Snow storms on Donner Pass

[truncated]

Amstew time!


(Pretty thankful for my hotdog from the cafe)

In other news the disabled freight train has been freed and is crossing the pass now, so hopefully we’re next — although I just asked the conductor and he doesn’t know if the plan is still for us to cross before 6(26) on the other side

 

[Steve4031]

Appreciate the updates. Thank you. Regret that you missed Donner pass in the daylight.

 

[truncated]

Appreciate the updates. Thank you. Regret that you missed Donner pass in the daylight.

No problem - it’s not like there’s anything else to do on the train (and thank god we stopped somewhere with cell service).

Anyway we finally got moving and made it to Truckee, but now we’re going backwards so let’s see what happens.
And missing the Donner pass is a pity and I had I known it’s a 10+ hour delay vs the initial 6 hours I’d have just hopped off at Reno and flown back to Boston lol

 

[cheerose]

I know that there was, at least, one reporter on that train... Saw a comment from her on Twitter. I "think" that she was getting off at Reno, but not 100% certain.

 

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Of course to add to everything that has already happened we had a medical emergency on board, which was why we pulled in early to Truckee and then had to back out of the station to make way for the plow (not a rotary sadly) to come in and turn on the balloon loop.

Anyway the plow eventually showed up after another hour and now we’re on the Donner pass and snow continues to fall — must be really pretty in the day but now I can barely see anything out my window even with the lights in my room off. Alas.

Estimated arrival into EMY is now 2.53am but I bet that’ll slip. Also asked the conductor when they time out and they’re legal until 1am, so let’s see if we make it to SAC by then — with I-80 closed it will be interesting to see how they get a relief crew to us otherwise. Oh and apparently they’re holding the NB CS at SAC for connections so apologies for those on it.

 

[Asher]

What a mess, hang in there.

 

[Willbridge]

Of course to add to everything that has already happened we had a medical emergency on board, which was why we pulled in early to Truckee and then had to back out of the station to make way for the plow (not a rotary sadly) to come in and turn on the balloon loop.

Anyway the plow eventually showed up after another hour and now we’re on the Donner pass and snow continues to fall — must be really pretty in the day but now I can barely see anything out my window even with the lights in my room off. Alas.

Estimated arrival into EMY is now 2.53am but I bet that’ll slip. Also asked the conductor when they time out and they’re legal until 1am, so let’s see if we make it to SAC by then — with I-80 closed it will be interesting to see how they get a relief crew to us otherwise. Oh and apparently they’re holding the NB CS at SAC for connections so apologies for those on it.

Here's what you should have seen, with more snow on it...

 

[neroden]

There are commuter stations east of Sacramento; if you make it to the easternmost of those by 1 am they should be able to get a relief crew in.

 

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There are commuter stations east of Sacramento; if you make it to the easternmost of those by 1 am they should be able to get a relief crew in.

Crew died at Roseville — been stopped here an hour and just got our replacement conductor; new engineer coming in 15 min it seems. New eta of 4.05 at EMY…

Although that said I think 6(26) is in a worse spot since their crew must have timed out by now as well, and they’re at Truckee and need to get new crew from Reno (with I-80 still closed)

 

[caravanman]

The Amstew looks nasty! Was it available to all passengers, both coach and sleeper?

 

[Everydaymatters]

My daily routine is to watch the web cam at Truckee a couple of times a day. It went out yesterday during heavy snowfall and still isn't working.

 

[truncated]

The Amstew looks nasty! Was it available to all passengers, both coach and sleeper?

Yep - sleeper passengers first and then coach. The stew itself was fine but was very thankful the cafe still had hotdogs.

And it’s 5.05am, we just got into EMY (13 hours late) and never have I been more excited to get onto a bus

 

[Rover]

My daily routine is to watch the web cam at Truckee a couple of times a day. It went out yesterday during heavy snowfall and still isn't working.

