Newspaper Items
Dates, 1885 to 1889
This page was last updated on March 21, 2004
1 January 1885
Article on the Crescent mine shows the tramway to have been built to a gauge of
30 inches. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily
Tribune, 1 January 1885)
7 January 1885
Utah Central Railway timetable 418 took effect this morning. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Evening Chronicle, 7 January 1885)
14 January 1885
According to Stayner, John W. Young is in San Francisco to arrange for rail for
the Salt Lake & Fort Douglas railroad. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Herald, 14 January 1885)
15 January 1885
"A number of large photographic views of the Denver & Rio Grande
scenery have been received and placed on exhibition at the City office of the
D. & R. G. They are taken by Jackson of Denver, and Savage of this city. A
fine view of the Salt Lake depot is among the latter's pictures." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Evening Chronicle, 15 January 1885)
4 February 1885
"The Utah Eastern receivership case was argued before Judge Zane today by
Parley Williams for the defendant and Arthur Brown for the plaintiff." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Evening Chronicle, 4 February 1885)
5 February 1885
"The Conspiracy" in regard to the Utah Eastern suit. The U. P. wants
it settled, and the trustees want a receiver appointed. It is noted that J. B.
Haggin was originally issued 186 bonds, each having a 'bonus' of 12 shares of
stock, or a total of 2,220 shares. The trustees had 1,098 shares and there were
about 550 shares 'floating.' The contract was made in December 1880, between
the Ontario and Haggin and the Utah Eastern that all coal for the Ontario would
go over the U. E., for a period of five years, at $2.00 per ton. Up to 20 December 1883, this brought in $166,156.00 by itself. The editor of the paper
comments that "…the Union Pacific will wipe the Utah Eastern so
thoroughly off the face of the earth that it will be difficult to find the
place where a rail was laid." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Herald, 5 February 1885)
13 February 1885
"The D. & R. G. is running double-headers to Wasatch and
Bingham." It seems this is necessary on account of snow. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Evening Chronicle, 13 February 1885)
14 February 1885
A receiver is to be appointed for the Utah Eastern. (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 14 February 1885)
16 February 1885
The Western's depot, snowsheds, etc., at Alta were destroyed in the slide at
that place on 13 February 1885.
(Pitchard, Salt Lake Evening Chronicle, 16 February 1885)
17 February 1885
"A Receiver" "Mr. McMillan Appointed Receiver of the Utah
Eastern Railroad." McMillan is the deputy clerk of the 3rd District Court,
appointed yesterday to the position of Receiver by Judge Zane. His duties are
likely to be light; "They will consist for awhile in sending detectives up
the Utah & Northern line in quest of the missing Eastern's rolling stock,
generally said to have found shelter on the Union Pacific narrow gauge
branch." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily
Herald, 17 February 1885)
18 February 1885
The order appointing McMillan is printed. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Herald, 18 February 1885)
19 February 1885
"The Utah Eastern." "Receiver McMillan, of the Utah Eastern, has
succeeded in tracing up the rolling stock of his road. Two of its three engines
are in use on the Utah & Northern road and are said to be good ones. The
other engine and a number of cars are found scattered along the Utah Eastern
line. It is not yet determined whether the road will be put in operation. A
number of the stockholders think it feasible." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Evening Chronicle, 19 February 1885)
25 February 1885
"This morning, we saw at the depot, an engine which is to be used on the
Salt Lake & Fort Douglas Railway. It is one of the smallest locomotives
that ever came to this country, being almost a toy in comparison with the giant
iron engines in use on the Union Pacific." (Pitchard, Ogden Herald, 25 February 1885)
28 February 1885
"The Salt Lake & Fort Douglas railroad continues its operations. An
engine belonging to the Company has made its appearance, and it is expected
that by next week rails will be laid along the track." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 28 February
1885)
13 March 1885
The Logan shops of the Utah & Northern have burned down again. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 13 March
1885)
14 March 1885
"Fire at Logan." "At about one o'clock this morning the watchman
of the Utah & Northern depot at Logan discovered the machine shops on fire.
Every effort was made to extinguish the flames, but to no avail. The buildings
were totally destroyed. Loss estimated at $5,000. Origin unknown, but an
investigation is being made."
(Pitchard, Salt Lake Evening Chronicle, 14 March 1885)
14 March 1885
"The D. & R. G. W. Park." "The D. & R. G. Western are
going to prepare the little square of land just north of the passenger depot
into a model park for the comfort of travelers as well as to beautify the
surroundings. After the grounds are shaped, pretty shade trees will be planted,
rustic seats put in, graveled walks made throughout, a fine modern water
fountain placed in the center, which will be supplied from the tank, and
everything added to make this in comparison with their .improvements along all
the lines operated. (Pitchard, Salt Lake
Evening Chronicle, 14 March 1885)
14 March 1885
"Preparations are being made to open up the Crescent Tramway, providing
the weather holds but good until the 20th of the month. This will give the
shovel brigade a chance to coin some wealth." (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 14 March 1885)
4 April 1885
A longish item on "Frank H. Dyer, Esq." "While in Lima, Ohio, he
selected an engine for the Crescent Tramway which is expected to reach here
about the first of next month." "The [Crescent] concentrator for the
past two days has been undergoing a few needed repairs, getting ready for
operations when the ore comes dawn over the tramway. When that engine gets here
it will do some tall 'puffing' to climb some of the grades, but Mr. Dyer says
that it is warranted to pull its own weight - eleven tons - up a grade 500 feet
to the mile." (Pitchard, Park
Record, Park City, 4 April 1885)
4 April 1885
Frank Reardon has resigned as Master Mechanic, and gone east. (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 4 April 1885)
4 April 1885
The Idaho Register, of Eagle Rock, put out a thing called "Resources of
Idaho", No. 1 being for April 1885, and bound in with the regular paper,
in this particular case. It contained an item of interest, as follows:
"Curious Coal Cars" "One hundred coal cars of the Denver, South
Park & Pacific RR are being fitted up for transfer cars, in the shops here,
the first installment of 25 being nearly completed. They will be known as the
Pocatello Transfer cars, and are of twenty ton capacity." Item is longer,
but says a lot of nothing. In essence, the cars will be run from the coal mines
in Wyoming up to the mining region of Montana, via U.P., O.S.L., and the
U&N, changing gauge at Pocatello, on a Ramsey Transfer apparatus." (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 4 April 1885)
10 April 1885
"The D. & R. G. Western have purchased several reclining chair cars to
be used between Salt Lake and Ogden."
(Pitchard, Salt Lake Evening Chronicle, 10 April 1885)
11 April 1885
"The Tramway Opened" finally, as snow removal proved more difficult
than expected; the track is in excellent condition. (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 11 April 1885)
11 April 1885
D&RGW now has 'several' reclining chair cars in use on line SLC to Ogden. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 11 April
1885)
14 April 1885
Twelve pictures of scenes along the D&RG on display at the White House
hotel. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily
Tribune, 14 April 1885)
18 April 1885
"The Crescent Company have just completed an excursion car of four
seats." "The Crescent concentrator is running night and day, being
supplied with ore over the tramway. The road-bed is in a good condition and
when the new engine gets here business will be lively over this road through
the summer." (Pitchard, Park Record,
Park City, 18 April 1885)
18 April 1885
"The new reclining chair cars, in use on the Rio Grande between here and
Ogden, are becoming very popular among the traveling public." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Evening Chronicle, 18 April 1885)
18 April 1885
"The Utah Eastern." Receiver filed report of his findings in this
case in the Third District Court yesterday; rolling stock on the road is shown
as: two engines; 22 coal cars; and one way car. Rolling stock of the Utah
Eastern on lease to the Utah & Northern, and on that road, is one engine;
25 coal cars; and two way cars. The 'original cost' of the U. E. equipment on
the Utah & northern is given as $26,110.00; it is leased at $3.00 per day
for the engine and the cars at 3/4ths of a cent per mile actually run; the Utah
& Northern "has had possession of this rolling stock since 2 August
1884." "One of the engines at Coalville is in good condition and
running order, but the other is unsafe without undergoing a thorough
refitting." The serviceable engine is in use on the branch to the coal
mines, along with the best of the remaining cars. (Pitchard, Deseret Evening News, 18 April 1885)
25 April 1885
A badly wrecked U&N engine has been brought in from north for repairs. (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock,
25 April 1885)
26 April 1885
One of the Utah & Northern Pullman sleepers will go east tomorrow on the
D&RGW, as the business is greater than can be handled in the cars assigned
to the D&RG. (Pitchard, Salt Lake
Daily Tribune, 26 April 1885)
28 April 1885
Alta tramway to be opened by 10 May 1885. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 28 April 1885)
30 April 1885
U&N sleeper used on D&RGW again yesterday. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 30 April 1885)
1 May 1885
Another chair car received from Denver for use on the Western line. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 1 May
1885)
2 May 1885
J. P. Pringle, chief storekeeper for Idaho, Wyoming and Colorado Divisions of
the Union Pacific, has his office in Denver. (Pitchard, The Utah Journal, Logan, 2 May 1885)
8 May 1885
Mr. Kerr says there is enough rail at Moroni for four or five miles of San Pete
Valley track -- to build towards Ephraim. (Pitchard, The Home Sentinel, Manti, 8 May 1885)
9 May 1885
"The new engine for the Crescent tramway ought to be here before long. It
was thought it would reach here by the first of the month, but it has not put
in its appearance yet." (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 9 May 1885)
9 May 1885
"The U.& N. is renting several hundred freight cars from the Denver,
South Park & Pacific Railroad, and still they are scarcely able to
accommodate the patrons of the road." (Pitchard, The Utah Journal, Logan, 9 May 1885)
13 May 1885
Jackson photos are displayed in the chair cars now running on the D&RGW
between Salt Lake City and Ogden. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 13 May 1885)
13 May 1885
"All freight trains on the U & N are now handled with the air brake.
This will insure greater safety in descending the heavy grades of the road."
(Pitchard, The Utah Journal, Logan, 13 May 1885)
13 May 1885
"The Pullman conductor that was formerly a part of the equipment of every
train, has been taken off the trains on the U. & N., and everything
pertaining to the sleepers is now left in charge of the colored porter and the
regular passenger conductor." (Pitchard, The Utah Journal, Logan, 13 May 1885)
13 May 1885
Logan wants new depot. (Pitchard, The
Utah Journal, Logan, 13 May 1885)
15 May 1885
San Pete Valley Timetable of 8 December 1884, shows service from Nephi to
Moroni, leaves Moroni at 9:00am, arrives at Nephi 11:00am, leaves there at
12:09pm and arrives back at Moroni at 2:00pm; no Sunday service; S. Bamberger,
mgr., and H. S. Kerr, agent. (Pitchard, The Home Sentinel, Manti, 15 May 1885)
21 May 1885
Daily trains running to Alta 'via the mule power tramway'. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 21 May 1885)
23 May 1885
"The engine which is to be used on the Crescent tramway is on the road and
is expected here to-day or tomorrow. The mule motive power will then be
dispensed with … as the little iron horse climbs the winding trail to the
Crescent mines." (Pitchard, Park
Record, Park City, 23 May 1885)
23 May 1885
The U&N Master Mechanic at present is John S. Hickey. (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 23 May 1885)
29 May 1885
"News from Moroni" "The S. P. V. Railroad employees are putting
in a 'Y', or main, and they promise ere July smiles her heated smile that
Chester, her future coal yard., shall greet her engine No 2." (Pitchard, The Home Sentinel, Manti, 29 May
1885)
30 May 1885
"The new engine for the Crescent Tramway arrived on Monday evening. It was
unloaded Tuesday and on Wednesday was put together. Two trial trips were made
on Thursday, but were unsuccessful. A new engineer will be here tomorrow
evening, as the one who came first to put it in working order, seems to be
rather too timid to attempt to go far on a mountain railroad track. He thinks
the rails are not heavy enough for an engine." "Mr. Shay, the
gentleman who came from Lima, Ohio, to put the Crescent engine in working
order, called yesterday. He says he likes the country very well, but cannot say
that he is in love with the railroads. It is his opinion that the curves are
too abrupt and the rails too light to successfully operate the engine over the
line. He will remain only until his successor arrives and will then shake the
dust of a mining town off of his feet forever." (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 30 May 1885)
6 June 1885
"The engineer, Mr. Burke, who came out on a dispatch to test the Crescent
tramway engine, made the first attempt Tuesday afternoon with it and got up as
far as the trestlework in Nigger Canyon. As he reached that point and examined
the bridge he concluded it was strong enough to hold him up and wanted to cross
over, but Mr. F. H. Dyer thought it best not to try it until the bridge had
been strengthened and he at once put men to work with that purpose in view.
