Eureka Hill Railroad

This page was last updated on August 8, 2010.

Timeline

May 10, 1907:
Nephi Straw has been awarded the grading contract for the new railroad; the survey is not yet finished, but Straw will begin work in a few days on the completed sections. (Eureka Reporter, May 10, 1907)

August 23, 1907:
"Shea Engine Arrived" "The Shea engine for the railroad which is to connect the new smelter with some of the big mines of Tintic arrived the first of the week. Other equipment for this road, which is to be a narrow gauge, has also been received and the laying of rails will start soon. The graders are somewhat behind with their work and the grade has only been completed from the smelter site near Silver City to the old Spy mine which is just east of the Carisa. From this point the road will be built on around the mountain to the Beck Tunnel, Colorado, and other mines." (Eureka Reporter, August 23, 1907)

September 13, 1907:
Grading for the "New Railroad" continues. (Eureka Reporter, September 13, 1907)

November 15, 1907:
"Laying Track" "The grade has been nearly completed for the railroad which is to connect the new smelter near Silver City with some of the mines of Tintic and this week the track laying was commenced." "The road, which will be a narrow gauge, is owned by practically the same capitalists as the new Tintic Smelter…" The railroad "will be known as the Eureka Hill Railroad, and its line will be about ten miles in length." "Greek laborers have been brought into Tintic to work upon the new railroad and the work of putting down the rails is being rushed as rapidly as possible." (Eureka Reporter, November 15, 1907)

December 6, 1907:
"Will Haul Ore From Iron Mine" "The first ore to be hauled by the new Eureka Hill Railroad will be the iron ore from the Tintic Iron Company's mine near Silver City." "The new Eureka Hill Railroad has completed its line from the smelter site at Silver City to a point beyond the iron mine and by the first of next month everything will be in readiness for the transferring of the output of the mine…" (Eureka Reporter, December 6, 1907)

March 6, 1908:
Three carloads of 'heavy rails' have arrived, via the R. G. W., to be used in switches and sidings at the new smelter near Silver City. (Eureka Reporter, March 6, 1908)

May 1, 1908:
"New Cog Engine Arrives" "Another Shea engine for the new Eureka Hill Railroad came in over the Rio Grande on Monday. It is a very powerful engine and will be used in handling long strings of cars upon the narrow gauge road connecting the new smelter with some of the mines in the eastern section of Tintic. The other engine which was received some time ago will handle the switching in the yards at the smelter." (Eureka Reporter, May 1, 1908)

May 1908:
"The Eureka Hill railroad has just received a 70-ton Shay locomotive and has placed and order for a number of steel cars and is now in shape to do business as soon as the smelter is ready to receive the ores which will be hauled over the road. The railroad and all its equipment is now fully paid for." (Deseret News, May 12, 1908)

May 22, 1908:
Smith and Brown, railroad contractors, are putting in a spur from the Eureka Hill Railroad to the Swansea properties, as well as other spurs to mines under contract with the Tintic Smelter. Ballasting of the main line is proceeding under the direction of Superintendent Cronin. (Eureka Reporter, May 22, 1908)

May 29, 1908:
A brief history given of the smelter and the reasons for its being. (Eureka Reporter, May 29, 1908)

June 5, 1908:
First ore at the new Tintic Smelter was received about 1 June, and was from the Silver Shield mine, at Bingham. (Eureka Reporter, June 5, 1908)

July 10, 1908:
The Grand Central mine began shipping to the Tintic smelter yesterday; and there is to be a celebration of the starting-up of the smelter on the 24th of July. (Eureka Reporter, July 10, 1908)

July 24, 1908:
An article on Jesse Knight, principal owner of the smelter, the Eureka Hill Railroad, and lots of the mines; it is noted that the railroad is completed.

