Rotaries 2, Battle to Open Donner Pass

Producer: Tim Walter

Timeframe: 2011

Locations: Truckee, Emigrant Gap, Cisco..

Length: 58 minutes

Source: Brendan Compton, Mike Haire, Dick Dorn

The second part to Rotaries, Avalanche on the Mountain. A Flanger train is stuck under an avalanche. The Rotary Snowplow gets dispatched from Truckee! Well, not exactly…

Similar documentary style, as the original show. Employee narration via interviews. Other times, it is radio traffic. On-screen graphics, also convey various information. There is a narrator, to round things out.

Broadcast quality footage. Audio as well. No maps are included. A bonus preview section. A widescreen presentation.

This program begins with the Flanger train, stuck in an avalanche. Where we were left hanging, at the end of that show. There is commentary, about the incident here. Even still photographs.

I was fully expecting to see a rescue mounted to the beleaguered Flanger. In fact, as a Rotary is dispatched from Truckee, it appears to be the case. However, that’s all folks.

Now, the story is redirected. The massive snowfall. Following the Rotary, as it works hard, to clear the mainline through Donner Pass. The Snow Service operation works, day and night.

The Rotary Train must travel all the way down to Roseville. In order to clear the.line and turnaround.

Rotary 209 has some derailments in the heavy snow! This is tricky work. Snow drifts at least 10 feet high. Big Union Pacific GE AC locomotives are assigned to this train. The EMD F7B is the Rotary’s power.

The height of the snow, can be hard to judge. Check this signal tower.

Difficult going at Cisco. Back and forth. The Rotary wants to climb off the tracks. The locomotives experience wheel slip. The crew spends hours battling through.

A sideview of the Rotary.

Some fantastic aerial drone views. These appear to be a recent addition.

The camera does spend a lengthy amount of time, in this position. Could have used some narration, during this stretch. Definitely.

The magic of the original show. A combination of the outstanding videography and employee commentary. The way that was edited, gave the show a unique flavor. Those same elements are present in the initial stages, but drops off. A worthy show to add to the collection.