Another trial trip will be made tomorrow and Mr. Burke says he will reach the
Crescent mines if the track will hold him. He says the engine was built for
this purpose and he knows he can make it do the work." "Mr. Burke, of
Lima, Ohio, arrived in the Park on Monday evening. Our high railroads do not
affect his nerves in the least as he has been on the D.& R.G. R.R., and
knows what it is to run an engine up into the clouds. He says the rails of the
Crescent tramway are rather light but is satisfied the engine can be made to do
the work over them with perfect safety." (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 6 June 1885)
10 June 1885
"One of the Denver and South Park engines that has been in use on the Utah
& Northern during the past winter was returned to the former road this
week. Slackness of business on the U & N is the cause of the removal."
(Pitchard, The Utah Journal, Logan, 10 June 1885)
13 June 1885
"The Crescent engine has not yet succeeded in reaching the dump at the
Rebellion. It has rounded rocky point and came within about 1,000 feet or more
and returned. The engineer, Mr. Burke, is confident of making a success of it,
notwithstanding the highness of the rails." Caterpillars -- have been
making tracks very slippery, one wreck of downbound cars being blamed on that
cause (brakes lock and do no good), so cars have had small brooms attached to
sweep the rails. (Pitchard, Park Record,
Park City, 13 June 1885)
13 June 1885
Item saying that the U&N has 60 engines in service at present. W. H. Smith
is storekeeper at the Eagle Rock shops. (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 13 June 1885)
15 June 1885
Track is about one mile south, beyond Moroni; the old track to Wales mines is
being taken up and relaid on the extension beyond Moroni; H. S. Kerr is the
agent of San Pete Valley as well as Construction Engineer. (Pitchard, The Home Sentinel, Manti, 15 June 1885)
20 June 1885
The Crescent engine presently sitting on a side track opposite the Dexter
stables. It appears that the rail is, in fact, too light; "the engine will
work if it is turned loose on a heavy track." (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 20 June 1885)
2 July 1885
E. P. Ferry, president of the Crescent Mining Company, says that hauling on the
tramway will be done by mules once again, the engine having proven too heavy.
He says: "There seems to be an impression in town that the company has
suffered the loss of buying an engine for which it had no use. The Company had
all its hauling done by contract, Mr. F. H. Dyer doing the work. It was his
idea that he could save considerable to himself by getting an engine instead of
using mules. He ordered a ten-ton engine, and they sent him a seventeen-ton
one, so that he has nothing to do but return it. The Company does not figure in
the transaction one way or the other." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Herald, 2 July 1885)
22 July 1885
Three wrecked engines are in for repairs at the Eagle Rock shops of the Utah
& Northern. (Pitchard, Salt Lake
Daily Tribune, 22 July 1885)
25 July 1885
An abstract is published of Judge Zane's opinion, in the D&RG vs. D&RGW
brouhaha - the judge is of the opinion that the lease is entirely valid, and
therefore the D&RGW has been injured by the conduct of the D&RG. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 25 July
1885)
1 August 1885
"There is some talk of the Crescent Company tearing up the rails now being
used on their tramway and replacing them with heavier ones. With this
improvement the company will be able to run the engine which they bought for
the purpose of hauling up the empty cars. The cars are now drawn by
mules." (Pitchard, Park Record, Park
City, 1 August 1885)
8 August 1885
"A number of D & S P freight cars which have been in use on the U
& N since last winter have been shipped back to the former road." (Pitchard, The Utah Journal, Logan, 8 August
1885)
15 August 1883
"Better Accommodations Wanted" "Passengers on the Wasatch and
Jordan Valley Railroad complain of the lack of accommodation. They say the cars
are very small, and are sometimes so crowded that people are forced to stand
all the way, while there are no accommodations for women with children. It is
said the road used to be sprinkled partially in former years, but now even that
is not done, and the dust is sometimes intolerable." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Herald, 15 August 1883)
21 August 1885
New Timetable on the S. P. V. as of 17 August 1885:
| lv. | 8:25am | Chester | 2:00pm | arr. |
| arr | 8:40 | Moroni | 1:50 | lv. |
| lv. | 9:00 | Moroni | 1:30 | arr. |
| 9:15 | Draper | 1:20 | ||
| 9:40 | Fountain Green | 1:00 | ||
| 9:50 | Pleasant Hill | 12:45 | ||
| 10:13 | Hollaway | 12:25pm | ||
| arr | 10:40am | Nephi | 11:55am | lv. |
Note: "nothing but car load lots will be received at Chester until completion of Station House." S. Bamberger, Manager
22 August 1885
"A force of men are at work improving the grade of the Crescent tramway
between the concentrator and the mine. The curves are being eased and widened,
preparatory to laying heavier rails, so that the engine bought for the purpose
can be used to haul the cars up to the mine. The first carload of rails for the
new track arrived last night." (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 22 August 1885)
29 August 1885
"Mr. Frank Dyer is now having the heavy rails distributed along the
tramway between the Crescent mine and concentrator and will commence laying
them very soon." (Pitchard, Park
Record, Park City, 29 August 1885)
29 August 1885
UP to build a descent depot at the foot of Main Street, Park City. (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 29 August
1885)
29 August 1885
Item 'Logan and the Shops', from Logan Journal. (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 29 August 1885)
3 September 1885
Utah Central is building a new passenger car shed in Salt Lake City. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 3 September 1885)
18 September 1885
More than a column, largely editorial, based upon a few remarks by Bamberger --
the road is "scarcely paying expenses"; the road will extend to
Manti, if the people in the county will grade the route. (Pitchard, The Home Sentinel, Manti, 18 September 1885)
26 September 1885
"The engine on the Crescent tramway is now running regularly. The heavy
rail was laid over halfway to the mine last week, and the engine was started to
take rail up for the remainder of the distance. The new track is now nearly
completed to the mine. The engine works like a charm." (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 26 September 1885)
26 September 1885
"Tramway Accident." "Yesterday morning the engine on the
Crescent tramway was tipped over on the switch, half way between here and the
mine, and the cab badly broken. It seems the main line at the switch was
obstructed and the engineer endeavored to pass around on the side track, which
had never been intended for anything but empty cars. When he had reached the
part of the track nearest the edge of the grade, the rails spread out and the
soft ground gave way, causing the engine to fall over on its side. If the
ground had been hard and rocky where the accident occurred, the result would
have been much more disastrous, for the engine would surely have rolled down
the mountainside. It will probably be Monday [28th] before the engine is got
back on the track again, but as there is nothing injured except the cab, there
will be no other delay." (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 26 September 1885)
3 October 1885
Tramway engine to be repaired and back in service on Monday (5th). "Mr.
Burke, the engineer who had charge of the tramway engine when the accident
occurred last week, requests us to state that he was in no way to blame. He was
ordered onto the side-track, or he should not have gone." (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 3 October
1885)
3 October 1885
A new style of signal, a semaphore, has been put in at the U&N telegraph
office in Logan. (Pitchard, The Utah
Journal, Logan, 3 October 1885)
3 October 1885
New scales are in use at Eagle Rock; to be NO more overloaded cars! (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 3 October 1885)
10 October 1885
L. H. Withey and others are here from Grand Rapids, Mich., on account of the
Crescent annual meeting, at Salt Lake City next Wednesday. (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 10 October 1885)
15 October 1885
Annual report of the Crescent Mining Company, for the year ended 30 September
1885; receipts totaled $232,210.95, of which $199,413.15 is from 'Ore Sold.'
Disbursements totaled $93,740.24, of which the amount of $9,360.37 is described
as "Balance Construction Tramway." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Herald, 15 October 1885)
17 October 1885
E. P. Ferry desiring to retire as president of the Crescent Mining Company, he
is replaced by L. H. Withey. No dividend declared, and no comment on the
tramway. (Pitchard, Park Record, Park
City, 17 October 1885)
31 October 1885
"The heavy rails on the Crescent tramway have been laid within about a
mile of the mine." (Pitchard, Park
Record, Park City, 31 October 1885)
31 October 1885
Item on 'a small dinkey caboose' which 'rode smooth enough on the ties'. (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock,
31 October 1885)
5 November 1885
An item lifted from the Butte Daily Miner."Brigham Young's Engine"
"An old curiosity is at the Utah & Northern shops in the shape of
Brigham Young's famous engine, with which he used to travel over the road when
the road was under his control. The engine was manufactured by the Grant
Locomotive Works in September, 1872. Its capacity was thirty-five miles an
hour. The cylinders are twelve inches in diameter with a twenty-inch stroke,
and when on the road it had three-foot driving wheels. The company is now using
it for a stationary to supply the motive power in the shops. Engineer Stewart
is proud of his engine." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 5 November 1885)
13 November 1885
Reference made to an accident on the San Pete Valley, by way of a wheel, 'under
the passenger coach' breaking, near Divide on the down run. (Pitchard, The Home Sentinel, Manti, 13 November 1885)
14 November 1885
A new U&N timetable on Wednesday 11 November 1885. (Pitchard, The Utah Journal, Logan, 14 November 1885)
14 November 1885
"The Utah & Northern has leased five engines from the Denver & Rio
Grande railroad, for five or six months. Two of them arrived this morning, two
more will arrive Monday, and the other next week." "It is understood
that they will be used on the south end of the road." (Pitchard, The Utah Journal, Logan, 14 November 1885)
14 November 1885
"The Utah & Northern has leased five engines from the Denver & Rio
Grande railroad, for five or six months. Two of them arrived this morning, two
more will arrive Monday, and the other next week." (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 14 November 1885)
20 November 1885
Bancroft has been east looking into 'new engines'; says that some expensive
purchases about to be made in that line. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 20 November 1885)
5 December 1885
As one result of a recent wreck at Ross Fork, seven cars have been brought into
the shops for rebuilding. (Pitchard, The
Blackfoot Register, 5 December 1885)
11 December 1885
Junius Young has taken a view of the D&RGW depot in Salt Lake City, having
the eastbound passenger train in front of the depot and in the foreground of
the view. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily
Tribune, 11 December 1885)
12 December 1885
Wreck of southbound passenger train between Camas and Hawgood, about 177 miles
north of Logan; the baggage car and the mail car telescoped together, other
cars more or less damaged; Superintendent. Blickensderfer in his special car on
end of train is alright. One William O. Palmer, of Logan, was killed. (Pitchard, The Utah Journal, Logan, 12 December 1885)
12 December 1885
Reference to the cabooses as '2 x 4 dinkey cars.' (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 12 December 1885)
12 December 1885
Serious passenger train wreck five miles north of Market Lake station,
yesterday; two coaches and a sleeper thrown off by a broken rail, and the track
on a high fill at that point. (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 12 December 1885)
26 December 1885
Two columns are devoted to a reporter's ramblings after a ramble through the
Eagle Rock shops. The roundhouse is one of ten stalls, in which at present
there are eight engines being worked upon; at the car shops, two coaches are
being repaired, and also a sleeper being rebuilt after a rather serious wreck
(see 12 Dec., above); next to the sleeper were several coal cars having the
"Westenhouse" air brake applied; outside, next to the shop, were
standing the two coaches and a mail car from the Market Lake wreck, waiting to
go in for treatment, "and a good deal of it they seem to need." The
safe went through the mail car roof, among other problems; also, the reporter
visited what is known as "The Scrap Pile," which consisted of four or
five disabled locomotives, and other kindred scrap. (Pitchard, The Blackfoot Register, 26 December 1885)
1 January 1886
Notes from a lengthy article about the Crescent property, which of course
includes the tramway. The tramway was originally laid with 16-pound iron rail,
which proved to be too light for the Shay, so the track was taken up and relaid
with second-hand 30-pound rail from the Utah & Northern. This then made of
it "…a first-class 30 inch gauge road,…" The engine for the line
is also a novelty, being No. 130, and built under E. Shay's patent by the Lima
Machine Works. The engine weighs 20 tons in working order, is 27 feet long and
will pass a curve of 50 feet radius. It will take 15 cars of 1,300 pounds each
up the maximum grade of 460 feet per mile, at a speed of 6 or 7 miles per hour.
