Double-stacks over Donner?

In the other thread somebody said the SP's now-removed Track 1 over Donner Summit could handle double-stacks (didn't say what kind). I inferred that he thought Track 1 had better clearances than Track 2. Anybody heard of such a thing?

The original # 1 from Norden to eder, and the section in the gap' ( switch 9 - shed 10 ) could handle twin stacks and autoracks. the #1, the tunnel floors was lowered down about 12 inches IIRC in order to handle the larger cars. In Pentrex's Donner DVD, you can see a train of stacks doing this, but it was tight... Im not sure if the now #2 can handle them. Tunnel 41 can handle autoracks though. Ill have to look in Signors donner book later to double check.

So presumably the stacks on the video were 8-foot marine containers? Judging from the 1993-94 Railway Line Clearances book, double-stack domestic containers would be out of the question for Track 1 between Shed 47 and Norden.

It also says the "eastbound" track has better clearances than the "westbound" over that stretch. Did the video show the stacks on Track 1 east of Norden?

I heard a rumor 5-10 years back that UP was able to drop an inch or two in tunnel clearances over Donner by using steel or plastic crossties. Any truth to that?

Nova55 wrote:The original # 1 from Norden to eder, and the section in the gap' ( switch 9 - shed 10 ) could handle twin stacks and autoracks. the #1, the tunnel floors was lowered down about 12 inches IIRC in order to handle the larger cars. In Pentrex's Donner DVD, you can see a train of stacks doing this, but it was tight... Im not sure if the now #2 can handle them. Tunnel 41 can handle autoracks though. Ill have to look in Signors donner book later to double check.