The Western Pacific Railroad was completed in 1903 of part of Jay Gould’s efforts to create a transcontinental railroad under his ownership. Its route from the valleys of Central California through the Sierras to Nevada is an astounding engineering feat. As the last railroad built into California, the Western Pacific traversed the sheer rock wall canyons and pine forests of the North and Middle Forks of the Feather River. In 1931, the Western Pacific opened a second mainline – the “Highline” - north from the Feather River Canyon to connect with markets in the Pacific Northwest. As part of this project, a three leg junction known as Keddie Wye was built on two steel trestles and a tunnel to connect this new mainline to the existing Oakland – Salt Lake City route.
Today, the Union Pacific operates the Oakland - Salt Lake City route while Burlington Northern Santa Fe runs the Highline. Both parts of the Western Pacific remain as vital arteries of international commerce through some of the most striking mountain areas in California, let alone the United States. The pictures below provide a contemporary view of operations along this route. (Click on the pictures to enlarge.)