beer at the Soda Springs Store, Tony the owner is awesome!

[@kathyrobello815]

Love This. Thank You. Love Trains. ❤❤

[@scooterscat3309]

This is awesome i grew up in roseville and many friends fathers worked for southern pacific.

[@sharonmcgeeney9414]

What absolutely amazing scenery this is. It looks like something out of the movies

[@MarkTasker-bn4kk]

Am currently re-reading Stephen Ambrose's book on the building of the Trans-Continental and it is wonderful to be able to see some of those incredible locations here. Thank you- this is fantastic!

[@joelsanchez-q7o]

like your videos!!!! God bless everyone!!!!

[@MichaelFaber-p4j]

Thank you for your most excellent video!!

[@NickelPlateRoadExperience]

This video was amazing!

[@derrickeasterday4066]

Thanks for this great content I love it

[@paulkettle8834]

Thank you so much for posting this up.

[@cdodge2996]

Absolutely love this video! We have watched a few others but as far as quality and content, this one is amazing! Can't wait for the new version to come out! There had to be plenty of Rotary Action recorded winter of 22-23. At least that's what the news was saying about the Sierras anyway... Thank you for posting this to KZbin.

[@davefroman4700]

I imagine they have had their hands full with the storms this winter.

[@KCTopDawg]

A definite masterpiece 👌

[@deutschebundesbahnh0]

What a great Documentary! Thanks for showing this!

[@BrunoDeSoto]

What a beautiful production. Thank you so much for sharing with us.

[@bobp3738]

Very well done, gents! Thank you.

[@Ferrosteph]

Thanks for all the information you give, very interesting video

[@oaktadopbok665]

Love the snowstorms!

[@johnmcgarvie4061]

Another incredible video from 7idea!

[@patprop74]

An amazing watch.

[@swkaushik]

Great Photography

[@michaelwenzel3196]

Thank you for sharing this great video!

[@clintlarue520]

We have those same exact engines that come up into SW Montana. Up here they are the Union Pacific railroad,I didn’t know they were tied in with Southern Pacific. Great video!!

[@elizetes7313]

Ik eating some boiled eggs and watch the video very relaxing thank you cheers from Boston

[@jamesburnside3023]

Great capture really shows you the work needed here.

[@katalina1953]

EXCELLENT PRESENTATION

[@joelguzman9068]

Wow es un video excepcional, me ha fascinado. THANKS A LOT

[@elizetes7313]

Eating some boiled eggs and watch the video very relaxing thank you cheers from Boston

[@Prius2013]

Great Video!! I took Amtrak from Sacramento to Reno many years back. We had just sat down in the dining car when we reached the snow line. It started snowing and it was so beautiful. We had no issues getting to Reno.

[@Erica_Brenda]

GREAT VIDEO! Thank you for creating it.

[@DebbieMurray-t1i]

Excellent video thanks for sharing this!

[@StaceyDawson-f4u]

Thanks for the great video , I love trains in snow