The engine operates at a boiler pressure of 140 pounds, and has two 8" by 8" cylinders. The little Shay is capable of running through one foot of
snow without a plow. .On the tramway line itself, the maximum grade of 460 feet
per mile runs for one-full mile; the average grade is 400 feet per mile for the
entire five miles of the line. Outside of town, no grade on the line-is less
than 240 feet per mile! (Pitchard, Salt
Lake Daily Tribune, 1 January 1886)
1 January 1886
Article on the D&RGW says that "…in the past year, two first class
passenger engines were added to the rolling stock." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 1 January 1886)
2 January 1886
In discussing the Crescent, paper says "The engine has been laid up for
the winter and ore will be sent down by sleigh until the snow again leaves the
track open." (Pitchard, Park Record,
Park City, 2 January 1886)
5 January 1886
Wreck of a U&N train near Ogden on the 31st of December 1885. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 5 January 1886)
5 January 1886
"The D. & R. G. W. Net Earnings for Eighteen Months" "Nearly
Half a Million" "Receiver Bancroft has submitted the following
tabulated statement of the financial business of the company covering the
period that the road has been in his hands
(Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 5 January 1886):
| Earnings: | |
| Freight | $1,046,289.37 |
| Passenger | 282,782.58 |
| 44,414.27 | |
| Express | 53,533.03 |
| Miscellaneous | 10,226.70 |
| Total Earnings | $1,437,245.95 |
| Expenses: | |
| Maintenance Roadway | $290,233.70 |
| Maintenance Bridges & Bldgs | 45,286.90 |
| Maintenance Rolling stock | 115,532.82 |
| Conducting Transportation | 497,199.73 |
| Contingent Expenses | 23,936.37 |
| General Expenses | 46,?43.77 |
| Total Expenses | $1,018,232.69 |
| Net Earnings | $419,023.26 |
| Income Charges, less credits | 270,831.67 |
| Net Balance | $148,181.59 |
| Assets: | |
| Due from various agents | 32,748.28 |
| Material & Supplies on hand | 94,162.04 |
| Cash on Hand | 231,850.62 |
| Due from U. S. Government | 5,623.73 |
| Due from W. S. Jackson, Rec'r. | 22,319.04 |
| Due from Individuals & Companies | 4,440.19 |
| Due from Foreign Roads | 13,357.58 |
| Total Assets | $404,501.48 |
| Liabilities: | |
| Unpaid Vouchers | $ 58,380.54 |
| Unpaid Pay rolls | 48,497.36 |
| Unexpended Material | 10,901.05 |
| Inventory account | 120,656.79 |
| Paychecks | 16,511.72 |
| Unclaimed Wages | 1,372.53 |
| Total Liabilities | $256,319.89 |
| Assets | $404,501.48 |
| Liabilities | 256,319.89 |
| Excess of Assets | $148,181.59 |
9 January 1886
S. T. Robinson is agent at Eagle Rock. (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 9 January 1886)
16 January 1886
Article containing names of most of the engineers, firemen and conductors
presently on the Utah & Northern.
A lengthy item, containing the names of many of the conductors, engineers and firemen who work on the Utah & Northern, and most of whom live in Eagle Rock. Passenger crews go north to Butte and South to Ogden, while freight crews go north to Spring Hill and south to Battle Creek.
Conductors-Passenger:
North: O. A. Flanders, Tim Farrell, Charles Miller
South: S. W. Merrill, M. Hogan, B. S. Cook; Extra: Capt. Turney
Conductors--Freight:
North: Ed Catheart, --- Woods, Jno. Quinn, Pat Collins, W. W. Hancock, Jas. Ruggs, Geo. Burchard, M. Hunter, Dan Seaver
South: Oscar Doble, Galbraith Fagan, --- Gilbert, Ed Dooley, E. O. Gibson
Engineers: G. L. Oram, Milt Russell, Pat Freeman, Gid Oram, --- Moody, Thane H. Lopos, E. C. Mallen, Phil Endertiwise, --- Howe, --- McCabe, --- Flood, --- Hoyt, -- Bristol, B. M. Chapman, --- Mahoney, Tim Lee, John Lee, W. Dean, --- Andrews, -- 234 --Jones, W. Smith, -- Foote, ---Paul, ---Hill, -- Cashart, --- Atkinson, and --- Jacobs
Firemen: Gorman, Holock, Ingling, Phillips, Sanderson, Krack (Keach?) Pyper, Shields, Carey, Harris, Downs, Hise (?), Frey, Clark, Burton, Fryman, Moore, McGinley, Purdee, Bradbury, Stone, Ingraham, and McConnock
The timekeeper is Mr. G. A. Robethan, who says that there are about 44 engineers on the payroll, of when 27 are given here. (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 16 January 1886)
5 February 1886
San Pete Valley taxes for 1885 in county were $227.50. (Pitchard, The Home Sentinel, Manti, 5 February 1886)
6 February 1886
Article describing contents of new Pocatello depot, by name and room numbers. (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 6 February 1886)
13 February 1886
Depot and other buildings at Montpelier, Idaho, burned to the ground. (Pitchard, Ogden Herald, 13 February 1886)
20 February 1886
Item on the Logan Shops, which have seen better days; they had a fire a year
earlier, and the U. P. apparently feels no urgency to rebuild the damaged
parts. At present only one engine in for repairs, another one /'having been
completed last Saturday, the 13th. (Pitchard, The Utah Journal, Logan, 20 February 1886)
13 March 1886
"We never hear anything more of the new passenger depot building that was
to have been built this winter at the foot of Main Street." (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 13 March
1886)
15 March 1886
"The rolling stock on the U.& N.R.R. will shortly be supplemented by
four new engines which are on the road from Omaha." (Pitchard, Ogden Herald, 15 March 1886)
30 March 1886
The D&RGW eating house at Green River burned completely yesterday morning
at 3:00am. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily
Tribune, 30 March 1886)
1 April 1886
"South Butte" "Engines number 260 and 261, which lately arrived
from the East, are satisfactory to Foreman Dave Wright, who says he would like
to have a few more of them on this division." (Pitchard, Butte Daily Miner, 1 April 1886)
2 April 1886
New timetable in effect 1 April 1886, on the Utah & Northern. (Pitchard, Butte Daily Miner, 2 April 1886)
15 April 1886
"South Butte Dots" "Engines number 262 and 263 are expected to
arrive, tomorrow, from Eagle Rock. They are reported to be daisies."
"Engine No. 91 was sent on the road last week after being thoroughly
overhauled. She is doing well and is as good as new." "It is to be
hoped that Engine No. 193 will soon be able to leave the shop. This engine has
been rebuilt almost from the wheels up." "The Utah & Northern
will lay a steel rail between Anaconda and Stuart, a distance of nine miles, as
soon as the rails arrive, which have been ordered." "Quite a number
of firemen are kicking at the large engines. They say they take lots of coal.
They ought to fire one of the old camelbacks going up a 140 foot grade."
"It is rumored that Engineer Orville Adams will get No. 262, one of the
new engines which will be used on the Hill to the Anaconda mines, while
Engineer Billy Brannan will be the other lucky man, as he will in all
probability get No. 263." "Engines number 198 and 206 which were
borrowed from the Denver & South Park Railroad have been ordered to Denver.
The two new engines which are now at Eagle Rock will take their place. Engine
No. 190 no doubt will be taken off the Hill and put to work on the Anaconda ore
train." (Pitchard, Butte Daily
Miner, 15 April 1886)
17 April 1886
"Marshal Frank H. Dyer" returned from Washington on Thursday, and
news of his appointment [as a U. S. Marshal] reached Park City on Monday, while
Dyer was in Chicago. Most of the article is an interview, in which Dyer says
that he is a native of Mississippi, and came to Utah from there about ten years
ago; located at Bingham for a year, and then vent to Cottonwood for about four
years, and will have been in Park City three years in June. When asked if he
"… will still have same interests at stake in Park City, …" he
answered "Certainly. I have several thousand dollars sunk in that tramway.
My contract for hauling the Crescent ores will not expire for two and a half
years yet. This and my other business interests will be managed by my brother,
A. G. Dyer." (Pitchard, Park Record,
Park City, 17 April 1886)
30 April 1886
Flatcars being fitted out as excursion cars for May Day trip. (Pitchard, The Home Sentinel, Manti, 30 April 1886)
1 May 1886
"The Crescent tramway will be opened for the transit of ores Sunday night,
all the snow having been cleared off and repairs made to the track."
Chester H. Withey, secretary of the Crescent company, received a telegram on
Monday notifying him that his father, Judge S. L. Withey, had died at San Jose,
California. Chester has gone to San Jose and will take his father home to Grand
Rapids, Mich., for burial. Chester's return to Park City is noted in the paper
of 15 May 1886. (Pitchard, Park Record,
Park City, 1 May 1886)
5 May 1886
Item says the Logan railroad shops a thing of the past. (Pitchard, The Utah Journal, Logan, 5 May 1886)
5 May 1886
An item on the brakemen's strike, at Eagle Rock. (Pitchard, Butte Daily Miner, 5 May 1886)
6 May 1886
The brakemen's strike has reached Butte. (Pitchard, Butte Daily Miner, 6 May 1886)
7 May 1886
The paper prints 'General Order No. 33,' which apparently gives a new and lower
pay scale for conductors, baggage men and brakemen. The order is dated at
Omaha, 26 April 1886, to take effect 1 May 1886. The new lower pay was not
liked; and this order was apparently the immediate cause of the strike. (Pitchard, Butte Daily Miner, 7 May 1886)
8 May 1886
The paper prints the text of an interesting telegram: "Pocatello, May 7,
1886." "To all Brakemen on the Ninth and Tenth Divisions: "You
are hereby notified that unless you report for duty before 9 o'clock a.m.,
Sunday May 9, 1886, you will be considered as having left the service of the
Company voluntarily, and your places will be filled by other men."
"R. Blickensderfer, Sup't." (Pitchard, Butte Daily Miner, 7 May 1886)
8 May 1886
"Beautifully decorated Pullman sleepers are attached to each express train
on the Utah & Northern." (Pitchard, The Utah Journal, Logan, 8 May 1886)
8 May 1886
Brakeman's strike on the Utah & Northern, as on many other roads at this
time. It did not succeed in its aims, apparently. (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 8 May 1886)
8 May 1886
The U & N shops at Logan have been permanently closed. (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 8 May 1886)
9 May 1886
"Score One for the Company," in that the strike seems to be broken. A
freight train left Butte yesterday, as did four such from Eagle Rock. Several
old brakemen were willing to return to work, rather than lose their places. The
train out of Butte was hauled by engines 88 and 10. The Miner received a
telegram, from Spring Hill, May 9th, 3 a.m.: "Engines No. 88 and 10,
hauling freight train no. 612 (mixed), arrived here at 2:40 o'clock this
morning. Two extra freight trains from Eagle Rook have also arrived
here,…" (Pitchard, Butte Daily Miner,
9 May 1886)
10 May 1886
Another item on the late strike; apparently it did not have the approval of Mr.
