Unnamed coal train

The Central Pacific Line

Twain said to have taken a six-horse sleigh from Donner Summit to Donner Lake in April of 1868.  This follows the overland route as per  Google Earth

This is likely part of the route taken by the Wells, Fargo stage, November 12 of 1866, from Virginia City to Sacramento.

Several men including both Charlie and Judge Edwin B. Crocker, Mark Hopkins, Leland Stanford and Collis Huntington, all of the Central Pacific Railroad Company, formed this toll road company. There were other investors but they were squeezed out early on. Early in 1861 the company was called the Lake Pass Turnpike Company because the name Donner was not yet in common use. Later the company was incorporated as the Dutch Flat and Donner Lake Wagon Road Company.