Utah Central Railway (1881-1889)

This page was last updated on June 11, 2011.

Locomotives

George Pichard wrote the following:

Utah Central Railway contributed 20 locomotives to the OSL&UN roster at August 1, 1889. No "official" roster of UCRy exists. There is, however, a journal ledger of UCRy. that covers the entire history of the Utah Central Ry., July 1, 1881 through July 31, 1889. This journal is one of the few accounting books of any predecessor company of the OSL RR of 1897 to survive a January 1912 fire in Union Pacific's New York City offices, and is in the huge Union Pacific collection at Nebraska State Historical Society (MS 3761, SG 130, Vol. 1). When the research was done in 1989, the journal was coverless, burnt at the edges, and still smelled of smoke, 77 years after the fire that destroyed so many other Union Pacific records. It is still readable, and does contain pages of entries, for each locomotive individually, for maintenance and service expenses by months, every month, from July 1881 through July 1889. When additional locomotives are put into service, they too begin showing in the monthly figures.

According to the above ledger, Utah Central Railway started out in July 1881 with 18 locomotives, numbered from 1 through 18. Nos. 19 and 20 appear beginning in April 1882; and No. 22 appears beginning in January 1883. All of these 21 locomotives continue showing expenses of maintenance and service month alter month, every month, through July of 1889. All locomotives are shown, except UCRy. 7, which after January 1887 has more and more 'blank' months, and in 1889 shows no expenses at all. The entries during 1888 for No. 7 are small in nature, and may be for the expenses of scrapping the aged No. 7, which is apparently dropped from the equipment in 1888.

Obvious in the ledger is a complete lack of information for UCRy. 21, except a brief reference on a single page headed "Construction of Engine No. 21", which was apparently intended to be a fast passenger engine having a 17" cylinder and 70" drivers. According to newspaper accounts, some work was done at the Salt Lake City shops of the Utah Central in early 1883, and according to the journal ledger, expenses began in December 1882 and continued through December 1883, with most being in January to June 1883, for a total of $6,305.39. Since no maintenance records of this locomotive have as yet come to light, research suggests that Utah Central Railway 21 was never completed and put into service.

Of the 18 locomotives with which the Utah Central Railway began its life on July 1, 1881, six were former Utah Central Railroad engines, with the balance coming from either Utah Southern Railroad or Utah Southern Railroad Extension. As a note on primary sources, the five engines generally considered to be Extension company engines, acquired in 1879-1880 from the Union Pacific, show up in U.P. records as being sold to the Utah Southern Railroad, without the Extension qualifier.

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Utah Central Railway 4-4-0 — 11 locomotives

1881 UCRy Number	First Number	Second Number	Third Number	Builder	Builder Number	Date Built	1889 OSL&UN Number	1897 OSL Number	Date Vacated	Notes
UCRy 1	UPRR 21 (1st)	UPRR 15	UCRR 1	Hinkley & Williams	788	Oct 1866	OSL&UN 312 (2nd)	(OSL 312)	1897	1
UCRy 2	UCRR 2			Schenectady	609	Jan 1870	OSL&UN 316	OSL 316	Aft 1897	2
UCRy 3	UCRR 3			Schenectady	610	Jan 1870	OSL&UN 317	OSL 317	1896	3
UCRy 4	UCRR 4			Schenectady	611	Jan 1870	OSL&UN 318	OSL 318	1896	4
UCRy 5	UCRR 5			Schenectady	680	Apr 1871	OSL&UN 319	(OSL 319)	1894-97	5
UCRy 6	UCRR 6			Hinkley & Williams	1120	Oct 1872	OSL&UN 434	OSL 434	Aft 1897	6
UCRy 7	UPRR 20 (1st)	UPRR 14	USRR 1	Hinkley & Williams	787	Sep 1866			1888	7
UCRy 8	UPRR 49	USRR 2		Grant	548	1867	OSL&UN 435	OSL 102	Aft 1902	8
UCRy 9	UPRR 144	USRR 3		Schenectady	547	Mar 1869	OSL&UN 367	OSL 367	1894-1898	9
UCRy 10	USRR 4			Schenectady	1092	Mar 1878	OSL&UN 436	OSL 103	Aug 1901	10
UCRy 11	USRR 5			Schenectady	1215	Feb 1880	OSL&UN 437	OSL 101	Aft 1897	11

General Notes:

a.	Individual locomotive specifications:

1881 UCRy Number	As Built Specs.	Later Specs.	Date Rebuilt
UCRy 1	60-14x22	63-15x24
UCRy 2	60-15x24	64-15x24
UCRy 3	60-15x24	64-15x24
UCRy 4	60-15x24	64-15x24
UCRy 5	60-15x24	64-15x24
UCRy 6	60-16x24	63-16x24
UCRy 7	63-14x22
UCRy 8	61-17x24	63-16x24
UCRy 9	54-16x24	59-16x24
UCRy 10	60-16x24	63-16x24
UCRy 11	60-16x24	63-16x24