Wilkeson, chief of the Brotherhood. (Pitchard, Butte Daily Miner, 10 May 1886)
13 May 1886
"On Tuesday morning, Engine No. 113, D&RGW, blew out its boilerhead
when the steam pressure was only about 80 pounds. This engine is one of the
oldest belonging to the road and had come in for repairs, but these repairs had
not been made. Engineer Pigman was in the cab at the time and in the act of
opening the throttle to start from the yard in this city for Ogden. He was
blown into the coal bunker but sustained no injury save a slight cut on the
forehead. The fireman was blown out of the cab but not hurt. The damage to the
engine was slight." (Pitchard, Salt
Lake Daily Tribune, 13 May 1886)
14 May 1886
Steel for the third rail between Stuart and Silver Bow is now being
distributed, and standard gauge ties are being put in between the two points
named, every other tie being replaced with a new one. 120 men were put to work
on Wednesday the 12th, and 50 more men are wanted. (Pitchard, Butte Daily Miner, 14 May 1886)
14 May 1886
"Wreck on Utah [&] Northern," being the spectacular smash that
quite effectively destroyed DSP&P Mason bogie #50 on the spot, and damaged Utah
& Northern engines 24 and 17, Baldwin moguls. This is a long item, which is
given in full in Colorado Rail Annual #15, page 53 ff. James Clark, fireman on
the bogie, was killed instantly; Andy Keach, fireman on the 24, died of
injuries on the 16th. (Pitchard, Butte
Daily Miner, 14 May 1886)
14 May 1886
"THE U. & N. ACCIDENT" (Pitchard, Ogden Herald, 14 May 1886)
"One Man Killed and Three Badly Injured" "The particulars of the terrible accident which occurred between Eagle Rock and Camas on the U.& N. on Wednesday night are as follows: There were eleven cars of rails being switched and three of the cars were not coupled with the rest. In moving the cars around, the three that were detached started down the line and the brakeman, a new man, being unable to stop them, opened the switch and let them run down the main line. They continued to gain speed, and after running about three miles crashed into a freight train that was going up with three engines on. The first engine was completely smashed up. The boiler was hurled on one side of the track and the water tank to the other; while the machinery and running gear laid across the track. The flue pipes were twisted in all shapes and some of the rails were sent completely through the boiler so terrible was the force with which the cars were struck.
"As stated in last evening's issue, a fireman named Azro Keech was severely injured, and Engineer Flood was badly scalded. Another fireman named James Clark was killed outright, and George Oram was considerably bruised and shaken up, but no bones were broken. Shortly after the first three cars struck the train, the remaining eight, by some means, got started, and they too came booming down the track, and struck the wreck, adding greater confusion to the already fatal wreck. Fireman Keech, with Spartan heroism, had dragged himself from the wreck. His right leg was broken between the knee and the ankle, and was hanging by a piece of flesh and a few tendons. He endeavored to get as far as possible from the wreck,. and in so doing had to pick up his broken leg and put it in front of him, and then crawl as far as possible, when the operation would be repeated. When found, he was engaged in cutting strips from his overalls and binding his leg, drawing them tight with pieces of sage brush. The injured men, with the exception of Oram, were brought to this city, and last evening Keech's leg was amputated by Dr. J. D. Carnahan, the house surgeon at the Hospital, Dr. J. J. Ahearn assisting, at the lower femur, and this morning he was resting as comfortably as could be expected. His left leg is also abrased in several places.
"Engineer Flood's burns were attended to at the Hospital, but he is yet in considerable pain.
"Keech is a married man and has two children. His wife is present with him at the hospital. Flood is an unmarried man and has no relatives in this part of the country. He comes from Iowa.
"The remains of Clark, the unfortunate young man who was killed, were expected to arrive this afternoon to be embalmed. He was only about 19 years of age and his home is in California."
In the 'Notes' column, it says "The engine of the passenger train jumped the track in endeavoring to climb the steep incline of the temporary track which was built around the wreck."
15 May 1886
A lengthy article on the 12 May wreck of DSP&P bogie number 50, in Beaver
Canyon; the brakeman who let the cars of rail loose on the mainline is given as
T. M. Taylor. According to this article, the engineer of the 50 was Charles
Flood, and the fireman was James Clark; of the second engine, George Oram,
engineer, and A7. Keach, fireman; and of the third engine, Burt Chapman,
engineer, and William Purdy, fireman. "Every man was thrown from his
engine." The train was one of 21 cars, with all three of the engines on the
point, No. 50 leading. (Pitchard, The
Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 15 May 1886)
20 May 1886
"Eagle Rock, May 19. -- A heavy gale of wind from the south struck Eagle
Rock about 2 o'clock this afternoon,…" which was Wednesday. The Utah
& Northern's roundhouse, facing into this wind, and with one door open, was
lifted off its foundations and came down in a heap. The house was full of
engines at the time and all were somewhat damaged, as were a couple of men,
then at work inside the building. (Pitchard, Butte Daily Miner, 20 May 1886)
22 May 1886
The roundhouse at Eagle Rock blew down on Wednesday, the 19th, and a
photographer appeared shortly thereafter and took several pictures. It at about
2:20pm, and every stall had an engine in it fell. (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 22 May 1886)
22 May 1886
"The parts of engines 17 and 24 arrived in Eagle Rock from Dry Creek on
Tuesday, and on Wednesday the boiler of engine 50 was brought in on a flat car.
The boiler looks as though a cannon ball had struck it in front, and is a great
object of curiosity." Wednesday was the 19th of May. (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 22 May 1886)
29 May 1886
"The Crescent tramway engine has been laid off this week for repairs, New
cylinders have been put in, and the locomotive will be ready for active work
tomorrow." (Pitchard, Park Record,
Park City, 29 May 1886)
11 June 1886
"The Third Rail" is completed between Stuart and Silver Bow, and is
expected to be completed to Butte in a few days. (Pitchard, Butte Daily Miner, 11 June 1886)
12 June 1886
"U. S. Marshal F. H. Dyer arrived from Washington, D. C., Monday evening
with his commission. He will go to Salt Lake tomorrow to assume the duties of
his office." (Pitchard, Park Record,
Park City, 12 June 1886)
12 June 1886
"Engine 265, one of the new Rhode Island engines, broke a cylinder head on
Tuesday." (Pitchard, The Idaho
Register, Eagle Rock, 12 June 1886)
25 June 1886
"There are three engines repairing in the shops of the D&RG Western
road, No.'s 7, 159 and 295. No. 7 has been almost entirely rebuilt. No. 120 is
in having her pins filed for new brasses. This engine and 119, the best
passenger engines on the road, were bought last December from the Denver Circle
Railroad for about the price of one locomotive. The Circle road had bought four
from the New York Locomotive Works at Rome, New York, several years ago. But on
their reaching Denver they were found too heavy, and the road was also too
embarrassed financially to pay the enormous freight charges of $1000 each, so
they lay at the Union Pacific freight house until the Western road picked up
two, and the Denver, Utah & Pacific road took the rest. No.'s 119 and 120
are fine steamers, economical with coal, and travel like birds, but the Rome
people did not put the parts together in very good shape." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 25 June
1886)
28 June 1886
"Railroad Notes" column reports that sidings are having their gauge
altered; Saturday a standard gauge turntable arrived, to replace the narrow one
now in use at the shops; the U. & N. roundhouse at the shops, South Butte,
is having seven stalls made over to accommodate the wider engines; and L. C.
Leslie, Idaho Division Assistant Superintendent, is in charge of the widening
work to Garrison. (Pitchard, Butte Daily
Miner, 28 June 1886)
1 July 1886
"The Montana Union" "Articles of Incorporation of the Montana
Union Railway Company have been filed in the office of the Secretary of the
Territory." The incorporators are, for the U. P., Charles Francis Adams,
Jr., Fred L. Ames, and S. R. Callaway; and for the Northern Pacific, Robert
Harris, J. Lewis Harris, and Benjamin P. Cheney. The seventh is General N. J.
T. Dana: Control of the line between Butte and Garrison is scheduled to pass to
the Montana Union company on August 7, 1886, while regular standard gauge
trains are supposed to start running on the 1st of August. (Pitchard, Butte Daily Miner, 1 July 1886)
3 July 1886
"Local Railway Notes" "Ten dumps are being built at the D.&
R.G.W. shops to go to Bingham." There are 31 engines in service on the
D&RGW, and it costs $55,000 a month for coal for them. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 3 July 1886)
5 July 1886
"Railroad Notes" "All the engines are now being backed to Silver
Bow Junction, for the purpose of turning them, until the new turn-table is put
in place." "The Utah & Northern Company has been laying a heavy
steel rail between Pocatello and South Butte during the past spring and summer,
and that part of the railroad is now in excellent condition for fast trains."
"The Montana Union has secured two consolidated hog engines, two ten
wheelers and four eight wheelers for its road. It is expected that the two
consolidated engines will be put on the ore run between Butte and Anaconda, and
the two ten wheelers will be used for freight, while the others will be used on
passenger business between Butte and Helena." (Pitchard, Butte Daily Miner, 5 July 1886)
5 July 1886
"Railroad Notes" "The Utah & Northern, with its fifty-six
stock cars, is handling over 20,000 head of stock." (Pitchard, Butte Daily Miner, 5 July 1886)
7 July 1886
"Local Railway Notes" "Experiments have been made on the Denver
& Rio Grande Western road with straight smoke stacks on freight engines. It
is found that these increase the force of the blast, but do not work well in
other respects unless the smoke arches are extended. Then the straight stack
works to a charm. On passenger engines the arch being extended does not seem to
make so much difference." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 7 July 1886)
9 July 1886
"Railroad Matters." Arrangements being completed for the transfer of
the upper end of the U. & N. to the Montana Union. It was thought that Mr.
Choate, then on the South Park, would become Superintendent of the Montana
Union; but he did not. (Pitchard, Butte
Daily Miner, 9 July 1886)
10 July 1886
"The D&RG Western folks have a neat way of keeping track of their
engines. Colored discs of wood, with the numbers of engines on them, are hung
on metal pegs over which is indicated the different subdivisions of the road.
Thus by a glance from his desk the master mechanic can locate every engine on
the road." (Pitchard, Salt Lake
Daily Tribune, 10 July 1886)
10 July 1886
"The New Depot" of the Union Pacific at the foot of Main Street, upon
which work will commence Monday; "the old freight depot" will be
moved up to the new site, and "a fine front, 27 x 34 feet in size,"
will be added onto it. (Pitchard, Park
Record, Park City, 10 July 1886)
12 July 1886
"A Smash-Up at the Depot." "A couple of Utah & Northern
locomotives were somewhat damaged yesterday morning by colliding near the
freight depot at South Butte. Engine No. 161, a switch engine, was moving down
the main track and ran into the rear end of engine No. 262, which was being run
into a side track. The cab of the 161 was badly smashed, and, strange to say,
the other engine escaped with slight damage. It was the prompt action of the
engineer of the yard engine that prevented a very serious accident. He reversed
his engine so quick as to impair its speed. The wreck obstructed the track for
some time, but did not interfere with the going and coming of regular
trains." (Pitchard, Butte Daily
Miner, 12 July 1886)
13 July 1886
"A Chapter of Accidents," being four relatively minor scrapes on the
Utah & Northern during the past two days, including the one related above.
The most serious of these was the ditching of the engine and baggage car on the
regular passenger train between Butte and Garrison, about three miles south of
Garrison. Engine 92, then at Silver Bow, was sent to assist, as was the switch
engine from Garrison. (Pitchard, Butte
Daily Miner, 13 July 1886)
13 July 1886
"A Denver & South Park engine seems like a fish out of water in this
section, but the Utah & Nevada road has borrowed one for a while, and it is
doing good work." (Pitchard, Salt
Lake Daily Tribune, 13 July 1886)
16 July 1886
"Local Railway Notes" "The Western shops have five of the eight
excursion cars under way, the men working thirteen hours a day on them. The
side curtains are of handsomely striped creton goods, which would look well in
a Pullman car." (Pitchard, Salt Lake
Daily Tribune, 16 July 1886)
16 July 1886
"Local Railway Notes" "The Denver & Rio Grande Railroad is
delivering to the Western road rolling stock bought from the former by the
latter last spring. The deliveries are 16 engines, 240 gondola cars, 100 box
cars, 20 flats, 10 cabooses, 2 combination cars and 1 official car. Some of the
above are already on the Western road, so that the transfer in their cases is
on paper. Several engines the Western road have been leasing from the Denver
& Rio Grande are now being returned. What rolling stock our road needs
above its own property will be leased from the Denver & Rio Grande. Master
Mechanic Smith and J. G. Graham, the car accountant, are now in Denver
effecting the transfer." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 16 July 1886)
16 July 1886
"Among the Pines" "Marshal Dyer's Tramway" and so forth;
extracts from a letter: "Parley's Park, July 15, 1886." "Few
trips can be more pleasant than that from Park City over the hills to
Cottonwood at this season of the year. There are several roads and footpaths,
but the most novel route by far is that which runs past the Crescent, provided
you can wheedle Frank Dyer's brother into allowing you to ride on the tramway
operated by the Marshal. Mr. Dyer has a good thing on his Crescent ore hauling
contract, it is said, but after taking the beautiful ride over the tramway, we
think he could make it much better by booming his line "into the clouds"
a la the Little Giant people, and charging a certain rate per head to
passengers for the ride. It is a little Marshall Pass, all in itself. The
sensation of creeping up the hillside behind the Maud Withey, taking a lunch in
the clouds at the mine with the hospitable Cooke (the clerk, not the cuisine
man), finishing your trip to Cottonwood in a buggy or on horseback and
returning to be whirled down the five miles of track in an empty car minus
every means of motive power except the impetuous slant of the rails - is
something every toiler ought to try. No one would begrudge a dollar for the
trip up and down the tramway, and a dollar thus spent would be advantageously
invested." (Item continues…) (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Herald, 16 July 1886)
17 July 1886
A fire in Pocatello on the 12th, in which the old passenger depot, converted
into a house after the building of the new depot, burned to the ground, and
five carloads of ties also destroyed.
(Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 17 July 1886)
17 July 1886
Already the rumor is wafting about on the breeze that the shops will go from
Eagle Rock to Pocatello. (Pitchard, The
Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 17 July 1886)
18 July1886
Item lifted from Butte Miner of nearly a week ago, regarding four wrecks on the
U&N, of a more or less minor nature, within 48 hours, mentions engine 92. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 18 July1886)
21 July 1886
"The Montana Union." "The change of gauge of the railroad
between Butte and Garrison will be completed Friday next. No narrow-gauge trains
will leave Butte for Garrison after 8:30 o'clock to-morrow morning. A
broad-gauge passenger train will leave Garrison at 7 p.m. Friday, arriving in
this city about midnight, and thereafter, until further notice, broad-gauge
trains will arrive and depart at the hours by which the narrow-gauge trains are
now regulated. No freight will be received for points north of Stuart until
Saturday morning, but there will be no suspension of traffic between Butte and
Anaconda. This announcement is official." (Pitchard, Butte Daily Miner, 21 July 1886)
21 July 1886
Lake Park resort to open on 28th or 29th. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 21 July 1886)
22 July 1886
"News of our Neighbors" "Deer Lodge and Vicinity" excerpt
from a letter dated at Deer Lodge, 18 July: "The Utah and Northern will be
changed next Sunday to a broad gauge from Stuart to Garrison. New ties have
been put in by taking out one-half of the old and replacing them with broad
gauge ties. Half the spikes have been driven on one side to shove the rail against
when ready to widen so that it can all be completed on one day. The narrow
gauge stock will all be drawn off next Saturday. Between Butte and Anaconda a
third rail is being laid, and that part will be left for use by both broad and
narrow gauge trains, while the thirty-six miles from Stuart to Garrison will
have only one gauge, so that Northern Pacific trains can run over it." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 22 July
1886)
22 July 1886
"The Change of Gauge." "At 8:40 this morning the last through U.
& N. narrow--gauge mail train will leave for Garrison, and when this train
leaves Garrison on the return, crews will immediately set to work on widening
the railroad in its wake, between Garrison and Deer Lodge; and the section
between Deer Lodge and Stuart is at present scheduled to be widened tomorrow,
with the first broad-gauge passenger train, Montana Union, to be run tomorrow
night." (Pitchard, Butte Daily
Miner, 22 July 1886)
23 July 1886
When the (last) regular narrow gauge train left Garrison for Butte, yesterday
afternoon, a large gang set to work at once on widening the railroad from that
point, working south; once the train had passed Deer Lodge, another gang set
out to widen the line, heading north. Also, a gang started working south from
Deer Lodge; and upon the train passing Stuart, another gang went to work from
that point, heading north. This is all to be completed 'this afternoon,' says
the paper. (Pitchard, Butte Daily Miner,
23 July 1886)
23 July 1886
A telegram sent from Deer Lodge notes that the first Montana Union train,
standard gauge, arrived at that point at 9:15 p.m. on the 22nd, pulled by
Northern Pacific engine No. 313. (Pitchard, Butte Daily Miner, 23 July 1886)
23 July 1886
"Local Railway Notes" "Master Mechanic Smith, who has been at
Denver and Grand Junction superintending the transfer of rolling stock between
the two roads has returned to Salt Lake." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 23 July 1886)
23 July 1886
"Local Railway Notes" "Three excursion cars for Lake Park are to
be finished tomorrow, and the rest will be out and ready to run by Wednesday.
These cars are painted a Tuscan red and handsomely lettered, and will make an
attractive train." (Pitchard, Salt
Lake Daily Tribune, 23 July 1886)
24 July 1886
A wreck early last evening (which was Friday) on the D&RGW; the lead engine
of a double-header cut itself off the train, about 20 miles south of Salt Lake
City, and attempted to run ahead of the train, and in so doing overturned on a
curve. This morning, the wrecked engine was picked up and brought to Salt Lake
roundhouse. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily
Tribune, 24 July 1886)
24 July 1886
"Broad Gauge Cars in Butte." "At 4:30 o'clock yesterday
afternoon the work of widening the track between Deer Lodge and Stuart was
completed and at 7:10 o'clock last evening the first broad-gauge arrived in
Butte. This train left Garrison at 4:30 p.m., in charge of Conductor West. It
consisted of Northern Pacific locomotive No. 350, a first class passenger car,
a second-class passenger car and an express car. The engine was manned by
Northern Pacific employees, but the remainder of the train was in charge of
Utah & Northern men. Commencing this morning, standard-gauge trains will
run regularly between Butte and Garrison, but the traffic between Butte and
Anaconda will continue on the narrow-gauge track until further notice." (Pitchard, Butte Daily Miner, 24 July 1886)
25 July 1886
"A Heroic Fireman" was Frank Bairisky, age 23, the fireman of the
engine that overturned in the Jordan Narrows on the D&RGW Friday. The
engineer was W. C. Barker, and Bairisky "…the fireman of Engine 21,
which turned upside down…" Frank Bairisky was also in a wreck at Thistle
two years ago, when his engineer was killed. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 25 July 1886)
27 July 1886
"News of Our Neighbors" "Montana Matters" "The Utah
& Northern narrow gauge between Garrison and Butte has been changed to
ordinary broad gauge. It was concluded in sections and altogether but one train
was laid off. The first broad gauge train arrived in Butte on the 23rd. Traffic
between Butte and Anaconda will be on the narrow gauge for the present." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 27 July
1886)
27 July 1886
A notice to the effect that Utah & Northern employees between Butte and
Garrison will, on and after 1 August 1886, be working for the Montana Union
Railway Company. Also, "In a few days there will be erected at Silver Bow
Junction an apparatus for the transfer of cars from narrow to standard gauge
trucks, and vice-versa." (Pitchard, Butte Daily Miner, 27 July 1886)
27 July 1886
The D&RGW out this morning with as new timetable, announcing six trains a
day to and from their Lake Park resort. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 27 July 1886)
27 July 1886
"Local Briefs" "The Park City depot, which has for so long been
a source of inconvenience to the residents of that place, has been removed up
town. It is a change that will be appreciated by the travelling public." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Herald, 27 July
1886)
28 July 1886
An advertisement/timetable for bathing trains on the D. & R. G. W. to their
resort, Lake Park, in effect 26 July 1886. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 28 July 1886)
28 July 1886
An item lifted from the Inter-Mountain: "The first broad gauge train ever
in Butte pulled in at 7:15 Friday evening, and pulled out again at 8:50 this
morning. The train was drawn by locomotive No. 350, George Neffs, engineer. The
train consisted of three coaches and one baggage car, and was run by Conductor
West and crew." (Pitchard, Salt Lake
Daily Herald, 28 July 1886)
29 July 1886
The first appearance of a very large advertisement in which the D. & R. G.
W. announces the opening of LAKE PARK, but the opening is not assigned a date.
Also, an article on the resort, by a Herald reporter, in which the size of the
various structures is reported. A large pavilion, 60 feet square, is in the
center, flanked on the north by a restaurant 30 x 60 feet, and on the south by
a saloon of equal size; on the west, a pier of some 150 feet in length, with
bath houses north and south of that. The railroad passenger platform was on the
east side of the large pavilion. A diagram was included. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 29 July 1886)
30 July 1886
"A Road Turned Over." "Mr. Bancroft's Receivership at an
End." "D. & R. G. W.'s Solid Standing." "The Receiver
Discharged and the Old Western Company Assumes Control Under the Funding
Plan." "An entry upon yesterday's court record, though couched in the
usual disguise of legal phraseology, conveyed the information that that portion
of the Little Giant route known as the Denver & Rio Grande Western, had
been handed over by the receiver, W. H. Bancroft, to the company. Desirous of
learning whether all the complications that gave rise to Mr. Bancroft's
appointment as receiver had been removed, a Herald man called at the D. &
R. G. office, and was successful in obtaining an interview with S. W. Eccles,
general freight and passenger agent, and J. H. Bennett, auditor of the
road." "The following circulars had just been issued:
Circular No. 1
Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway Company.
W. H. Bancroft, Receiver.
Salt Lake City, Utah, July 29, 1886
The property of the Company having been turned over to it, and the Receivership terminated, the Railway and property will be operated by the Company after midnight of the 29th day of July, 1886.
W. H. Bancroft, Receiver.
Circular No. 2
Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway Company.
Salt Lake City, Utah, July 29, 1886
Col. D. C. Dodge has been appointed General Manager of the Company, and the undersigned Superintendent. Until orders from the General Manager all employees will continue in their respective positions and report to the General Manager through my office at Salt Lake City.
W. H. Bancroft, Superintendent.
"The reorganization of the D. & R. G. proper, then, had no connection with the Western?" queried the reporter.
"None whatever," was the reply. "The management goes back into the hands of the same company from whence it went into those of Mr. Bancroft: Wm. J. Palmer is president; Geo. A. Lowe, vice-president; C. W. Drake, secretary and treasurer; W. F. Colton, assistant secretary; J. H. Bennett, auditor; and D. C. Dodge, general manager. The D. & R. G. W. is as distinct from the D. & R. G. as the C. P. from the U. P. They, of course, run in conjunction, and practically are the same route, but the organizations are separate."
"Will the local officers remain?"
"That remains to be seen. There will probably be no changes. Mr. Bancroft will continue to have control until Mr. Dodge arrives per appointment from the Board."
"It will be remembered that Mr. Bancroft assumed control of the road two years ago, when its affairs were plunged into apparently hopeless complication by the eastern company's repudiating its lease of the Western and commencing to tear up the track near the Utah border. That his receivership has been in all ways successful would appear from the showing of the company's affairs on June 1st, when he rendered a statement to the court. The earnings are constantly on the increase, and on the date named the Receiver had to his credit $250,000 in the bank. The company does not owe a dollar, it is stated; all legal complications are removed, and the earnings are constantly on the increase. The future interests on the bonds will be promptly met."
"In reply to the reporter's query, Mr. Bennett said: "The matter stands thus: the majority of the bondholders having assented to the funding plan, as proposed by the company, in August 1885, the success of the same is now assured. The earnings of the railway are steadily increasing and prospects for its future are excellent."
