Wildcat Loadout
Utah's coal industry and the railroads that served it
By Don Strack
This page was last updated on March 10, 2011.
(This is a work in progress; research continues.)
Overview
During the winter of 1921-1922, Arthur E. Gibson began the development of a seven foot seam of coal he had discovered and had analyzed in 1920. He hired men to work the new mine and during that winter they were able to mine thirty-four carloads of coal, which they hauled down Gordon Creek canyon by wagon to be loaded into cars at Utah Railway's Wildcat siding. (Madsen, p. 36)
Arthur E. Gibson, one of the organizers of the Consumers Mutual coal mine, stated in his history of the Gordon Creek district that George A. Storrs organized his Great Western Coal Mines and began selling shares. Some of the money raised was used to begin construction of a railroad from Wildcat Siding on the Utah Railway to the mines. In 1924 Utah Railway suggested that they would build the new railroad, provided that each mine operator contribute their share of the expense. At about the same time, the Sweet Coal Company, the National Coal Company, and the Consumers Mutual Coal Company were organized and put up the needed cash to build the railroad. Each of these mines were located within a mile of each other and together made up a good sized coal mining camp. (Gibson: Gordon Creek, pp. 241,242)
Coal shipments of the Great Western Coal Mines Company from the Great Western mine began in December 1924, being hauled by wagon to Wildcat Siding on the Utah Railway. Shipments via the National Coal Railway began in March 1926. (Utah Railway: Coal Mines)
Prior to the completion of the National Coal Railway in 1925, the coal from the Gordon Creek mines was loaded onto Utah Railway cars at a loading platform constructed at Wildcat Siding. (Public Service Commission of Utah, case 2750, "K. L. Storrs")
Coal shipments by Consumers Mutual Coal Company from the Consumers mine began in February 1925, being hauled by wagon to Wildcat Siding on the Utah Railway. Shipments by rail over the National Coal Railway began in November 1925. (Utah Railway: Coal Mines)
During September 1930 the new 3,000 foot passing track at Wildcat on the Utah Railway was almost complete. The passing track was built to handle increases in traffic coming off of the National Coal Railway. (Ax-I-Dent-Ax, September 1930)
The following comes from Utah's Division of Oil, Gas and Mining web site:
WILDCAT LOADOUT FACILITY - Active Operation, Permit ACT/007/033
The Wildcat Loadout Facility, operated by Andalex Resources, Inc., initiated operations in April 1985. The site is located three miles west of U.S. Highway 6, on Consumers Road near the town of Helper in Carbon County, Utah. Prior to the opening of the Wildcat Loadout Facility, a portion of the present permit area was previously utilized as a coal loadout by other entities.
The permit area comprises approximately 100 acres, of which 12.5 acres are under a right of way agreement between the Utah Railway and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The remaining acreage (approximately 87.5 acres) is BLM land utilized under Right of Way agreements.
The facility crushes, screens, and sorts coal hauled from the Centennial Mine, operated by Andalex Resources, Inc., and the Crandall Canyon Mine operated by Genwal Resources, Inc. This facility is designed to handle up to 5 million tons of coal annually.
In August 2003, Wildcat, Utah was the only remaining active loadout on Utah Railway rails. Once at Wildcat the engines pull through the loader and loading begins. When all cars have been loaded, the power cuts off of the train, runs back around it and recouples to what used to be the last car. Then they run back to Martin yard where mid train, or “swing” helpers are added. Normally this is a six unit set. Then the train leaves Martin, regains UP rails at Utah Ry. Junction and begins the climb to Soldier Summit. In my opinion this is one of the finest sights and sounds in western railroading as 10 units struggle to get a 15,000 ton train up the hill. It happens every day and is in plain sight from the highway. Trains from Wildact are bound for the huge IPP power plant near Delta, Utah. This generating plant is mostly owned by the Los Angeles Dept. of Water and Power. (Dick Ebright, August 2003)
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