Southern Pacific Narrow Gauge East of the Sierra

This visually stunning feature chronicles the fabled narrow gauge steam trains of the Southern Pacific which once crossed the desert reaches of California’s Owens Valley. Against a backdrop of soaring snow-capped peaks, the trains make their way to and from lonely mining operations at the foot of the mountains in the clear days of late Autumn. The entire line as it still survived in 1960 is covered, including stations, bridges, water tanks, and turntables. Narrow gauge gondolas run up a specially-built trestle to dump into standard-gauge cars below.

Enormous bars of silver, too heavy to steal, are piled at trackside to wait the train’s arrival. The road’s quaint and unique caboose/ combine brings up the rear of the train as a Native American from the local reservation, according to official company policy, hitches a ride on a boxcar roof. All this, as the highest peaks in the lower 48 stand watch under the crystal-blue dome of the desert sky. This is a jewel of a show!

Narration. Sunday River Productions programs may feature Color film, B&W film, Music, Dubbed Sound and still photos.