(Note: entirely an exact quote of the item from the Herald of 30 July 1886. GEP)
30 July 1886
The standard gauge has been extended to Anaconda. (Pitchard, Butte Daily Miner, 30 July 1886)
30 July 1886
Receiver Bancroft of the D&RGW was discharged by the Court yesterday, and
the railway turned over to the company; Bancroft will now be superintendent. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 30 July
1886)
30 July 1886
D&RGW engine 119, 'one of the smartest on the road,' handled 16 cars on
passenger train #8 yesterday. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 30 July 1886)
31 July 1886
"The old freight depot has been moved up to the bottom of main street, and
work on the depot buildings is progressing favorably." (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 31 July
1886)
1 August 1886
"Park City Letter" of 30 July 1886 says that the freight building of
the Echo & Park City line has been moved up to town, as also the agent's
office. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune,
1 August 1886)
3 August 1886
"Local Railway Notes" "The road between Garrison and Butte will
be turned over to the Montana Union August 7th." "Northern Pacific
broad-gauge cars will be used, and when the third rail is laid north to
Garrison through trains will be run between St. Paul and Butte." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 3 August 1886)
3 August 1886
Wreck of passenger train on the Utah & Northern at about 4:00 am Sunday -
several cars off and variously damaged, including the sleeper Rambler, which
the paper says is now kindling wood. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 3 August 1886)
4 August 1886
W. H. Bancroft filed the following with the court (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 4 August 1886):
STATEMENT
Earnings and Expenses, and Assets and Liabilities, July 12th, 1884, to June 30th, 1886.
| Earnings | ||
| Freight | $1.,422,9229.83 | |
| Passenger | 401,100.33 | |
| 63,083.56 | ||
| Express | 80,022.91 | |
| Miscellaneous | 12,585.37 | $1,979,022.00 |
| Expenses | ||
| Maintaining Roadway | $ 369,906.78 | |
| Maintaining Bridges & Buildings | 53,619.03 | |
| Maintaining Rolling Stock | 173,704.27 | |
| Conducting Transportation | 703,020.61 | |
| Contingent Expenses | 32,357.88 | |
| General Expenses | 67,479.44 | $1,401,088.01 |
| Net Earnings | $ 577,933.99 | |
| Income Charges | ||
| Loss and Gain | $ 56.30 | |
| Rental Equipment | 78,044.41 | |
| Additional Equipment | 10,261.53 | |
| Additional Construction | 258,488.41 | |
| Taxes and Insurance | 29,713.39 | $ 376,564.04 |
| Income Credits | ||
| Pool Account | $ 22,213.18 | |
| Discount on company scrip | 42.79 | |
| Interest | 2,375.38 | $ 24,631.35 |
| (subtotal) | $ 351,932.69 | |
| Net Balance | 226,001.30 | |
| $ 577,933.99 | ||
| Assets and Liabilities | ||
| Assets | Liabilities | |
| Due from various agents | $ 370 19.27 | |
| Material & Supplies on hand | 83,353.02 | |
| Cash on hand | 323,142.58 | |
| Due from U. S. | 8,981.83 | |
| Due from W. S. Jackson, Receiver | 14,962.90 | |
| Due from Individuals & Companies | 5,964.46 | |
| Due to Foreign Roads | $ 10,985.75 | |
| Unpaid Vouchers | 37,999.51 | |
| Unpaid Pay Rolls | 50,025.34 | |
| Unexpended Material | 10,901.05 | |
| Inventory Account | 120,656.79 | |
| Pay Checks | 15,477.48 | |
| Unclaimed wages | 1,676.64 | |
| Assets in excess of Liabilities | 226,001.30 | |
| $473.723.86 | $473,723.86 |
4 August 1886
"That still-born affair, engine No. 1 of the Salt Lake & Ft Douglas
Railroad, has been fired out of the Western's roundhouse, and unless it is
called for pretty soon, it will find its own and proper abode in the
scrap-heap." (Pitchard, Salt Lake
Daily Tribune, 4 August 1886)
10 August 1886
An item lifted from the Idaho Reporter: "The Utah & Northern Railroad
company will hereafter have all its repairing done at Eagle Rock." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 10 August 1886)
10 August 1886
An item lifted from the Idaho Reporter: "The Utah & Northern employees
engaged between Butte and Garrison have been officially notified that on August
1st they will be in the employment of the Montana Union Company." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 10 August 1886)
11 August 1886
"The rails of the Fort Douglas railway, laid on Eighth South Street, were
utilized yesterday for the first time by the D.& R.G., in carrying
passengers from the lower wards to Lake Park resort." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 11 August 1886)
12 August 1886
Problem with locomotive 71 at Pleasant Valley; left valve stem broke, so main
rod dropped and crosshead blocked; the block worked loose, suddenly, piston
blew out the rear of the cylinder and made a mess of everything on the left
side generally. (Pitchard, Salt Lake
Daily Tribune, 12 August 1886)
18 August 1886
"Local Railway Notes" "The Western road is about to build
fifteen box cars. Both Rio Grande roads are using all their rolling stock
constantly, so heavy is both freight and passenger traffic." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 18 August 1886)
20 August 1886
S. W. Eccles resigns, effective 1 September 1886, from his post as General
Freight and Passenger Agent of the D. & R. G. Western; he is so quoted in
an interview published by the Herald. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 20 August 1886)
27 August 1886
"Engine No. 9 has been rebuilt at the Western shops and steams out
today." "Engine 165, for a long time running between Green River and
Grand Junction, is in the local roundhouse for repairs. Her number is being
changed to 22." "The transfer of rolling stock from the D&RG to
the Western road will be completed this month. The painters are busy adding
'Western' to D&RG on all the stock." "The average life of a
locomotive is thirty years. At the end of eleven years, a sum equal to the
original cost has been expended upon it. An engine is considered as doing good
service if it runs 250 days in the year." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 27 August 1886)
28 August 1886
"The framework of the roof and the finishing lumber have arrived and are
being put up at the new depot of the U. P." (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 28 August 1886)
29 August 1886
The Utah & Nevada is to equip itself with the Westinghouse air brake,
material for which is in transit hither.
(Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 29 August 1886)
4 September 1886
The roundhouse at Eagle Rock has not yet been rebuilt. (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 4 September 1886)
4 September 1886
A note on an excursion to Beaver Canyon, with engine 18 and two 'neat and
comfortable' coaches; engineer was a fellow named Mahoney. (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 4 September 1886)
17 September 1886
Car 'Trinidad' has been in the shops, as also engine 70, which came out last
evening, almost entirely rebuilt. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 17 September 1886)
18 September 1886
Bancroft left yesterday for Denver in the 'Trinidad'. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 18 September 1886)
18 September 1886
Item says the matter of rebuilding the enginehouse has been settled in the
affirmative, but gauge is undecided. The grade is being widened between
Pocatello and Eagle Rock at present. (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 18 September 1886)
25 September 1886
The turntable at Bingham broke to one side, with engine 72 on it, the natural
result being that 72 went into the pit, but was not badly hurt. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 25 September 1886)
14 October 1886
"No. 31, passenger engine of the Western road, is just out of the shops
from a thorough overhauling. She looks fine in her fur-lined circular of coal
black and varnish, and the red-shaded lettering adds materially to her looks.
But she needs her drivers and straight stack painted vermilion 'to complete the
picture'." (Pitchard, Salt Lake
Daily Tribune, 14 October 1886)
16 October 1886
"Mining Matters." The annual meeting of the Crescent company was held
at Salt Lake City on Wednesday the 13th; President Withey made report for the
year ending October 1, 1886 -- total receipts were $222,813.55; among the
disbursements: Transportation, sampling, etc. $16,263.23 Purchase of
right-of-way for tramway, and other improvements $25,836.00 (no other mention
of the tramway). (Pitchard, Park Record,
Park City, 16 October 1886)
23 October 1886
"On the numerous buildings in course of erection in the Park rapid headway
is being made. The Ontario company's new shops,… Ed Kimball's boarding
house…, and already trains are running up to the elegant new passenger and
freight depot of the Union Pacific." (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 23 October 1886)
23 October 1886
D&RGW engine 77 has just been overhauled, at a cost of $800.00; passenger
engine 30 now goes in for a general
overhaul. The Western had in service in September 35 engines. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 23 October 1886)
30 October 1886
"The New Depot." "After four months work the finishing touches
are being put on the elegant new depot of the Union Pacific railway at the foot
of Main street. Trains pull up now to the platform, and all the conveniences of
a model, thoroughly equipped depot are at hand and utilized. The building is
one of the finest in the Park, the design is modern and tasteful, and brilliant
paint adorns it on all sides. The story and a half, four-gabled front is 27 x
34 feet in size, and is used for freight and ticket offices, baggage and
waiting roams, warehouses, etc. The freight house, like the rest of the building,
is large, roomy and substantial. A large platform encircles the building, and
ample roam is given freight teams to load and unload. Agent Nichols and family
occupy the convenient quarters upstairs. The telegraph and other necessaries
and conveniences are located in the building." "The U. P.'s new
depot, which has cost about $5,000, is a credit to the Park and at the same
time reflects the business enterprise and justice of the railroad toward the
public." Item continues in that vein. (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 30 October 1886)
3 November 1886
The roundhouse at Logan being dismantled and taken to Pocatello; item says that
it has been empty for the past seven months. (Pitchard, The Utah Journal, Logan, 3 November 1886)
6 November 1886
Chester Henry Withey married Mary Elizabeth Kelso on Wednesday evening this
week, by Rev. Father Galligan, at the Park City residence of Dr. C. Mantor. (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 6 November 1886)
17 November 1886
"Passenger engine No. 30 has been in the Western shops for remodeling, and
when out in three days, will be a model machine. New guides, crossheads, yoke,
eccentric-gearing, and cylinder heads have been substituted for the old, much
to the engine's improvement both in strength and looks. No. 30 is one of the
Rome, New York, engines. There are also two heavy freight engines in for
rebuilding." (Pitchard, Salt Lake
Daily Tribune, 17 November 1886)
17 November 1886
The U&N roundhouse at Battle Creek is being dismantled and taken to
Pocatello, where a roundhouse of 30 stalls is to be built. (Pitchard, The Utah Journal, Logan, 17 November 1886)
20 November 1886
"The new U. P. depot has been photographed and several of the fine
pictures are to be seen in many haunts of the railroad companies." (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 20 November 1886)
20 November 1886
The new U&N standard gauge cut-off line in Cache Valley is briefly
mentioned; Oxfordites expect the work to begin soon. (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 20 November 1886)
20 November 1886
A new U&N timetable last Wednesday, the 17th. (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 20 November 1886)
27 November 1886
An accident on Cache Hill in morning of 26th, a brakeman named McCabe being
killed in the process. (Pitchard, The
Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 27 November 1886)
15 December 1886
"The D&RW roundhouse was photographed Monday with an engine on the
turntable and the hands standing around just looking their lovliest." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 15 December 1886)
15 December 1886
Work is in progress on the Salt Lake & Ft. Douglas, and their No. 1 is
being worked on in the D&RGW shops. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 15 December 1886)
26 December 1886
"Freight engine 102 of the Western road is just out of the shops…" (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 26 December 1886)
27 December 1886
New U&N timetable as of this date, #15, in effect at 12:05am; is set up on
the 24-hour system. (Pitchard, The Utah
Journal, Logan, 27 December 1886)
1 January 1887
"Chronological summary of 1886" "October 25th - The new
passenger and freight depot of the Echo & Park City railway opened to the
public." (Pitchard, Park Record,
Park City, 1 January 1887)
1 January 1887
The D&RGW has in use 34 locomotives, of which 23 were overhauled in the
past year. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily
Tribune, 1 January 1887)
1 January 1887
In Pocatello on the oSL, the U. P. built a new depot, two stories, 50x100, cost
of $10,945; the Pacific Hotel was raised one floor, and other improvements made
$6,000 spent there; six tenement houses built at cost of $6,508; a storehouse
of 30x75 cost $1,500. (Pitchard, Salt
Lake Daily Tribune, 1 January 1887)
1 January 1887
"The Utah Central on its 283 miles of road operates 17 locomotives, but
has 20 in all. Five of them are 40 ton engines, the balance are 27 and 30 ton
engines. Road also has 22 passenger cars, eight baggage cars, seven caboose
cars and 480 freight cars. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 1 January 1887)
1 January 1887
"Eagle Rock and the Railroad." interesting personality item; there is
at present quite a bit of bad feeling between the town and the railroad,
arising from the brakeman's strike several months ago. It appears that during
this strike, Supt. Blickensderfer tried and failed to break the strike, in
which strike the townspeople sided with the brakemen; Blick's response to that
was a vow to make Eagle Rock a flag station in six months' time, and the
removal of the shops and all to Pocatello is not surprisingly seen by the town
as a part of Blick's plan to put an end to Eagle Rock. The paper says that
Frank Reardon was the master mechanic until Blickensderfer took a dislike to
him, and made Reardon's life miserable. States further that the Utah &
Northern engines were the finest on the system, but that Blickensderfer sent
reports to Omaha that only the South Park engines were fit for service, when
just the opposite was true. (see item of 12 March 1887) (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 1 January 1887)
1 January 1887
For the Utah & Nevada: "More cars and engines are to be supplied from
the rolling stock of the Utah & Northern, and the company proposes to spend
$50,000 to $75,000 at Garfield in remodeling the place, putting up new dressing
rooms, a fine hotel,…" and so forth. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 1 January 1887)
15 January 1887
"The motive power of the Montana Union is now entirely broad gauge
engines. The narrow gauge engines have all been withdrawn and 13 new broad
gauge ones have been ordered." (Pitchard, The Blackfoot Register, 15 January 1887)
16 January 1887
Item on snow-fighting on the D&RGW, from interview with Bancroft - he says
that 3 years ago he first saw a flanger in operation, on the Utah Central,
liked what it did, and had one built for the D&RGW, their first. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 16 January 1887)
19 January 1887
D&RGW freight engines 73 and 110 in being overhauled. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 19 January 1887)
20 January 1887
For the Utah & Northern, Union Pacific has ordered six Rogers freight
engines and 14 Grant freight engines, four passenger engines, five switch
engines, and a number of cars. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 20 January 1887)
20 January 1887
A 'mammoth' rotary snow plow is at the Omaha shops, the only one in the
country, sent out from Paterson for trial. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 20 January 1887)
27 January 1887
Item on Garfield improvements - "The Utah & Nevada's rolling stock
will be increased by additions from the Utah & Northern." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 27 January 1887)
5 February 1887
"The Liliputian Fort Douglas railroad is now in operation, with its
five-flea power locomotive and single dirt car, hauling gravel and sand from
the east bench along the south end for street grading." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 5 February 1887)
5 February 1887
Article on "Mr. Blickensderfer", none too complimentary; quotes out
of a letter he wrote to E. Dickenson (U. P. official) in 1885:"I have now
charge of the U. & N. and shall as fast as practicable remove all employees
under Mr. St. Clair." (Pitchard, The
Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 5 February 1887)
6 February 1887
The Oregon Short Line has just received the new steam snow plow, referred to
some weeks ago in the Tribune, when ordered from Paterson, New Jersey. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 6 February 1887)
6 February 1887
An editorial sort of an item, lifted from the Park City 'Call', on the defunct
Utah Eastern - says the rolling stock was partly removed to Coalville, and the
balance put on the Utah & Northern. The main line of the U. E. is torn up
already in several spots, only the branch from Coalville to the mines being
used any at all. (Pitchard, Salt Lake
Daily Tribune, 6 February 1887)
17 February 1887
An entire column is devoted to the blowing over of a train on the Utah &
Nevada, yesterday, which event killed conductor Adam Brown; no engine or car
numbers are anywhere mentioned. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 17 February 1887)
19 February 1887
"This afternoon the big rotary snow plow pulled up to the depot. The snow
is cut and thrown several feet from either side of the track by the new
apparatus which works like a charm." (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 19 February 1887)
