Richard Steinheimer
A regular in the
pages of TRAINS,
Richard
Steinheimer
(1929-2011) is one
of the giants of
American rail
photography. Author or coau-
thor of dozens of books, his
work remains hugely influen-
tial for today’s photographers.
Steinheimer images of Donner
were a big part of his 14-page
“SP California Spectacular” in
February 1966 TRAINS.A westbound rotary set at
Yuba Pass. This is near where
City of San Francisco passengers
were snowbound for four days in
January 1952.
The rotaries in the short gap
between sheds on the No. 2
Track at the Norden complex.
Rotaries operate in pairs, allow-
ing them to clear track moving
either east or west. Generally
they work in conjunction with
spreaders, which run ahead,
shoving snow onto the adjacent
track. The rotary follows, tossing
it clear of the right-of-way.
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