Notes:

1.	Utah Central Ry 1 was built as UPRR 21 (1st) in 1866; to UPRR 15 in 1867; to Utah Central RR 1 in 1869; to Utah Central Ry 1 in 1881; to OSL&UN 312 (2nd) in 1889; vacated in 1897 (assigned OSL 312, not renumbered); scrapped by OSL in October 1898, tender used as water tank at Lima, Montana
2.	Utah Central Ry 2 was built as Utah Central RR 2 in 1870; to Utah Central Ry 2 in 1881; to OSL&UN 316 (2nd) in 1889; to OSL 316 (1st) in 1897; ; vacated between 1894 and 1897; out of service and stored at Shoshone, Idaho until moved to Pocatello in late April 1898 and scrapped
3.	Utah Central Ry 3 was built as Utah Central RR 3 in 1870; to Utah Central Ry 3 in 1881; to OSL&UN 317 92nd) in 1889; to OSL 317 91st) in 1897; vacated in 1896
4.	Utah Central Ry 4 was built as Utah Central RR 4 in 1870; to Utah Central Ry 4 in 1881; to OSL&UN 318 (2nd) in 1889; to OSL 318 (1st) in 1897; vacated in 1896
5.	Utah Central Ry 5 was built as Utah Central RR 5 in 1871; to Utah Central Ry 5 in 1881; to OSL&UN 319 (2nd) in 1889; to OSL 319 (1st) in 1897; vacated in 1897; scrapped by OSL in October 1898, tender used as water tank at Glenns Ferry, Idaho
6.	Utah Central Ry 6 was built as Utah Central RR 6 in 1872; to Utah Central Ry 6 in 1881; to OSL&UN 434 (2nd) in 1889; to OSL 434 in 1897; vacated after 1897 (not shown in OSL 1900 list)
7.	Utah Central Ry 7 was built as UPRR 20 (1st) in 1866; to UPRR 14 in 1867; to Utah Southern RR 1 in 1871; to Utah Central Ry 7 in 1881; vacated in 1888
8.	Utah Central Ry 8 was built as UPRR 49 in 1867; to Utah Southern RR 2 in 1873; to Utah Central Ry 8 in 1881; to OSL&UN 435 (2nd) in 1889; to OSL 102 in 1897; in snowplow service as of May 19, 1902, per Salt Lake Daily Tribune
9.	Utah Central Ry 9 was built as UPRR 144 in 1869; to Utah Southern RR 3 in 1873; to Utah Central Ry 9 in 1881; to OSL&UN 367 in 1889; vacated between 1894 and 1898
10.	Utah Central Ry 10 was built as Utah Southern RR 4 in 1878; to Utah Central Ry 10 in 1881; to OSL&UN 436 (2nd) in 1889; to OSL 103 in 1897; vacated in 1901
11.	Utah Central Ry 11 was built as Utah Southern RR 5 in 1880; to Utah Central Ry 11 in 1881; to OSL&UN 437 (2nd) in 1889; to OSL 101 in 1897; vacated after 1897 (OSL 1900 list shows "new" date of August 1879)

Utah Central Railway 4-6-0 — 2 locomotives

1881 UCRy Number	First Number	Builder	Builder Number	Date Built	1889 OSL&UN Number	Notes
UCRy 12	USRR 6	Taunton	779	Apr 1881	OSL&UN 1027	1
UCRy 13	USRR 7	Taunton	782	Apr 1881	OSL&UN 1028	2

General Notes:

a.	Individual locomotive specifications:

1881 UCRy Number	As Built Specs.	Later Specs.	Date Rebuilt
UCRy 12	54-18x24	57-18x24	1897
UCRy 13	54-18x24	57-18x24	1897

Notes:

1.	UCRy 12 was built as Utah Southern RR 6 in 1881; to Utah Central Ry 12 in 1881; to OSL&UN 1027 in 1889; to OSL 513 in 1897; vacated in 1908
2.	UCRy 13 was built as Utah Southern RR 7 in 1881; to Utah Central Ry 13 in 1881; to OSL&UN 1028 in 1889; rebuilt to OSL 514 in 1897; to SPLA&SL 54 in 1903; vacated in 1914

Utah Central Railway 2-6-0 — 1 locomotive

1881 UCRy Number	First Number	Second Number	Builder	Builder Number	Date Built	1889 OSL&UN Number	Date Vacated	Notes
UCRy 14	UPRR 12	USRR 12	Danforth	449	Aug 1866	OSL&UN 1206	After 1889	1

Description:

Drive Wheel Diameter: 54 inches

Cylinders: 18x22 inches

Weight: 70,000 pounds

Notes:

1.	UCRy 14 was built as "Belevue" in 1866; to UPRR 12 in 1867; to Utah Southern Railroad (Extension) 12 in 1880; to Utah Central Ry 14 in 1881; to OSL&UN 1206 in 1889; vacated between 1889 and 1894

