A survey in black and white photos and text of the railroads of California's Sierra Nevada mountains and the old minng lines in the desert just beyond the mountains, in the last steam era, from 1947 to 1959. The two main-line routes, Donner Pass and the Feather River Route, were enjoying an Indian Summer of activity after World War II, with the postwar construction boom bringing more traffic. The Feather River Route still boasted steam locomotives in 1947-'48.; Donner was all-steam behind their signature cab-forward AC class 4-8-8-2s until 195 . The sight of these giants roaring through the woods stirred the blood of eager photograp hers. Now, as both routes enjoy a resurgence of traffic in the age of globalization, seems an appropriate moment to gather glimpses of these operations a half-century ago.