26 February 1887
"The Utah Eastern Sale" was held last Monday at Coalville; the order
of sale as printed in the paper was dated 27 January 1887, stating that the
sale was to be held at the Courthouse in Coalville at 2:00pm on 21 February
1887. There were only a few people present, and only one bid - that of the U.
P.'s Western Division attorney, P. L. Williams, who bid $25,000. "Some of
the rolling stock and an engine now on the Utah & Northern cost several
times this amount." The U. P. was the successful bidder. The editor of the
Record guesses that the road is to be abandoned entirely and taken up, except
for the three-mile line up to the coal mines east of Coalville. (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 26 February 1887)
28 February 1887
"The Salt Lake & Fort Douglas railroad continues its operations. An
engine belonging to the company has made its appearance, and it is expected
that by next week rails will be laid along the track." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 28 February
1887)
12 March 1887
"D. & R. G. Western passenger engine No. 20 is just out of the
shops." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily
Tribune, 12 March 1887)
12 March 1887
An item says it took seven locomotives to get a train over the road from Butte
to Ogden.: "The following
incident shows quite forcibly the condition of the motive power of the Utah
& Northern railroad. Conductor Covert had been nearly twenty-four hours
trying to get a train from Pocatello to Spring Hill, three engines having given
out, when he sent the following telegram to Trainmaster Mann: 'Please send us a
real engine.' Trainmaster Mann asked him what he had now, and received: 'We
have one White Chester, one Berkshire and one Maphrodite.' The large black
engines with the extension front ends are called by railroad men 'hogs' and
those little engines that came from the South Park are called 'sewing
machines'." (Pitchard, The Idaho
Register, Eagle Rock, 12 March 1887)
23 March 1887
Pullman has built six new cars for the D&RG, six feet longer and a bit
wider than the common, with wider upper berths; three of them now in use
between Denver and Leadville. (I think this is a belated reference to the
narrow gauge buffet-sleepers, as no wide gauge sleepers appear on the D&RG
until mid-1889; see 25 April 1889.) (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 23 March 1887)
25 March 1887
The plans for the new buildings and such at Garfield have finally arrived from
Omaha; item gives some details. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 25 March 1887)
26 March 1887
"The accounts of ex-Receiver McMillan of the defunct Utah Eastern railway,
have been approved by the Third District Court," (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 26 March 1887)
27 March 1887
A very long item on John W. Young getting a right-of-way granted through Fort
Douglas, which is a bit condescending in tone towards Johnny W.'s little
railroad. The article says that "Three flat cars and a little tea-pot of
an engine of about five-flea power constitute the munificent equipment. The
tea-pot ran off the track the other day near the D.& R.G. roundhouse. The
master mechanic says one of the boys went out, put his shoulder to it and
shoved it right on the track again." Also, there are two or three miles of
rails on cars in the D&RGW yard, for the Fort Douglas line, awaiting
payment of freight charges! (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 27 March 1887)
29 March 1887
Three of the 35 locomotives, built by Baldwin, arrived in Evanston last week.
Have 18x26" cylinders, 63 inch drivers, two pair, and weigh 40 tons. Built
with extended front end and straight stack. They are built for the Utah &
Northern, lettered for U&N, and are numbered 730, 731 and 732. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 29 March
1887)
5 April 1887
The D&RGW has one engine with a three-chime whistle, a new thing; others
have but one chime. The U.P.'s new engines have the three-chime, as well. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 5 April
1887)
20 July 1887
Article on Pacific Railway Commission hearings and interviews, held today at
the Walker House; John Sharp and many others. (Pitchard, Deseret Evening News, 20 July 1887)(Coverage
continues on 21 July 1887)
22 July 1887
"The work of widening the Utah & Northern gauge is progressing
rapidly." (Pitchard, Deseret Evening
News, 22 July 1887)
22 July 1887
Surveyors of the Utah Midland Railway are at work in Strawberry Valley. (Pitchard, Deseret Evening News, 22 July
1887)
23 April 1887
"The Crescent tramway is being cleared, cars repaired and other
preparations [made] to resume ore hauling within .a short time." (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 23 April
1887)
23 April 1887
Freight train 613 was wrecked on Beaver Canyon hill last Thursday. Another bit
indicates that the sleepers are still in use on the narrow gauge line. (Pitchard, The Blackfoot Register, 23 April
1887)
23 July 1887
Item on the last narrow gauge trains on the Utah & Northern north of
Pocatello. (Pitchard, Deseret Evening
News, 23 July 1887)
30 April 1887
"The Crescent Tramway engine is having a new coat of paint and some
repairs made to it." (Pitchard, Park
Record, Park City, 30 April 1887)
30 April 1887
S. W. Eccles, once General freight & passenger Agent of the D&RG
Western, and for the past six months now U. P. freight agent at San Francisco,
is in SLC briefly. (Pitchard, Salt Lake
Daily Tribune, 30 Apr 1887)
5 May 1887
G. M. Ottinger has made a painting, 15" x 24", showing Garfield as it
will be, using the plans as a guide; and Savage has reproduced it as cabinet
photo. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily
Tribune, 5 May 1887)
7 May 1887
Item on Utah Midland survey party, in charge of C. W. Reichel. (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 7 May
1887)
7 May 1887
"The Crescent Tramway engine and cars have been thoroughly repaired and
artistically repainted." (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 7 May 1887)
14 May 1887
Wye to be built at Garfield, so that won't have to run out to the wye a mile
beyond Lake Point just to turn around the train. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 14 May 1887)
26 May 1887
William Openshaw, brakeman on the Utah & Nevada, killed yesterday morning
in a freak accident on a moving train. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 26 May 1887)
28 May 1887
"Two cars loaded with engines and boilers for the Crescent mine arrived
yesterday on Utah & Northern cars, wide gauge. It was the first load they
have hauled." "Four car loads of hoisting machinery arrived this week
for the Crescent and were taken up to the mine over the tramway." (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 28 May
1887)
28 May 1887
The Alta tramway is now in process of being opened up for the season. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 28 May
1887)
29 May 1887
Lake Park opened yesterday for the season, its second. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 29 May 1887)
11 June 1887
Thomas S. Wigglesworth is the chief engineer of Utah Midland survey parties. (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 11 June
1887)
11 June 1887
On Sunday passenger train wrecked at Woodin, north of Melrose, engine, baggage
and mail cars thrown into the ditch, by hitting cattle on track. (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock,
11 June 1887)
18 June 1887
"The Crescent Tramway is taxed to it's fullest capacity to bring down 150
tons of ore a day to the concentrator." (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 18 June 1887)
18 June 1887
Depot at Wasatch, in Echo Canyon, burned Tuesday, 14th. (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 18 June 1887)
18 June 1887
The U & N track has been moved over on the ties, every second one being a
standard gauge tie, so that only one rail will have to be moved to widen the
line. While moving the track over, new steel rails were used, so as to handle
the coming standard gauge equipment. (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 18 June 1887)
18 June 1887
Depot at Wasatch, in Echo Canyon, burned Tuesday, 14th. (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 18 June 1887)
25 June 1887
Crews are now in the process of completing the new bridge over the Snake River
at Eagle Rock, to replace the soon-to-be-too-small old 'narrow gauge' bridge of
1879. (Pitchard, The Idaho Register,
Eagle Rock, 25 June 1887)
25 June 1887
The party of Pacific Railway Commission engineers, Richard P. Morgan and his
assistants, were out examining the Utah & Nevada yesterday, and are to go
over the Salt Lake & Western to-day. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 25 June 1887)
28 June 1887
Today is the official opening of the new Garfield Beach resort, which is
operated by the Pacific Hotel Company. The manager at the new resort is Louis
Eppinger, said resort being located immediately to the east of the old wharf,
which is still in place. A dance pavilion has been put up, which is 160 by 165
feet in size, and about 270 feet offshore. A restaurant, hotel and other
amenities are in course of construction at this time. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 28 June 1887)
29 June 1887
One and a half columns on the opening, officially, of the new Garfield resort
yesterday; and the 'General Garfield' boat is still beached, high and dry on
the east shore. (Pitchard, Salt Lake
Herald, 29 June 1887)
9 July 1887
The depot building at Wanship has been removed to Wasatch, at which latter
point the agent is a chap named Brigham Bowman. (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 9 July 1887)
9 July 1887
Standard gauge rails being laid outside of the narrow gauge ones in the Eagle
Rock yards. (Pitchard, The Idaho
Register, Eagle Rock, 9 July 1887)
9 July 1887
Depot from Wanship has been moved to Wasatch, agent Brigham Bowman. (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 9 July
1887)
10 July 1887
"Local Railway Notes." "Dolly W., engine 108, was out yesterday
to limber up after repairs from her recent trip into the ditch at Sevier
crossing, when she knocked the energy out of three or four box cars." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 10 July
1887)
10 July 1887
"Local Railway Notes." "Evanston Chieftain: A large number of
narrow gauge cars and engines are now passing through Evanston every day, being
sent back from the Utah & Northern, which is being changed to a standard
gauge line, to the South Park road, from which they were borrowed. They are
loaded on common flat cars, and even a narrow gauge engine makes a pretty big
load." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily
Tribune, 10 July 1887)
14 July 1887
"Montana Matters." "Mr. C. H. Leslie, superintendent of the
Union Pacific, came up from Pocatello on his special car this morning, says the
Butte InterMountain of the 11th, and has been the guest of General Agent
Baldwin to-day. In regard to the approaching widening of the gauge from
Pocatello to Butte, Mr. Leslie said that it will be done on the 25th of this
month. The ties have already been clipped for the purpose of widening, and
everything is in readiness." (item continues.) (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 14 July 1887)
14 July 1887
The 'Gen. Garfield' has been floated, and is once more moored at its pier,
where it will remain, in use as a storehouse. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 14 July 1887)
15 July 1887
"Montana Matters." From the Butte InterMountain of the 12th, it is
learned that Richard P. Morgan and party of four assistants have been in Butte
and the area "for several days past,… to make a critical examination of
the Utah & Northern. In pursuit of this object he has been looking over the
roadbed, rolling stock, and in fact examining all departments of the
above-named road and the Montana Union. His investigation did not extend north
of Stuart, because his car was narrow gauge. He made, however, a close
examination of the Anaconda branch and the yard and high line,… Last evening
he went south bound for Denver, where he will make a report to the Railway
Commission in a few days."
(Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 15 July 1887)
16 July 1887
The last narrow gauge passenger train through to Butte will leave Ogden on the
22nd; the train leaving Ogden on the 23rd will go only to Pocatello, because if
went to Butte, would be no narrow gauge track to come back on. The widening is
slated to be on Monday, the 25th of July. (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, 16 July 1887)
23 July 1887
Monday the 25th is still to be Widening day, north of Pocatello. The new bridge
across the river at Eagle Rock was built around the old narrow gauge one. (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock,
23 July 1887)
17 July 1887
Wyoming Wisps. "A couple of massive new Grant locomotives, Nos. 750 and
753, reached Laramie on the 13th, in charge of Engineer Charles Sweezy and Mr.
Andrews, of Omaha. They left Omaha at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and arrived in Laramie
at six o'clock the next evening, having made no stops en route except for coal
and water. The engines are what are known as 'dust burners' and will be used on
the passenger runs out of Green River, for which place they started at 8
o'clock this morning." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 17 July 1887)
21 July 1887
Coverage of the Pacific Railway Commission hearings held in Salt Lake City.
Additional coverage on the following day, 22 July. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Herald, 21 July 1887)
23 July 1887
An item on the widening of the Utah & Northern, lifted from the Butte Daily
Miner of 21 July 1887. The last narrow gauge freight train was to leave Butte,
southbound, the morning of the 23rd, in two sections. The last narrow gauge
passenger train south out of Butte is to leave at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, 24 July
1887, instead of its usual time of 7:10 p.m., in order to be able to get to
Pocatello earlier in the morning on Monday, 25 July 1887, the date selected for
the widening of the railroad. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 23 July 1887)
24 July 1887
Pleasant Valley mines supply the coal for the Nevada Central. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 24 July
1887)
26 July 1887
"The Utah & Northern." "Quick Work." "Butte,
Montana, July 25 -- A Spring Hill, Montana, special to the Miner: The great
work of changing the gauge of the Utah & Northern Railway, the Montana
branch of the Union Pacific, to a standard from Silver Bow to Pocatello was
made in five hours to-day. The distance was 246 miles, divided into sections of
six miles to each gang. The purse of $25 for the quickest time was won by
Foreman Dowling in three hours and forty-three minutes. This beats the record.
A special run on the return trip was made south at the rate of forty-three
miles per hour. Heavy trains of standard gauge laden with coal for Anaconda are
already moving north." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 26 July 1887)
26 July 1887
"The Utah & Northern Widened." "Butte, M. T., July 25.
[Special to Tribune.] The Utah & Northern, formerly a narrow gauge, was
to-day widened to the standard gauge between here and Pocatello, a distance of
246 miles. The change was made most expeditiously and in approved style, the
first train over it today having made average running time of 38 miles an
hour." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily
Tribune, 26 July 1887)
26 July 1887
"Local Railway Notes." "The Utah & Northern road is now open
for broad gauge traffic from Pocatello to Butte. When the line to Ogden will be
changed is not known." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 26 July 1887)
26 July 1887
"Yesterday was the day set for the widening of the gauge on the U. &
N. This morning the broad gauge trains will commence running." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 26 July 1887)
27 July 1887
Photographer named Newcomb has succeeded in getting pictures of the Garfield
resort from a raft offshore. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 27 July 1887)
30 July 1887
There is a new combine car on the E&PC freight run. (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 30 July 1887)
30 July1887
"The Gauge Widened" on Monday, the 25th as planned. (Pitchard, The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock,
30 July1887)
2 August 1887
"Local Railway Notes." "The rails on the Rock railroad are now
laid beyond Fuller's Gardens."
(Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 2 August 1887)
9 August 1887
"Local Railway Notes." Interview with Union Pacific General Manager
Potter is published, from which: Q.: "Will the gauge from Pocatello to
Ogden be widened also?" A.: "Well, not at present. The narrow gauge
piece in there is of course a great inconvenience, and is now more so than ever
since the northern end has been widened. But just now the money is not handy
for doing the work, and the scheme is not at present under consideration. Of
course it is an inevitable consequence and I look for it to be done within two
or three years at the outside." Since the widening of the line above
Pocatello, 75 men in the Idaho Division master mechanic's force have been let
go; 45 men have been discharged already from the transfer force at Pocatello,
and another 20 are to be let go by August 15th. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 9 August 1887)
11 August 1887
A large number of people from the southern parts of the territory were at
Garfield yesterday, including George Edward Anderson, who was, as usual, taking
pictures. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald, 11 August 1887)
13 August 1887
Reference to the Utah Eastern roundhouse, which is near the cemetery. (Pitchard, Park Record, Park City, 13 August
1887)
17 August 1887
"Removal of the Eagle Rock Shops." "The removal of the Utah
& Northern shops from Eagle Rock to Pocatello has been settled in the
letting of a contract to do the work," which is to be completed in 60
days. The plan is, once the shop buildings have been removed to Pocatello and
set up once again, that all car work for the Utah & Northern and the Oregon
Short Line will be done at Pocatello, and all locomotive shop work for both
roads will be done at the O. S. L. shop at Shoshone, Idaho." "The
Pocatello Yards" had little to do with the said yard, but did mention that
the Utah & Northern has lately received 100 new dump cars specifically for
hauling coal from Rock Springs to Anaconda." "New Rolling Stock"
comments that the Utah & Northern has under contract, for delivery over the
next three months, three new Pullman sleepers, six coaches, three mail cars,
three baggage cars, 20 cabooses, and 350 coal cars. "The old narrow gauge
rolling stock is being shipped away. Already 300 cars have been sent to Denver,
and 100 more are to go. Fifteen cars have been sent also to Colorado, and 26
more are in the Pocatello yards awaiting repairs to be sent away. Ten cars and
one locomotive are ordered held for the Willamette Bay in Oregon. Enough
rolling stock will be retained to fully supply the road between Ogden and
Pocatello, and the balance will all be sent away." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 17 August 1887)
19 August 1887
"Local Railway Notes." "The Union Pacific is having three rotary
snow plows built, and will thus have four such plows to fight snow with next
winter. The one used last winter is at Cheyenne." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 19 August 1887)
27 August 1887
Work began on removing the Eagle Rock shops to Pocatello last Monday, which was
the 22nd of August. (Pitchard, The Idaho
Register, Eagle Rock, 27 August 1887)
28 August 1887
"Local Railway Notes." "New bridges are being put in on the Utah
& Northern between McCammon and Pocatello,…" (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 28 August 1887)
28 August 1887
"Superintendent Blickensderfer left Pocatello yesterday morning for Omaha
to look over his new field of labor. He will remain away ten days or more and
then return to settle up his affairs in Idaho, and then fully assume control of
the Nebraska division of the Union Pacific."
28 August 1887
"A Gauge Widener." "The adzing machine used in widening the
gauge on the Utah & Northern will go to Colorado to aid in similar work
there. This machine made a fine record for itself. Between Pocatello and Silver
Bow it is 255 miles, and there are 3,500 ties per mile. In widening the track
just one-half that number had to be leveled off for the rail when moved out
twenty inches. To do this by hand would have cost fully $15,000, and yet this
machine was constructed and did the work at a cost of only $2,000, including
the cost of the machine. Master Mechanic Hickey suggested the machine and F. S.
Mitchell looked after its construction. Parts of old locomotives were used for
the trucks to carry the revolving cutters, and this being attached to another
truck furnished the base for a small engine. Steam was conveyed from the
locomotive which pushed it along at the rate of one and a half miles per hour,
and it took only sixty days to do the work. The cutter revolves at a rapid
rate, and with its saws and knives made a cut across the tie six inches long,
giving room for the rail, fishplates and spikes. This machine certainly proved
a big success." (Pitchard, Salt Lake
Daily Tribune, 28 August 1887)
28 August 1887
Extract from letter, dated at Eagle Rock, 26 August 1887: "The Eagle Rock
railway shops are being torn down and carted off to Pocatello to be again set
up at that place for the convenience of both roads of the .Idaho division. Work
commenced about one week ago and the car shop has already been taken down and
loaded on cars. Besides the car shop, the machine and blacksmith shops, power
house and round house, there are some ten or twelve dwelling and boarding
houses which are to be removed. These buildings stand on the north and east
sides of the railway track, and hence are removed from the business and
dwelling portion of the town, and were on property donated to the railway by
Anderson Brothers, there being 107 acres in the plot." (item continues) (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 28 August
1887)
1 September 1887
The shops at Eagle Rock have been in the process of removal for two or three
days past, going to Pocatello. The car shop has already been torn down and
taken on cars to its new home in Pocatello. Entire job supposed to be done in
three weeks. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Herald,
1 September 1887)
1 September 1887
Utah & Northern notes: a tie-adze, built at the shops from parts of old
locomotives, etc., was used during the recent widening project. It was invented
by a U. & N. shop employee. And, the shops at Eagle Rock have been in
process of being removed to Pocatello for some days past, the car shop already
having been torn down and removed thither. The entire project is to be done in
about three weeks' time. (Pitchard, Salt
Lake Herald, 1 September 1887)
3 September 1887
Since the winter of 1883, Robert Blickensderfer has been Superintendent of the
Idaho Division. (Pitchard, The Utah
Journal, Logan, 3 September 1887)
3 September 1887
Everything from the shops at Eagle Rock is being removed to Pocatello; included
are a number of the houses of shop employees. (Pitchard, The Utah Journal, Logan, 3 September 1887)
6 September 1887
"Local Railway Notes." "Two-thirds of the Utah & Northern
buildings to be removed from Eagle Rock, are now standing on the cars at
Pocatello to be unloaded and re-erected. About sixty men are engaged in
removing these shops and houses, and the work will not be long in being fully
accomplished." (Pitchard, Salt Lake
Daily Tribune, 6 September 1887)
6 September 1887
"Local Railway Notes." R. Blickensderfer is superintendent of the
Nebraska Division, effective 1 September 1887, and will remain as
superintendent of the Idaho Division until further notice, per a recent
circular issued by U. P. General Manager Potter. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 6 September 1887)
9 September 1887
"Local Railway Notes." "The Fort Douglas railroad has reached
the head of South Temple Street. It is being solidly built." (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 9 September 1887)
14 September 1887
Lake Park will close for the season after Saturday, the 17th. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 14 September 1887)
16 September 1887
"The Utah Central road has closed its Frisco freight, ticket and telegraph
offices, as they don't pay. Trains will run up there from Milford just the
same, but all the clerical work will be done either at Milford or by the
conductors." (Pitchard, Salt Lake
Daily Tribune, 16 September 1887)
11 October 1887
C. F. Resseguie is appointed Superintendent of the Idaho Division, with
headquarters at Pocatello. (Pitchard, Salt Lake Daily Tribune, 11 October 1887)
13 October 1887
"Local Railway Notes." "The Union Pacific's master mechanic has
decided to give up the straight stack for the old 'diamond' style on the road's
locomotives, on the ground that the straight stack destroys fire boxes, which
the 'diamond' does not. The many other roads that have adopted the straight
stack do not agree with the Un