Altamont Pass(enger) By Brian Schmidt | July 16, 2021 | Last updated on August 7, 2025 Email Newsletter Get the newest photos, videos, stories, and more from Trains.com brands. Sign-up for email today! Get Updates Altamont Pass(enger) During its 924 miles on the Western Pacific, the westbound California Zephyr passes through the barren hills of Altamont Pass, Calif., on March 15, 1953. W. E. Malloy Jr. photo