Utah Central Railway 4-4-0 — 4 locomotives

1881 UCRy Number	First Number	Second Number	Builder	Builder Number	Date Built	1889 OSL&UN Number	1897 OSL Number	Date Vacated	Notes
UCRy 15	UPRR 65	(USRR 13)	Schenectady	503	Aug 1868	OSL&UN 368	OSL 368	1894-1898	1
UCRy 16	UPRR 123	(USRR 14)	Schenectady	525	Dec 1868	OSL&UN 369	OSL 405		2
UCRy 17	UPRR 125	(USRR 15)	Schenectady	529	Nov 1868	OSL&UN 370		1889-1894	3
UCRy 18	UPRR 145	(USRR 16)	Schenectady	548	Mar 1869	OSL&UN 371		1889-1894	4

General Notes:

a.	Individual locomotive specifications:

1881 UCRy Number	As Built Specs.	Later Specs.	Date Rebuilt	Engine Weight
UCRy 15	60-16x24	59-16x24		68,600
UCRy 16	54-16x24	69-18x26	Dec 1892	68,600
UCRy 17	54-16x24			68,600
UCRy 18	54-16x24			68,600

Notes:

1.	Utah Central Ry 15 was built as UP 65 in 1868; to Utah Southern Railroad 13 in 1879; to Utah Central Ry 15 in 1881; to OSL&UN 368 in 1889; vacated between 1894 and 1898.
2.	Utah Central Ry 16 was built as UP 123 in 1868; to Utah Southern Railroad 14 in 1879; to Utah Central Ry 16 in 1881; to OSL&UN 369 in 1889; rebuilt to UP 843 in December 1892; to OSL 405 in 1899; to OSL 1013 in 1915; retired in January 1923; possibly leased or sold to Willamina & Grande Ronde Railway
3.	Utah Central Ry 17 was built as UP 125 in 1868; to Utah Southern Railroad 15 in 1879; to Utah Central Ry 17 in 1881; to OSL&UN 370 in 1889; vacated between 1889 and 1894
4.	Utah Central Ry 18 was built as UP 145 in 1869; to Utah Southern Railroad 16 in 1879; to Utah Central Ry 18 in 1881; to OSL&UN 371 in 1889; vacated between 1889 and 1894

Utah Central Railway 4-6-0 — 2 locomotives

1881 UCRy Number	First Number	Builder	Builder Number	Date Built	Date Rebuilt	1889 OSL&UN Number	Notes
UCRy 19	UPRy 54 (1st)	Taunton	840	Mar 1882	Feb 1894	OSL&UN 1029	1
UCRy 20	UPRy 55 (1st)	Taunton	841	Mar 1882	Feb 1898	OSL&UN 1030	2

General Notes:

a.	Individual locomotive specifications:

1881 UCRy Number	As Built Specs.	Later Specs.	Date Rebuilt	Engine Weight
UCRy 19	54-18x24	57-18x24	Feb 1894	84,000
UCRy 20	54-18x24	57-18x24	Feb 1898	84,000

Notes:

1.	Utah Central Ry 19 was ordered as UPRy 54 (1st), changed to Utah Central Ry 19 upon delivery in 1882; to OSL&UN 1029 in 1889; to OSL 515 in 1897; sold to Boise, Nampa & Owyhee Railway in August 1899 for $4,000.00; to Idaho Northern Railway in 1907; vacated before 1909 (BN&O sale information from OSL account books, per Pitchard research)
2.	Utah Central Ry 20 was ordered as UPRy 55 (1st), changed to Utah Central Ry 20 upon delivery in 1882; to OSL&UN 1030 in 1889; to OSL 516 in 1897; scrapped by OSL in December 1900 (from OSL account books, per Pitchard research)

Utah Central Railway 4-4-0 — 1 locomotive

1881 UCRy Number	First Number	Builder	Date Built	Date Vacated	Notes
UCRy 21	UCRy 21	OSL Pocatello Shops	1883	Bef 1889	1

Notes:

1.	Utah Central Ry 21 was partially completed for UCRy in OSL's Pocatello, Idaho shops; construction started in 1883; assigned UCRy 21; not completed, assumed scrapped before 1889

Utah Central Railway 4-6-0 — 1 locomotive

1881 UCRy Number	First Number	Builder	Builder Number	Date Built	Date Rebuilt	1889 OSL&UN Number	1897 OSL Number	Notes
UCRy 22	UPRy 65	Taunton	865	Aug 1882	Mar 1898	OSL&UN 1031	OSL 517	1

Description:

Drive Wheel Diameter: 54 inches (rebuilt to 57 inches in 1898)

Cylinders: 18x24 inches

Weight: 71,900 pounds

Notes:

1.	Utah Central Ry 22 was built as UPRy 65 in 1882; to Utah Central Ry 22 in 1883; to OSL&UN 1031 in 1889; to OSL 517 in 1897; to SPLA&SL 55 in 1903; vacated before 1914

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