This 1931 photo shows Highway 40 crossing the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks at Emigrant Gap. The truck crossing the tracks is headed west and towards the photographer. This crossing would be converted into an auto tunnel under the tracks as traffic increased over the years. The westbound truck is headed up the hill to a lookout/canteen, which is pictured below. This was the Lincoln Highway until 1927 when the named highways were converted to the number system.
Notice how the downhill truck has to stop, wait until the other truck crosses before proceeding. You can imagine the confusion and danger as two automobiles try to cross, and a train is headed down the tracks. Apparently, there were quite a few accidents here.
Photo: Donner Summit Historical Society, Norm Sayler Collection.
Eventually, the beautiful Nyack Lodge would be built at this location, and a more modern freeway would be built a bit further from this spot. The fork in the road we see in the second photograph shows the Highway going left, and going right, the entrance to the lookout.