Archive Photos & Passing Scene – Monthly Newsletters

Since 2011 each issue of our monthly newsletters has featured an historic photo from our archives.  Starting in 2012 a passing scene photo of contemporary equipment spotted along the Donner Route was added to the newsletter.  What follows is an abbreviated list of those mystery/archives photos and passing scene images.

If you find a photo in the list that you would like to view, click on the date link to the left of the photo to open that issue of the newsletter.  You can then scroll through the newsletter to view the photos.

Further details about a mystery photo can be found in the following month’s newsletter.

Monthly Newsletter Mystery Photos & Passing Scene

March 2011 – Long Ravine Trestle and Bridge

April 2011 – WP Diesels – Auburn – Lincoln Way

May 2011 – Rocklin Depot

June 2011 – Cab-forward off Colfax Wye

July 2011 – Auburn Derailment – Cherry St.

Aug 2011 – Art Sommers photo Cherry St. Auburn

Sep 2011 – Old Auburn Work Train + firehouse

Oct 2011 – Auburn Nevada St. station

Nov 2011 – Long Ravine Trestle portion

Dec 2011 – Holiday Issue Brendan’s rotary snowplow


Mystery Photo                                      Passing Scene

Jan 2012 – Towle (village)                                        TRT-909

Feb 2012 – Cape Horn Mills sawmill                      TRT-909 Bekiaris

Mar 2012 – Gold Run depot + rotary                      Concrete ties – Colfax

Apr 2012 – West Applegate station                         Diesel off the Colfax wye

May 2012 – Clipper Gap depot                               UPP 140 Stanford Business car

Jun 2012 – no picture                                               UP1988 Katy at Colfax — Haire

July 2012 – Steam Shovel at Colfax                        Sierra Hotel Private car – Colfax

August 2012 – Roseville Depot                                UP EC-5 Geometry Car – 2005

Sep 2012 – Andover Snowsheds                             UP Challenger Dome – Aug 2012

Oct 2012 – Colfax RR Days issue                            UP 844 at Colfax – Hansell

Nov 2012 – Summit Tunnel 7 daylighted                UP 844 Long Ravine — Haire

Dec 2012 – Cab Fwd in Snow – OSH Calendar


Jan 2013 – Summit Tunnels 7 & 6 U/C                  Flanger set WB at Colfax 2006

Feb 2013 – Summit Station fire                               UP 1983 WP Heritage, Mar. 2006

Mar 2013 – Dutch Flat Hotel SP Explosion            FRA T-16 High Speed Rail Rsch

Apr 2013 – Clipper Gap Trestle                              BNSF in Colfax, Mar. 2007

May 2013 – Lake Tahoe Pier                                   Multi-Engines-Colfax 2001

June 2013 – Fulda Station                                        AMTRAK Electric – Colfax 2013

July 2013 – Dutch Flat Station                                Am Rwy Explorer – California

Aug 2013 – Emigrant Gap                                       UP 4014 Big Boy at Pomona

Sep 2013 – Benicia Depot                                         SP 6051 – CSRM

Oct 2013 – None – Colfax RR Days Issue               AMTRAK #6 Private Varnish

Nov 2013 – Engine 2 Boiler Texas Hill                    Chapel Hill Oct. 6

Dec 2013 – AMTRAK +Tamalpais in Snow at Gold Run


Jan 2014 – Krauss-Maffei Locomotives               GrandLuxe Express on Cape Horn

Feb 2014 – Mystery Construction photo              GrandLuxe New York – Colfax

Mar 2014 – Cisco in Snow                                    GrandLuxe Grand Canyon – Colfax

Apr 2014 – Secret Town Trestle                              UPP210 Mobile Laboratory Car

May 2014 – Truckee Roundhouse                           National Train Day Photos

June 2014 – Newcastle Turntable                            Domes to Reno – WP 806-A

July 2014 – #82+Rocklin Turntable                        Domes to Reno – Silver Solarium

Aug 2014 – (issue not published)

Sep 2014 – No Newsletter

Oct 2014 – Siding at Smart?                                    Colfax Railroad Days 2014

Nov 2014 – PG&E Spaulding                       GN 1196 City of Spokane in Colfax 2007

Dec 2014 – AMTRAK 83 at Soda Springs, 2014-Mike Haire


Jan 2015 – Newcastle Trestle (2 views)                   CN Burrard at Colfax, 2007

Feb 2015 – Farallon Islands railroad                  Colfax Caboose Restoration Status

Mar 2015 – Snowsheds Near Summit        WP & SP Heritage Engines, Colfax, 2006

Apr 2015 – SP Clubhouse Roseville           UP Heritage Engines at Cape Horn 2006

May 2015 — Newcastle Train Derailment          UP 1996 at Colfax Sept 2006

June 2015 – No Issue Published

July 2015 – Rocklin Roundhouse                     UP 1989, D&RGW at Troy

Aug 2015 – Bloomer Cut                                   UP 1989, D&RGW at Colfax

