This RailCam overlooks the Union Pacific Railroad’s Roseville Subdivision in Colfax, California, near milepost 141.9 along the historic Donner Pass route through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This famous mountain rail corridor carries freight traffic between Northern California and the western United States while climbing through some of the most scenic and challenging railroad territory in the country. Trains at this location commonly include intermodal traffic, manifest freight, grain trains, and helper-assisted movements navigating the steep grades of the Sierra. Rail activity occurs throughout the day and night, offering dramatic mountain railroading action in all seasons.
Railroad: Union Pacific Railroad
Subdivision: Roseville Subdivision (Donner Pass Route)
Milepost: 141.9
Typical Traffic: Intermodal, manifest freight, grain, and BNSF Trackage Rights trains
Estimated Train Count: 20–35 trains per day
Passenger Service: Amtrak California Zephyr
The Placer Sierra Railroad Heritage Society is dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich railroad history of the Sierra Nevada region. Based in Colfax, California, the organization supports historical education, railroad preservation, and community engagement centered around the legendary Donner Pass rail line. The Colfax webcam is located on the roof of the historic 1905 Southern Pacific passenger depot. Restoration of this building was completed in 2007 through a community volunteer effort spearheaded by PSRHS members, and the depot now houses the Colfax Heritage Museum, Visitor Center and waiting room for travelers boarding Amtrak's California Zephyr. The society's monthly programs in nearby Auburn, regional field trips and participation in community events provides railfans and visitors with a unique opportunity to experience modern mountain railroading while honoring the generations of railroad workers who helped build and operate this vital transcontinental route.
Visit their Website: Placer Sierra Railroad Heritage Society
Colfax was created by the Central Pacific Railroad when tracks reached here in 1865, initially serving as a supply camp for the challenging construction over the Sierra crest. Located in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Placer County, California, at an elevation of 2400 feet, the town later became an important division point for the Central Pacific Railroad where crews added helper locomotives for the steep climb over Donner Pass. Colfax also served as the terminus of the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Railroad, connecting the gold-mining towns of Grass Valley and Nevada City with the CP/SP mainline. Railroading has remained a defining part of Colfax’s identity for more than a century, with freight and passenger trains continuing to operate through the heart of the community along one of America’s most iconic railroad routes.