Cape Horn

When Central Pacific tracks reached Colfax in September 1865, mountain construction began in earnest. The first major obstacle to overcome was Cape Horn, a rocky promontory high above the North Fork of the American River. This proved to be a major test for the Chinese workers, who helped build the railroad across the steep hillside in the winter of 1865-1866.

While the actual slopes at Cape Horn do not support oft-repeated stories that workers were suspended from cliffs in baskets, one 1870 report notes that
“the men who broke the first standing ground were held by ropes until firm foot-holds could be excavated in the rocky sides of the precipitous cliffs.”

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In his Chief Engineer’s Report of November 1865, Samuel Montague reported “the grading upon the thirteen miles between Colfax and Dutch Flat – comprising some of the most expensive work on the line – is two-thirds complete.” He added “The work at Cape Horn has proved less difficult and expensive than was first anticipated.”

Some later accounts refer to carving a roadbed in granite at Cape Horn, but the rock is actually a slate rock which is very weak compared to granite, and breaks away with relative ease to a pick and pry bar.

Despite the controversy over construction methods, Cape Horn remains to this day a major achievement in the construction of the Central Pacific’s Sierra crossing, and a great place to view mountain railroading. The Hwy174 overlook by the Red Frog restaurant near Colfax offers good views of trains rounding Cape Horn.

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