The blizzard that struck the Sierra Nevada mountains presented a formidable challenge for the City of San Francisco train, with snowdrifts reaching up to 25 feet.
Engineer Tom Sapunor knew he was in trouble when he said, 'That's it. We can't make it,' as the powerful locomotives could not push through the snow.
The dramatic entrapment of the City of San Francisco train for three days in January 1952 highlighted the harsh realities and unpredictability of winter rail travel.
In 1952, the City was among America's premier trains, its luxurious service emphasizing the national pride tied to rail travel through treacherous landscapes.
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