I've become curious about the railroad yards in Helper Ut., more specificaly how the D&RGW used them? It seems like there are two different yards with engine facilities splitting them, one to the east and one to the west where the main and depot are. I'm trying to figure out if there was any reasoning behind having two, or was it simply an expansion necessary with the increased coal traffic? Did they classify cars differently in either yard, ie: loaded cars in one yard and empties in the other? Kevo
Kevo, I'm really not up on Utah Div ops, but I might have a source to check. Most of my library focuses on Colorado, but Mike Danneman's book "Last of a Breed" might shed some light on this, since it is centered on ops out of Helper, UT. The videos I have seen show the yard nearest to the depot as where helpers were added to WBs, and hoppers were stored in the further yards. I suppose the Dirt train and other locals originated out of the far yard, but this is pure speculation.
I actually have that book, but it centers more on dirt train operations and 5371, and less on soldier summit and coal train operations. From a lot of the pics it would appear as though the dirt train was routinely stored in that yard nearest the depot. I'm sure that varied though. BTW, thats an excelent book! Kevo
I'ma offing the cuff here...from memory. Helper, Utah was the junction between the D&RGW and a .... shortline. Name will come to me later. One yard was for the D&RGW locals which served various coal and mineral mines in the area. I I believe a roundhouse stood some where in the yard during the steam era. The shortline has a working engine facility, albeit small, including a small clasification yard. There are others here that know this area better then I and I'ma hoping they sound off here.
Yup, the Utah Railway has a terminal and engine facilities on the far west edge of town. Their engine facilities would appear to be larger than what D&RGW had in the later years. Looking at things in google earth you can see that they do have quite a bit of space for a turntable and roundhouse, its odd they got rid of it with helper being such an important location on the line. Kevo
You got it. I understand that todays operations on the Utah Railway, includes providing helper service for the BNSF. Last I heard UP, no longer needs helper service due to run through helpers on the tail end. Neat place to visit.
