Here is an interesting link for the old Uintah Railroad that once operated in western Colorado and eastern Utah. http://home.bresnan.net/~bpratt15/references_and_links.htm
Interesting site! Other than knowing it existed, I've never paid attention to this operation. I'll do some further reading of those pages. Boxcab E50
There are still some pieces of Uintah rolling stock at the Cross Orchards farms in GJ, as well as the Whiskey Creek trestle. All are under the care of the local NRHS chapter.
friscobob, I finally stopped by the Cross Orchards muesem this last winter to check out the local club's layout. It was impressive to see how far the NRHS has come with their restoration efforts on the old Uintah cars.
Although the weather wasn't perfect for taking pictures I still shot some at Cross Orchards during their car show this weekend. Ben
Great pics- reminds me of the fun I used to have at the model RR club nearby. BTW, the Uintah ROW can be driven by 4X4 vehicles, IIRC.....from Mack north over the pass. Should include those nasty curves, too.
Thanks Friscobob! I have been trying to decide if I want to travel the old ROW ever since I read the "Uintah Railway Pictorial" Volume 1 by Rodger Polley. It's hard to believe that all of the old infrustructure is pretty much gone. Ben
Looks like there has been a good effort made to keep those cars in decent shape. Freshly painted! Boxcab E50
Boxcab E50 - They seem to be doing a lot of regular maintenance to the collection. It is quite impressive to see in person. Stourbridge Lion - Thanks! Ben
The local NRHS chapter is heavily involved in making these cars look like new. They deserve the kudos, and rightfully so.
Last weekend my son and I traveled part of the old Uintah Railway route. We came across the old machine shop that used to sit behind the engine shop in what was known as Atchee, CO. Below is a view looking at Baxter Pass where steam enigines once struggled up a 7.5% grade. Ben
When I worked in Montrose our company recorded much of the line from Mack over the pass. We also did excavation there on what, if memory serves me, was a section house. The Uintah has a great history and I encourage everyone to read the story of the line! John
John, Do you know if any other structures remain? I have Volumes 1&2 of Rodger Polley's pictorial of the Uintah Railway and also encourage steam fans to read the history of the railway. Ben
If you even get the chance to go to the local library, please look for a book that tells of another narrow-gauge line that operated in the Grand Valley, and the only one that ran from GJ to the Book Cliffs-the Little Book Cliff RR. Carried coal from a now-abandoned mine at the also-abandoned site of Campbell into "Junction". Abandoned in the early part of the 20th century due to a fire in the mine.
Thanks Friscobob! I have only heard of the Little Bookcliff RR and have been out to the old mine site. I didn't realize that their was a book out about it. I'll have to go book hunting now. Ben
As far as I know there are no standing structures other than the machine shop pictured, but I may be incorrect. Along the Baxter Pass portion everything we saw was complete ruin. I'll see if I can dig that report out and see exactly what we did do there...been too long and a lot of miles in between projects! John
