Clio trestle
Encyclopedia
The Clio Trestle, a historic Feather River Route railroad trestle
, is a favorite railfan
spot located in the Sierra Nevada near Clio
, in Plumas County, California
. The Clio Trestle is 172 feet (52.4 m) high and 1005 feet (306.3 m) long.
(now part of the Union Pacific Railroad
) built the Feather River Route
tracks along the Feather River
across the Sierra Nevada in 1909 to complete a San Francisco Bay Area
- Salt Lake City, Utah
route, competing with the Southern Pacific Railroad
Sierra route over Donner Pass
.
The lower 5000 feet (1,524 m) elevation Feather River Route was chosen by the Western Pacific, instead of the higher 7000 feet (2,133.6 m) elevation Donner Pass
Route by Southern Pacific, to cross the Sierra Nevada crest. The Feather River Route's high-point Chilcoot Tunnel at Beckwourth Pass
is at 5221 feet (1,591.4 m) elevation, and most of the route follows a subtle grade along the Feather River.
's "7 Wonders of the Western Pacific Railroad World" exhibit and tour. History and railfan
access is described in two travel guides, the.
The trestle is reached by road, either: north on Clio State Hwy 40A 1.5 miles from Hwy 89 at Clio; or south on Clio State Hwy 40 3.7 miles from Hwy 70.
Trestle
A trestle is a rigid frame used as a support, especially referring to a bridge composed of a number of short spans supported by such frames. In the context of trestle bridges, each supporting frame is generally referred to as a bent...
, is a favorite railfan
Railfan
A railfan or rail buff , railway enthusiast or railway buff , or trainspotter , is a person interested in a recreational capacity in rail transport...
spot located in the Sierra Nevada near Clio
Clio, California
Clio is a census-designated place in Plumas County, California, United States. Clio is located southeast of Quincy. The population was 66 at the 2010 census, down from 90 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, in Plumas County, California
Plumas County, California
Plumas County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of the U.S. state of California. The county gets its name from the Spanish words for the Feather River , which flows through the county. As of the 2010 census, the population 20,007, down from 20,824 at the 2000 census...
. The Clio Trestle is 172 feet (52.4 m) high and 1005 feet (306.3 m) long.
History - Feather River Route
The Western Pacific RailroadWestern Pacific Railroad
The Western Pacific Railroad was a Class I railroad in the United States. It was formed in 1903 as an attempt to break the near-monopoly the Southern Pacific Railroad had on rail service into northern California...
(now part of the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
) built the Feather River Route
Feather River Route
The Feather River Route is a rail line that was built and operated by the Western Pacific Railroad. It was constructed between 1906 and 1909, and connects the cities of Oakland, California, and Salt Lake City, Utah...
tracks along the Feather River
Feather River
The Feather River is the principal tributary of the Sacramento River, in the Sacramento Valley of Northern California. The river's main stem is about long. Its length to its most distant headwater tributary is about . Its drainage basin is about...
across the Sierra Nevada in 1909 to complete a San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
- Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
route, competing with the Southern Pacific Railroad
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
Sierra route over Donner Pass
Donner Pass
Donner Pass is a mountain pass in the northern Sierra Nevada, located above Donner Lake about nine miles west of Truckee, California. It has a steep approach from the east and a gradual approach from the west....
.
The lower 5000 feet (1,524 m) elevation Feather River Route was chosen by the Western Pacific, instead of the higher 7000 feet (2,133.6 m) elevation Donner Pass
Donner Pass
Donner Pass is a mountain pass in the northern Sierra Nevada, located above Donner Lake about nine miles west of Truckee, California. It has a steep approach from the east and a gradual approach from the west....
Route by Southern Pacific, to cross the Sierra Nevada crest. The Feather River Route's high-point Chilcoot Tunnel at Beckwourth Pass
Beckwourth Pass
Beckwourth Pass is the lowest Sierra Crest mountain pass and is located at the Sierra Valley's eastern edge near Chilcoot-Vinton, Plumas County, California. Beckwourth Pass is east of Beckwourth, California, in the Sierra Nevada, and is northwest of Reno, Nevada. The pass carries California State...
is at 5221 feet (1,591.4 m) elevation, and most of the route follows a subtle grade along the Feather River.
Railfanning
The Clio Trestle is part of the Plumas County and Western Pacific Railroad MuseumWestern Pacific Railroad Museum
The Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola, California, formerly known as the Portola Railroad Museum before , is a heritage railroad that preserves and operates historic American railroad equipment. The museum's mission is to preserve the history of the Western Pacific Railroad and is...
's "7 Wonders of the Western Pacific Railroad World" exhibit and tour. History and railfan
Railfan
A railfan or rail buff , railway enthusiast or railway buff , or trainspotter , is a person interested in a recreational capacity in rail transport...
access is described in two travel guides, the.
The trestle is reached by road, either: north on Clio State Hwy 40A 1.5 miles from Hwy 89 at Clio; or south on Clio State Hwy 40 3.7 miles from Hwy 70.
See also
- Western Pacific Railroad MuseumWestern Pacific Railroad MuseumThe Western Pacific Railroad Museum in Portola, California, formerly known as the Portola Railroad Museum before , is a heritage railroad that preserves and operates historic American railroad equipment. The museum's mission is to preserve the history of the Western Pacific Railroad and is...
- in Plumas County - Keddie WyeKeddie WyeThe Keddie Wye is a favorite railfan spot at a wye along the Feather River Route, located at Keddie, California, named after Arthur Keddie. Mr. Keddie purchased the survey rights and the right to build a railroad through the Feather River Canyon from George Jay Gould I, the son of Jay Gould...
- Beckwourth Trail