September 25, 1908:
"Building Engine House" "The new Eureka Hill Railroad is now constructing an engine house near the new smelter. The building will be large enough to house all three of the engines which are now used upon the road. The 'high line' is now handling considerable business and two large Shea engines are kept busy all the time. The smaller engine is used only in switching cars about the yards at the smelter." (Eureka Reporter, September 25, 1908)

February 12, 1909:
"Two Engines Leave Rails of Eureka Hill Ry." "The heavy snow storm on Sunday resulted in the derailing of both engines used upon the 'high line' of the Eureka Hill Ry. After about 24 hours hard work the two engines were again landed upon the rails. During the "time that the Eureka Hill Railroad engines were out of commission, a San Pedro engine handled the switching in the yards of the Tintic smelter." (Eureka Reporter, February 12, 1909)

February 19, 1909:
There has been considerable snow trouble on the Eureka Hill railroad, which was blocked for several days. It was opened as far as the Beck on Tuesday, they having run out of coal. Railroad crews have been working overtime, mostly shoveling things out. (Eureka Reporter, February 19, 1909)

March 19, 1909:
John Cronin returns as Superintendent of the Eureka Hill Railroad, after nearly a year in Colorado. (Eureka Reporter, 19 March 1909)

April 9, 1909:
"Another Engine for Eureka Hill Railroad." "Another engine, which is No. 4, has just been received for the Eureka Hill Railroad." The ore cars of :the E. H. Rwy. are commented upon as "small cars of 20 ton capacity…" (Eureka Reporter, April 9, 1909)

Shut Down and Disposition of Equipment

September 13, 1928:
"Eureka Hill Railroad to Stop Operating" on the 22nd of September. J. William Knight, who was interviewed, says that the railroad has been operated under a lease by some people in Silver City, upon which lease a small amount is received by Knight Investment Co., owners of the railroad. But for the past year revenues have been so poor that Knight sees no point to the continued operation of the road. (Eureka Reporter, September 13, 1928)

October 18, 1928:
The officers of the Eureka Hill Railroad have filed application with the P. U. C. to discontinue all service on the railway; last run had been on the 24th of September, 1928. (Eureka Reporter, October 18, 1928)

December 13, 1928:
The owners of the Eureka Hill Railroad (all heirs of Jesse Knight, deceased) have been granted permission to discontinue operation of the railway, there being no opposition to the petition. A similar action, for similar reasons, allowed in the case of the St. John and Ophir Railroad. (Eureka Reporter, December 13, 1928)

April 11, 1929:
David Greenhalgh, of Silver City, has put together some sort of 'locomotive,' powered by an automobile engine, and there is some talk of its being used on the Eureka Hill Railroad's track, this spring. (Eureka Reporter, April 11, 1929)

April 25, 1929:
Greenhalgh is bringing down two cars per trip with his gasoline locomotive. The Operating Revenues of the Eureka Hill Railroad in 1928 were $12,887.00, per the report filed with the Sate P. U. C., and expenses were $12,532.37, leaving a net income of $354.63. operations were discontinued 25 September 1928, per order allowing that action by the Public Utilities Commission. (Eureka Reporter, April 25, 1929)

July 11, 1929:
An item noting that much of the Knight mining property has been sold to International Smelting Co., but no mention made of the railroad. (Eureka Reporter, July 11, 1929)

December 12, 1929:
"Small Locomotive Arrives for Use on High Line," being a very wordy history of Greenhalgh's efforts. His gas loco has proven unequal to the task, and the paper says that he has acquired- an 18-ton rod locomotive from someplace in Idaho, which thing arrived Monday. It is expected that 100 tons of ore per month will now be handled. The item mentions that the Eureka Hill's 'cog engines' (the shays) weighed 75 tons. (Eureka Reporter, December 12, 1929)

July 10, 1930:
Proposed agreement for the transfer of most Knight Investment Co. properties to new North Lily-Knight Company, which is backed by the International Mining & Smelting Co. The transfer includes the railroad and its equipment. The agreement is to be ratified (or not) at the stockholders' meeting on the 25th of July. (Eureka Reporter, 10 July 1930)

July 31, 1930:
The above agreement was ratified at the meeting; all affected properties are listed, including the railroad. (Eureka Reporter,
31 July 1930)

January 29, 1931:
Two carloads of ore were recently shipped from the Dragon Consolidated via the Eureka Hill Railroad (it was mentioned specifically) to Silver City and connection with the Rio Grande. (Eureka Reporter, 29 January 1931)

April 30, 1936:
A road being built and rebuilt from Eureka through Knightsville to the Iron Blossom mine; "The road will be constructed on the old Eureka Hill railroad bed." (Eureka Reporter, April 30, 1936)

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Sources

Based on research and emails from Sam Bass, Stan Jennings, and George Pitchard.

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