C&C Then & Now #8

This is a set of shots taken at the south base of Montgomery Pass. The "Then" photo is from Myrick's RR of Nevada Vol. 3 and shows a 1927 train headed by #15 & 16 cooling its brakes at the highway crossing. The "now" photo was taken on June 13, 2009. There were actually three highway crossings at this location. The earliest wagon road ran straight up the bottom of the valley and predated the railroad. After the railroad was built the wagon road was relocated to the edge of the fill in the foreground. This placed the road right at the mouth of a long & deep cut. When the highway was upgraded for auto traffic it was moved to the far side of the fill. The modern highway is visible at the top of the "now" photo.