Sep 2015 – RR Days Special Issue

Oct 2015 – Tunnel 19 Construction                  Viewliner II Baggage Car – Colfax

Nov 2015 – Emigrant Gap 1940s Hwy Crossing    Colfax Caboose Status

Dec 2015 – UP604+Flanger at Troy


Jan 2016 – Auburn Ravine Trestle U/C               Passer American K-355-SSW MOW

Feb 2016 – City of SF snowbound—AP              Portola Equipment in Colfax -2002

Mar 2016 – Arcade Station – Sacramento           BNSF +UP – Colfax 2005

Apr 2016 – None                                             UP Business Train on Cape Horn, 2016

May 2016 – Horseshoe Curve Post Card             Pacific Sunset in Colfax, 2016

Jun 2016 – Glass Plate Loco in Snowshed        EMDX 1502 & 1503 T4 Locomotives

July 2016 – Ferry Solano at Benicia            Siemens Charger Tier IV AMTRAK Loco

Aug 2016 – Sierra Fire Train Postcard       MOW Equipment — Colfax Siding 4/2016

Sep 2016 – Soda Springs station in snowshed     MOW Equipment–Brush removal

Oct 2016 – NCNG #9 and Transfer Shed 1939      Colfax Caboose Roof Collage

Nov 2016 – NCNG Transfer Shed 1906                  Siemens Plant Tour

Dec 2016 – Snowbound-CPRR-HarpersWeekly1872


Jan 2017 – Hotel near tracks – Art Sommers        Washout near Cascade

Feb 2017 – Long Ravine Trestle & Bridge             Rotary Display – CSRM

Mar 2017 – Tunnel 7(22) constr. Clipper Gap      Rotary in Action – Mike Haire

Apr 2017 – Dutch Flat Depot Boiler Explosion     AMTRAK #5, Troy – Mike Haire

May 2017 – Colfax Tracks Realignment-1915       Colfax Caboose Update

Jun 2017 – Colfax Tracks Realignment-NE           AMTRAK #42 – Colfax

Jul 2017 – Lander Station Kiosk                             Colfax Caboose Grand Opening

Aug 2017 – Old Auburn Depot & Hotel                 Cal Zephyr Domes to Reno

Sep 2017 – NCNG Heisler and Third Rail             Silver Iris – Colfax 2007

Oct 2017 – Newcastle from new Tunnel           UP Classroom Boxcar MCVX 911119

Nov 2017 – Roseville Depot + Two trains               Fall Field Trip photos

Dec 2017 — Mike Haire’s Rotary – Norden


Jan 2018 – Rocklin Roundhouse Crew       Pennsy Greenwich Harbor – Colfax

Feb 2018 – PG&E Shay Locomotive           Pennsy Greenwich Estate – Colfax

Mar 2018 – Birce & Smart Wooden Trestle    CN Burrard Colfax 2015

Apr 2018 – Drum Siding at Forebay(Orel)     UP Bus. Train w/ UP 1943 Veterans

May 2018 – Locomotive Move Cisco to Fordyce   AMTRAK Winter Park Cars

Jun 2018 – Quarrying Rock at Fordyce           FRA DOTX 221 Inspection Car

Jul 2018 – Grading Track 2 – Nevada St               Brendan Drone – Colfax Yard WB

Aug 2018 – SP4139 – Colfax 1940                         Brendan Drone – Colfax Wye

Sep 2018 – No Issue Published

Oct 2018 – Cab Forward Norden Sheds u/c           Colfax Railroad Days Photos

Nov 2018 – Drum Forebay Roadbed                      San Marino in Colfax Sept 2018


Jan 2019 – Washout Near Midas 1965               UP’s AeroWedge for Double Stacks

Feb 2019 – Horseshoe Curve + Mill Siding          Colfax AMTRAK Platform + Rotary

Mar 2019 – Colfax Engine House Foundation Silver Iris/Paul Greenfield in Colfax

Apr 2019 – Colfax Track Realignment 1915    Rotary and Flanger in Colfax 2019

May 2019 – Caboose at Fuller Lake                 Cape Horn Overlook Plaques

Jun 2019 – Old Car + Donner Snowsheds        Siemens Tour Group Photo

Jul 2019 – Colfax Double Track Excavation    AMTRAK 90229 Cabbage Car NCPU

Aug 2019 – Midas Station building                   BNSF on Donner Route 2003

Sep 2019 – Second Summit Turntable Pit    Past Donner Summit Field Trip Photos

Oct 2019 – SP Diesels – Long Ravine 1973     Mike Haire –  Red Mtn Lookout Today 

Nov 2019 – Canyon Creek culvert                   AMTRAK Heritage Locomotive Pair

Jan 2020 – Newcastle Fruit Shed                      Canyon Creek Culvert & Tracks

