I am just wondering, what part or parts, if any of the original transcontinental railroad are still operated on today.

aaron_2317@hotmail.com

> I am just wondering, what part or parts, if
> any of the original transcontinental
> railroad are still operated on today.

I can't give you a milepost-by-milepost account, but the short answer is, "most of it by a wide margin"--probably something like 80-90% of the original alignment is still in heavy, regular, continuous use.

The only major abandonment and relocations that I know of are the original UP and CP route around the north end of the Great Salt Lake (replaced by the SP Lucin Cutoff over the Lake ca. 1900 or so) and some line relocations in the Continental Divide area to reduce maountain grades (sorry I can't be more precise) by UP, also in the very early 1900s for the most part, under the Harriman presidency.

In general though, track still exists and is in use as a major transcontinental route on the bulk of the CP from Sacramento over the Sierras, and UP from Council BLuffs to the Great Salt Lake. Of course, the grade has been elevated and tweaked so the actual original roadbed may lie as much as several feet below the current top of the rails, or a little ways to one side or the other, but its the same right of way. All of it is now operated by UP, since UP purchased Southern Pacific.



eledbetter@rypn.org

> In the area of the Continental Divide, there was little relocation of the line as the area is quite flat. Infact, the Continental Divide splits around Deadman Basin in Wyoming where the track goes through. The highest point on the UP and the biggest hump is over Sherman Hillwhich is over 100 miles east of the divide. There have been several relocations off of the original alignment there and the Ames Monument which was once be beside the track is now several miles from it.
Roger Mitchell
Master Mechanic
Fort Collins Municipal Railway
Fort Collins, Colorado

n0mcr@netzero.net

Thanks! Sorry for misplacing the UP line relocation, appreciate the correction.


eledbetter@rypn.org

> Thanks! Sorry for misplacing the UP line
> relocation, appreciate the correction.
Thanks for all your info. I wasn't sure what was still on the original roadbed. You guys helped me out Thanks.

aaron_2317@hotmail.com

The first 20 miles or so out of Omaha had many curves - an operating nightmare. This was replaced under the first Harriman administration, if not earlier.

tr2manz@frontiernet.net

Like most roads, the UP has gradually nipped here, tucked there so parts of the current line are not exactly on the grade of the 1869 line. You can often see the old grade from a train on the current line (and AMTK 5/6 will be using the UP this summer)

As cited above, there were major relocations climbing out of Omaha and crossing Sherman Hill but there may be hundreds of minor relocations. This is one of the reasons RR mileposts are not always 5280 feet apart.


Electric City Trolley Museum Association

Its not as well known but the third leg of the Transcontinental, the Western Pacific (of 1862, not the line of the Zephyr) ran from Sacramento to San Jose. It was started as an independent company, but was purchased by Central Pacific interests who completed the line and extended it to Oakland Ca.

Its route via Niles Canyon and Altamont Pass was abandoned about 1982. The Pacific Locomotive Association have re-laid track over about 10 miles of the right of way in Niles Canyon and offer regular tourist service.


Niles Canyon Ry
hees@ix.netcom.com