Transcontinental Railroad Tunnels #8, #9, & #10
Posted by: 
Volcanoguy
N 39° 18.934 W 120° 19.168
10S E 731094 N 4355222
The old Transcontinental Railroad Tunnels #8, #9, & #10 at Donner Summit.
Waymark Code: WMW0B0
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 06/20/2017
Views: 4
The Transcontinental Railroad was a 1,912-mile railroad line constructed between 1863 and 1869 that connected the existing eastern U.S. rail network at Omaha, Nebraska with the Pacific coast at Oakland, California. The Sierra Nevada Mountains were a major construction obstacle resulting in numerous tunnels. In 1993, several of the original tunnels at Donner Summit were abandoned with the completion of newer tunnels.
It took 2 years of work to complete Tunnel #6 at Donner Summit. While the summit tunnel was being drilled, crews hauled material over the summit on wagons and continued construction the grade and other tunnels and laying rail eastward. Tunnel #6 was bored though on August 30 1867. The first train rolled through 2 months later. By December 13th, 1867 a train rolled through to Nevada and by May 4th, 1868, the tracks were connected through to Reno. On May 10, 1869 the first transcontinental eastward and westward building met at Promontory Point, Utah, completing the link across America.
Tunnel #8 was originally about 500 feet long but because of winter snow problems nearly 3700 feet of concrete snow sheds were constructed connecting Tunnels #8, #9, & #10 resulting in nearly 4900 feet of tunnel.
Waymark coordinates are at the west end Tunnel #8. The recommended parking area is at the China Wall turnout on the Donner Pass Road (
visit link) .