Feb 2020 – Newcastle Fruit Shed view             SP Caboose 4669 in Colfax 2007

Mar 2020 – SP 2247 Fire Train at Norden         Fire Train Testing in Colfax, 2007

Apr 2020 – Staff Operator at Fulda                   Fire Train in use at Cape Horn 2004

May 2020 – Glendale Hotel Blue Canyon         High Speed Crossovers at Gold Run

Jun 2020 – Newcastle Trestle (Houseworth)   First UP Double Stack in Colfax 2009

Jul 2020 – East Portal Tunnel 6 (Houseworth)   First UP Double Stack – Cape Horn

Aug 2020 – Long Ravine Bridge andTrestle     Double Stack on Long Ravine

Sep 2020 – Horse Ravine Wall/Grizzly Hill       CP Coach #12 Calistoga to Sacto

Oct 2020 – West Portal Tunnel 28 construction    Cape Horn Aerial View – O’Brien

Nov 2020 – Tea Train Blue Canyon – Reilly          Applegate Web Cam Images

Jan 2021 – Auburn Electric Construction         AMTRAK #5 on Applegate Web Cam

Feb 2021 – Roseville Depot (no trains)               UP Avalauncher       

Mar 2021 – Summit Tunnels 8 & 7 + diesels       Colfax Caboose Roof Repairs 

Apr 2021 – Bill Fisher Model Layout            UP Smoky Assist to AMTRAK in Colfax

May 2021 – Long Ravine 2nd Trestle U/C      Sheriff Railcar/Cripple Creek in Colfax

Jun 2021 – SP4274 EB at Bowman Nov 1957        Photo Tribute to Tony Hesch

Jul 2021 – Car+Hwy 40 Donner Snowsheds    Patron Tequila car at Colfax Jul 3, 2021   

Aug 2021 – SP 4001 Mallet pre-cab-fwd         New AMTRAK Siemens Locos at Alta

Sep 2021 – Emigrant Gap Tunnel+Shed+Wall      Kansas City Southern On Donner Route

Oct 2021 – New England Mills Depot                     Siemens Brightline Train Set Delivery

Nov 2021 – COSF Wreck Emigrant Gap               Patrick Henry Private Varnish – Colfax

Jan 2022 – Colfax Crossing Guard                         Jana Johnston Flanger in Snow – Colfax

Feb 2022 – Overland Leaving Colfax ca1950         UP MOW Weed Sprayer Train

Mar 2022 – Cal Zephyr Near Auburn Depot         UP 1943 at Applegate

Apr 2022 – SP 2252 to Roseville Fairgrounds        UP’s Brandt OTM Tracker Power Unit

May 2022 – Crossing Shack in Colfax ca 1940      Siemens Sacramento Field Trip

Jun 2022 – Cape Horn + Tunnel from Colfax       Graffiti Art on Railcars

Jul 2022 – Long Ravine Bridge + Filled Trestle    UP 1983 in Colfax June 2022

Aug 2022 – NCNG Right of Way – Rollins             UP MOW – Web Cam – 5/4/22

Sep 2022 – Long Ravine Low Water Reveal          CALTRAIN Delivery by UP 8/22

Oct 2022 – Roseville Depot Area 1950                    Siemens Charger Locos Consist

Nov 2022 – Secret Town Trestle -Watkins             UP Business Train – Oct 2022

Starting in January 2023 the From the Archives page will feature a single, larger format historic photo from the PSRHS collection

        Historic Photo                                                         Passing Scene                                  

Jan 2023 — Howe Truss Bridge at Long Ravine     Proposed Signal Display for Colfax

Feb 2023 – 1944 Blueprint Lander Curve Realign   Rotaries in Colfax and on the Hill – 2/23

Mar 2023 – NCNG #5 Returns                                Rotary & Spreaders in Colfax 3/23

Apr 2023 — NCNG #5 1921 & 2017                        Amtrak Salutes Operation Lifesaver

May 2023 – Rounding Cape Horn w/bridge          Via Rail Siemens Venture Delivery 4/23

Jun 2023 – Cape Horn & Cape Horn Mills            UP 2760 in Snow – Applegate Webcam

Jul 2023 – Clipper Gap Double Tracking              VIA Rail on Donner Route – Schlinger

Aug 2023 – Clipper Gap Trestles                            American Railway Explorer Eastbound

Sep 2023 – Trains Thru Old Town Auburn           Seaboard Hollywood Beach Sun Lounge

Oct 2023 – Antelope & Western RR Brochure      Promontory Point Private Rail Car

Nov 2023American Observation Platform     Suits Me Private Pullman Car

Jan 2024 – Early View of Bowman (postcard)       AMTRAK Double-Double in Colfax

Feb 2024 – Lake Tahoe Ry #1 at Truckee              AMTRAK Gets Assist from UP – Colfax

Arrow 104 copy

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