Collection of six (6) albumen stereoviews featuring California landscapes, railroad views, and gold mining scenes, most photographed by Alfred A. Hart and published by Carleton E. Watkins. 

Each published circa 1871 on publisher's orange card mounts, with view title, series title "Central Pacific Railroad," and Watkins' 429 Montgomery St. imprint (except 2 where noted; see below).

1. Alfred A. Hart (1816-1908), photographer. 192. Anderson's Valley and Devil's Peak. 

Sweeping Sierra winter snowscape viewed from Emigrant Mountain, Western Summit.

2. 133. Stumps cut by Donner Party in 1846. 

A poignant and historic landscape study showing high tree stumps allegedly cut ten to twelve feet above the ground by stranded members of the ill-fated Donner Party working in deep winter snowdrifts.

3. Hart, photographer. 55. Flume and Railroad at Cold Stream.

Massive piles of cut bridge timbers, ties, and sawn lumber stacked along siding tracks beneath dense pine forests.

4. Hart, photographer. 231. Bloomer Cut near Auburn, 800 feet long and 63 feet high. Circa 1872. With "Watkins' Pacific Railroad" series title and 22 & 26 Montgomery St. imprint to mount recto. 

 Looking down into the monumental 85-foot-deep hand-carved hardpan cut with a wood-burning steam locomotive and train threading the narrow pass.

5. Hart, photographer. 335. First Construction Train Passing the Palisades, Ten Mile Cañon. Circa 1872. With "Watkins' Pacific Railroad" series title and 22 & 26 Montgomery St. imprint to mount recto. 

 A dramatic view of an early CPRR locomotive steaming through a sheer rock canyon cut along the Humboldt River.

6. Hart, photographer. 76. Giant's Gap, American River, 2,500 feet perpendicular. 72 miles from Sacramento.

Spectacular canyon abyss looking down 2,500 perpendicular feet from the railroad grade.

Alfred Hart was the official photographer of the Central Pacific Railroad, and his negatives were acquired by Carleton Watkins in 1869. Watkins consistently reissued Hart's images as stereoviews under his own imprint, with his trademark technical perfection. Individually compelling and historically critical as a suite, these views unite the pioneering vision of Alfred A. Hart and the photographic mastery of Carleton E. Watkins to preserve the engineering saga of Donner Summit and the Central Pacific Railroad. 

[Transcontinental Railroad, Central Pacific Railroad, CPRR, Carleton E. Watkins, Alfred A. Hart, Donner Party, Summit Valley, Donner Pass, Bloomer Cut, Palisades, Steam Locomotive, Wood Burner, Sierra Nevada Mountains, Stereoviews, Western Americana, 1870s Photography]

Very good to excellent condition. The prints display rich tonality and flawless clarity throughout. Mounts remain sturdy and clean with sharp edges and minimal handling wear.