Western Railroad Discussion > Mystery Union Pacific Location somewhere along US Highway 30?

Hello,

A friend of mine recently purchased a nice panoramic photo of what appears to be a Union Pacific work train somewhere along a highway that also parallels river. We can see a posted road sign in the photo that reads US 30. 

We are guessing, base on the UP locomotive number 1917, that this image was made sometime in the 1930's. Other visible clues as to the date is the Style B semaphore that is painted black and white instead of all silver. 

Also what is interesting is that the caboose has a number board mounted on its roof just ahead of the cupola that displays the same number as the locomotive, 1917. 

Any thoughts on this location and the date of the photo would be most appreciated 

Steve Crise

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Just east of Ogden, UT.  in Weber Canyon.

Dick

The truck is 1920s at earliest? So the RR is
double track by then? So can't be the lower
Weber Canyon? That isn't the eastward track
way up the slope, is it?

How about east of Devils Slide?

https://goo.gl/maps/ik8roANxLdZhPAhY9

Can you see the semaphores well enough
to confirm that it is double track and not
someplace else entirely?

Can you see if it's left-hand double track?



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/20 13:34 by timz.

The view is looking east from Weber Canyon about were the off-ramp for the eastbound rest stop leaves I-80 today.  If in that spot today you would probably be in the eastbound lanes of I-80.  The mountain in the far background matches the present day view.

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https://goo.gl/maps/meKJxZBpdpum7V247

That settles that -- I forgot it could be looking east.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/02/20 13:51 by timz.

Thaks everyone! Its nice to have this information to attach to the historic image.

Steve Crise

There are lots of people standing in and beside the road, some of them looking toward the train.  It's definitely a work train, and is providing some entertainment for all of those people.  With the train's visible consist including a spreader and ballast/rip-rap cars, I presume that MW is repairing a washout, slide, or right-of-way slippage. 

Looks like the highway is wet and close to being washed out.

 

Great before and after comparison!

Thanks for the after comparison. And that would be I-84 in Weber Canyon.

Bob Krieger
Cheyenne, WY

Are the people involved with WPA (Works Progress Administration?). This could be 1930's.

timz Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The truck is 1920s at earliest? So the RR is
> double track by then? So can't be the lower
> Weber Canyon? That isn't the eastward track
> way up the slope, is it?
>
> How about east of Devils Slide?
>
> https://goo.gl/maps/ik8roANxLdZhPAhY9
>
> Can you see the semaphores well enough
> to confirm that it is double track and not
> someplace else entirely?
>
> Can you see if it's left-hand double track?