Amtrak California Zephyr Photographs

Photographs of my train travel on the Amtrak California Zephyr through the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada between Illinois and California.

Click on a thumbnail image to display the full image.

California

1. Auburn, California - Courthouse built in 1893.
2. Colfax, California - Chamber of Commerce in old railroad car.

Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, California

1. Cape Horn, the steepest slope on the route of the Zephyr.
2. American River Canyon, 1500 to 2000 feet below the track!
3. Emigrant Gap.
4. Going over the Sierra Nevada.
5. Going over the Sierra Nevada.
6. Going over the Sierra Nevada.
7. Front of Zephyr about to enter a tunnel, snow on the slopes.
8. Going over the Sierra Nevada.
9. Going over the Sierra Nevada.

Donner Lake, California

The Donner Party wagon train was enroute from Illinois to California when they were trapped by a snow storm near the western shore of this lake. All but 47 of the 89 settlers died of starvation. Those who did survive had resorted to cannibalism.

Truckee River, California & Nevada

1. Following the Truckee River to Fernley, Nevada.
2. Water flume wooden troughs collect water from 4 sites in the mountains.
3. Hoodoo Pillars.
4. Hoodoo Pillars - rock formations that resemble dark castle spires.