| Under restricted speed due to multiple flags in the area, EMD SD70M's #4470 and #4375, lead a string of baretables eastbound across the Feather River at the west end of the line relocation just east of Oroville, California on December 23, 2008. Originally, trains would continue northeast along the south bank of the river from this spot, and the Feather River Canyon essentially began only a couple of miles after leaving the Oroville depot. The bridge was built across the river before construction of the Oroville Dam was completed up stream in 1968. Twenty-seven miles of the original Western Pacific main line was flooded under Lake Oroville, along with six stations and five tunnels lost in the line revision. US highway 40 was also relocated and rechristened highway 70. Today, trains cross a 1100 foot deck plate bridge built across the Feather River on a 3 degree curve and eastbound trains such as this baretable actually head compass west northwest along the foothills of the northern Sierra Nevada mountains for about 22 miles over the new line before reaching the eastern end of the line relocation near the milepost location of Intake, at the "new" western end of the Feather River Canyon. The junction with the east end of old right-of-way is located near another notable bridge, the North Fork Bridge, which you can see here: www.youtube.com www.youtube.com www.youtube.com The reinforced concrete arch bridge stands 200 feet above the river bottom and stretches nearly 1000 feet ... |
