Railfanning Utah

bravogjt Mar 1, 2009

  1. bravogjt

    bravogjt TrainBoard Member

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    While in Utah last weekend I captured a few photos.

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    A few shots of the mill tailings train sitting in Crescent Junction.

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    Ben
     
  2. bravogjt

    bravogjt TrainBoard Member

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    I was lucky enough to see the Potash Train passing through Crescent Junction as well. Someday I hope to chase it all the way from Crescent Junction to Potash, UT.

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    Ben
     
  3. caseyjohns

    caseyjohns New Member

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    Simply Breathtaking!
     
  4. bravogjt

    bravogjt TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks Keith!

    Ben
     
  5. fitz

    fitz TrainBoard Member

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    Cool tour, Ben. Were those hoppers from or to the big Powder River coal digs in the midwest? :tb-confused:
     
  6. JASON

    JASON TrainBoard Supporter

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    Ah the old Pettibone.....used to operate an Australian version,lots of fun.........NOT!
    Great pictures Ben, luv to see that country side.Really adds to the "scope" of things.

     
  7. bravogjt

    bravogjt TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks Fitz! Are you referring to the hoppers on the mill tailings train?

    Thanks Jason!

    Ben
     
  8. fitz

    fitz TrainBoard Member

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    My mistake, I saw that leading hopper but looking more carefully I see that was the mill tailings train. :tb-sad:
     
  9. bravogjt

    bravogjt TrainBoard Member

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    No worries. They have a hopper on each end of the train between the locos and the mill tailings cars. I do not know why. Maybe for some extra space to keep the crew and the locos away from the radioactive dirt??

    Ben
     
  10. bravogjt

    bravogjt TrainBoard Member

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    So last Saturday I was towing my camper through Moab, UT and noticed some steam engines sitting next to a hotel. Since I was connected to the trailer I didn't dare try to find a spot to pull off to railfan. I have since kicked myself for that decision and have been searching the internet as to any answers as to what was going on. Tonight I was pleased to find out that the equipment is being used in the production of the new Lone Ranger movie. Here is a link to the site where I found the information and some photos.

    http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=33606

    Ben
     
  11. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well, that is some interesting reading material. What a goofy business.
     
  12. bravogjt

    bravogjt TrainBoard Member

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    Definitely a goofy business! I hope that the equipment will stick around long enough for me to drive back over there so I can shoot a few photos of it.

    Ben
     
  13. fitz

    fitz TrainBoard Member

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    Ben, those are movie mockups, not real locos. Saw some stuff on another rail board. One has a very oversized "builders plate" on it.
     
  14. bravogjt

    bravogjt TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks Jim! If i decide to go back over there it will only be a stop on my way back up to my camper. It would be hard to spend the money on gas to take a few photos of mock ups.

    Ben
     
  15. bravogjt

    bravogjt TrainBoard Member

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    Ballard & Thompson Railroad

    I made it back to Moab this weekend and the movie props were gone. Not a huge loss, so I continued on to explore Sego Canyon north of Thompson Springs, UT. After a coal vein was discovered in the canyon a mine shortly followed. The Ballard & Thompson Railroad was later formed to haul the coal to the D&RGW line in Thompson Springs. Not much is left of the railroad but I did capture a few photos to share here on the TrainBoard.

    After leaving Moab I snapped a few shots of the equipment being used in Crescent Junction for the relocation of Moab's mill tailings pile.

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    Here is the first small trestle that I came across from the Ballard & Thompson Railroad. The railroad crossed the drainage 13 times and was prone to wash outs during flash floods.

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    Ben
     
  16. bravogjt

    bravogjt TrainBoard Member

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    Ballard & Thompson Railroad

    A view of some remaining concrete abutments.

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    As we worked our way along the old road bed we noticed that it turned east toward a cut. Prior to the cut we found this trestle.

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    Here is the cut that we drove through.

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    This is the only cut on the Ballard & Thompson grade located at the confluence of Sego and Thompson Canyons.

    Ben
     
  17. bravogjt

    bravogjt TrainBoard Member

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    Ballard & Thompson Railroad

    A couple more trestle shots from the ghost town site.

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    Heading back home we caught this west bound BNSF at Thompson Springs, UT.

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    Ben
     
  18. bravogjt

    bravogjt TrainBoard Member

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    We ended the trip pacing this east bound U.P.

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    Ben
     
  19. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Any background info on those two ALCo units? Model? They almost look like faded old CPR power.
     
  20. bravogjt

    bravogjt TrainBoard Member

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