C.L. Pond's 1870 photo of backside of snowshed at Donner Summit

The uphill-bound wagons and (after 1901) cars and trucks came into the snowshed after climbing the steep incline, made a sharp 90-degree turn inside the shed, and made their way through this opening and continued toward the camera on the raised road. Only the road's supporting rocks can be seen in this photo. Imagine the potential problems with two wagons or cars inside at the same time moving in opposite directions, with a train coming. Yet this was how it was for 48 years, from 1867 until August 1914, when the under-the-railroad "subway" was completed 100 yards to the east. More about that on the Historical Photos page.

Closer view:

Below is a detail from a Bierstadt 1872 painting showing the opening from the "front" side, climbing up to the summit, and the road after it leaves the snowshed, curving around the outcropping.