Donner Pass: Part 2. On the weekend of November 13th, I made a second trip from the Bay area to the UP Roseville Sub to photograph some locations I missed on the first trip. One of those locations is here, the classic searchlight signal bridge at Norden. This is the last active searchlight signal bridge on Donner Pass, and it is unfortunately in its last days of existence. The replacement vaders are just behind the photographer, all set up waiting to be put in service.
After a slow start on a frosty morning, I left the hotel in Truckee around 0715, and went to the coffee shop in town before making my way to Norden. ATCS was out of service from Auburn (60 miles to the West) to Reno, so there was no notice for early AM trains near the summit. I parked the car at the top of the hill, bundled up and walked out to the signal bridge. I was all prepared to spend a few hours here waiting for an eastbound. Incredibly after only 5 minutes of waiting, I heard the horn of an eastbound blowing for the crossing at Soda Springs, bingo! The MRVGR came around the corner struggling up the hill with a trio of GEs on the head end. After the train passed, I made my way back up the hill and the chase east was on.
