Dutch Flat & Donner Lake Road (Lincoln Highway over Donner Pass) and China Wall

[Max Rockatansky]

Went over Donner Pass Road this morning heading back over the Sierras.  I stopped near the Rainbow Bridge to hike up to the old alignment of the Transcontinental Railroad above the China Wall and to hike some of the old Dutch Flat & Donner Lake Road.  The Dutch Flat & Donner Pass Road is very apparent from China Wall and can be seen snaking downhill to Donner Lake.  I covered much of the history of the Dutch Flat & Donner Lake Road in the previous topic I did about Donner Pass Road.  For now my photos are ready to go and can be found here:

https://www.flickr.com/gp/151828809@N08/e1BsHh

For what its worth this is probably the best road picture I've ever take; Donner Pass Road/US 40 from China Wall:

0 by Max Rockatansky, on Flickr

The previous post on Donner Pass Road can be found here:

https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=20566.msg2346443#msg2346443

[Max Rockatansky]

Below is the map I prepared for my upcoming blog entry on the Dutch Flat & Donner Lake Road.  The map below shows the alignment shifts of the DF&FLR compared to Donner Pass Road. I'm basing my maps off an 1889 topographical map of Donner Pass which showed the original alignment of the Dutch Flat and Donner Lake Road.  Getting to Donner Pass on the DF&DLR would have required using a rail crossing at Tunnel #6 which must have been hellish at best getting across predicting when a train would come.  In the vicinity of Donner Pass the 1864 alignment is obvious in some places but is largely obscured by tree growth and rock fall.  Apparently in 1909 a state bond was issued to improve the DF&DLR which included a new underpass which was constructed in 1912 or 1914 (sources vary on the year) between Tunnel #7 and #8 at the China Wall.  East of Donner Pass the DF&DLR apparently split on the listed southern route but the northern route was likely used as a winter bypass due to avalanches.  The Lincoln Highway was routed over the DF&DLR in 1913 followed by the Victory Highway in 1921.  The DF&DLR became part of LRN 37 in 1919 which was built up to Donner Pass Road by 1926 which was the alignment of US 40.

X1 by Max Rockatansky, on Flickr

For reference the 1889 Topographical map in question can be viewed here:

https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~32287~1151643:Topography--Truckee-Donner-Pass-Reg?sort=Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No&qvq=q:donner%20pass;sort:Pub_List_No_InitialSort%2CPub_Date%2CPub_List_No%2CSeries_No;lc:RUMSEY~8~1&mi=2&trs=12

[Max Rockatansky]

Regarding the Tunnel #7 Highway Underpass, does anyone have a solid documented date on when it was completed?  I've seen source materials cite; 1912, 1913, and 1914 as completion years.  If there is some sort of public works documentation that I'm missing please forward it to me.   For what it's worth the Donner Pass Historical Society lists the underpass being completed in 1913:

http://donnersummithistoricalsociety.org/PDFs/newsletters/news10/november10.pdf

[Max Rockatansky]

Regarding the Tunnel #7 Highway Underpass, does anyone have a solid documented date on when it was completed?  I've seen source materials cite; 1912, 1913, and 1914 as completion years.  If there is some sort of public works documentation that I'm missing please forward it to me.   For what it's worth the Donner Pass Historical Society lists the underpass being completed in 1913:

http://donnersummithistoricalsociety.org/PDFs/newsletters/news10/november10.pdf

I might have answered my own question.  On CAhighways.org the legislative history for the Emigrant State Road (the Dutch Flat & Donner Lake Road( shows a change in 1913 to eliminate the rail grade crossing near Summit Station:

https://www.cahighways.org/chrphas1.html

[Max Rockatansky]

Took some time to get it right but I finalized my DF&DLR maps from the top of Donner Pass to where the road would have converged with Old Highway Drive on the west shore of Donner Lake.  This map below shows the descent from Donner Pass on the DF&DLR east to Donner Lake:

X2 by Max Rockatansky, on Flickr

[Max Rockatansky]

Finally finished my blog article on the Dutch Flat & Donner Lake Road and the abandoned Central Pacific Summit Railroad Tunnels.  The 1864 and 1913 alignments of the DF&DLR can be somewhat difficult to spot in Donner Pass due to tree growth but is very apparent heading east towards Donner Lake.  I prepared two maps showing the historic alignments of the DF&DLR compared to Donner Pass Road which would become part of US Route 40.  Central Pacific Tunnels #6, #7, and #8 are easily accessed and is probably the best place to view the alignments of the DF&DLR.  The 1913 Highway Underpass has partially failed and has become heavily vandalized.  I included links to applicable topographical maps, photos, and legislative information pertaining to the DF&DLR in addition to the Central Pacific Railroad:

https://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2018/10/donner-pass-hunting-dutch-flat-donner.html