Yes, I too have been missing the action from the Truckee cam. I also like to check out the CA DOT cams, but most of them on I-80 in the Sierras are showing Not Available, and the others working are covered in snow and ice...

 

[Rover]

Of course to add to everything that has already happened we had a medical emergency on board, which was why we pulled in early to Truckee and then had to back out of the station to make way for the plow (not a rotary sadly) to come in and turn on the balloon loop.

Anyway the plow eventually showed up after another hour and now we’re on the Donner pass and snow continues to fall — must be really pretty in the day but now I can barely see anything out my window even with the lights in my room off. Alas.

Estimated arrival into EMY is now 2.53am but I bet that’ll slip. Also asked the conductor when they time out and they’re legal until 1am, so let’s see if we make it to SAC by then — with I-80 closed it will be interesting to see how they get a relief crew to us otherwise. Oh and apparently they’re holding the NB CS at SAC for connections so apologies for those on it.

Transitdocs showed that you were in Truckee almost 2 hours, and finally made it into EMY at 5:05AM...About 13 hours late.

https://asm.transitdocs.com/train/2021/12/24/5

 

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It’s not looking good for the rest of the Zephyrs either:

6(26) made it to Truckee and Reno and is now running 12 hours late

5(25) was on time but looks like it also has a service disruption and will be spending 8 hours in Reno (maybe due to crew availability?)

6(27) that @Steve4031 is on is showing a 3h20 late departure from EMY

And I suspect if the snow keeps falling and a plow escort is needed through the Donner Pass both trains might again cross in darkness ):

 

[Rasputin]

Thanks for all of the reports.

I will take the Amstew over flex or contemporary dining (or whatever the current nomenclature is) any day, especially over the breakfast.

 

[Barb Stout]

My daily routine is to watch the web cam at Truckee a couple of times a day. It went out yesterday during heavy snowfall and still isn't working.

Does that happen a lot during "weather"?

 

[Steve4031]

I’m going to start a trip report for my trip on 6. Someone from Amtrak called us early this morning and advised us about late departure and requested we don’t get to the station too early. We will get a Lyft at 10:30. There’s a shortage of Lyft drivers. So requested ahead.

 

[Asher]

Weather in the Sierra mountain area around Truckee today and through next Wednesday.

 

[Rover]

Does that happen a lot during "weather"?

There have been some reports that power was out in Truckee, but I haven't seen that reported on in a meaningful way. KCRA had a reporter in Truckee before Christmas, but she was last reporting from Colfax. The News is good about reporting auto mishaps, but Amtrak delays just don't seem to be on their radar unfortunately.

 

[alpha3]

Maybe I've been lucky, (or unlucky?) but I have to ask....what is that Amstew stuff? Is it something Amtrak stocks for emergencies? It doesn't look........too bad......

 

[jis]

Maybe I've been lucky, (or unlucky?) but I have to ask....what is that Amstew stuff? Is it something Amtrak stocks for emergencies? It doesn't look........too bad......

Yes. It is emergency food carried on board on trains just in case things get delayed too much and they run out of food in an area where it is not possible to get food from a fast food place or such. Now back to snow in Donner Pass.

 

[zephyr17]

Maybe I've been lucky, (or unlucky?) but I have to ask....what is that Amstew stuff? Is it something Amtrak stocks for emergencies? It doesn't look........too bad......

Big cans of Dinty Moore always stocked in diners as emergency rations. "Eating the stew" means a train is VERY late, typically 8 hours or more. I've eaten the stew several times, although never in remote locations, typically in Minnesota or Iowa, on my way to a zero dark thirty arrival at Chicago.

Having now experienced flex in November, I'll take the stew over flex, too.

 

[AndySF]

Trip report from 5 delayed at Reno: last I heard over the intercom was that we will hold until 5pm, with people being let off the train to wander with the request that they return no later than 4pm. This station has to be one of the least attractive to wait at, seeing as it is in a concrete ditch...

 

[Steve4031]

I saw that too. Anticipating a wait at Colfax.