While we were riding the train through the Donner Pass, we passed these structures that looked like tunnels made of wood.
My Husband explained to me that in the High Sierra's, they came up with a way to keep the tracks clear during the worst of the winter, by building structures called Snow Sheds. A snow shed protects the tracks by sending the snow that tumbles down an avalanche prone area, past the train tracks and thus, moves it harmlessly out of the way.
I have not been able to figure out what I took a photo of, but part of the track was removed at some point and so this could be a snow shed remnant of that other track bed. You can see we passed right to the left of it.
Once I found out what they are and what they are used for, I got pretty excited. Too bad we had moved on from that summit area of the Donner Pass.
If you want to see many photos of some of the structures, check THIS out.
A really wonderful part of our American History. Man triumphs over extreme weather...well, for the most part.
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