Railfan trip to Nevada and Utah, 2/10 - 3

Hi, We left Ely early on Monday, 2/8 and headed for Soldier Summit in Utah. On the way we encountered a UP coal train en route to the Intermountain Power Plant in Lynndyl, UT on UP's Sharp Subdivision. Part of the original Los Angeles and Salt Lake, this line is now used mainly for coal trains operating from Utah mines east of Soldier Summit to the power plant.


The first movement on the Provo Subdivision, between Helper, Utah and Salt Lake City, was an EB light power move just east of Castilla, UT. This is the new route constructed as a result of the Thistle slide in 1983. The old route was on the valley floor against the snow covered hill in the background.

Next, we encountered a WB BNSF trackage rights train at Thistle, again on the new line.

We then covered the entire route all the way to Helper, UT before we found this WB Utah Railway coal train which we chased. Photos were obtained at Martin Junction,

Castle Gate,

in the Price River Canyon,


at Kyune,


at Colton,

and at Sky View. Other locations, which looked similar have been omitted.

We stayed overnight in Price, UT and headed west the next day looking for an eastbound train. We met this EB UP coal empty west of Gilluly and photographed it off the US 6 bridge at Gilluly.

We got it again at Soldier Summit before moving on to Kyune (below).

After a few more shots we got the train at Castle Gate.

Next up was a WB BNSF trackage rights train led by an SD70-Ace. The DPU is shown here at Castle Gate.

We then photographed the train in the canyon and west of Kyune (below).


The BNSF train was held up by UP coal loads coming off the Pleasant Valley Branch at Colton, shown here topping the east slope at Soldier Summit.

Here are its DPUs.

After shooting the BNSF train at Soldier Summit we returned to Helper looking for another westbound train. Such was not to be so we headed for Evanston, WY by way of Salt Lake City. We found the intermodal center which provided opportunities to shoot LRVs, and

The Front Runner Commuter train.


Hope you enjoyed the photos.