Nostalgia & History > Gildersleeve copy slide classics (vol 108): Steam helper

I have quite a bit of apprehension for today’s Gildersleeve image. Slide set 195 has caption #8 reading: “No. 3979 helping extra 52 East, east of Ogden*, April 12, 1951.” It’s the only caption that mentions a helper. But looking at the blurry engine number in the original scan does not confirm the caption. Also, I’m a little shaky about the ‘east of Ogden’ location. Lots of questions here! Hopefully someone has the actual slide number handy. TIA for any help…

1. UP 3979(?) in helper service in Weber Canyon, UT* on April 12, 1951.
Photo by Dick Kindig. Tom Gildersleeve commercial Ektachrome copy slide from set #195.
Scanned from the late James W. Watson collection.

Thanks for looking back!
Lance Garrels
santafe199

*Location modified to ‘Weber Canyon’ based on replies below…



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/10/26 10:55 by santafe199.

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Beautiful!
Bob

Can't help with the location but love that little cabin!

Dave

I would like to hear that!

Sure looks like Weber Canyon east of Ogden, especially with the left hand running, but i'm sure someone on here can be more specific.

Bob

I'd guess that it's this pair of bridges over the Weber River a couple miles east up the canyon.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/eqoJiYfYwSzW48dP7

You can see the original brick bridge abutments in the photo as well as in the Google Streetview image.

Fantastic photo!

I thought that the UP re-numbered those freight Challengers that were converted to oil burners into the 3700 series. Maybe that is why the road number is so difficult to read.

bobdavis Wrote: > ... Sure looks like Weber Canyon east of Ogden ...

This rings a loud bell, so I took a quick look at my master UP file. I found a Weber Canyon shot right away, almost in the same place. I didn't realize it's so close to Ogden. I'll amend the thread later today. Right now I'm swamped in Photoshop... ;^)

Lance

 

Challenger 3979 was renumbered to 3712 in 1952.

Tom

Outstanding!

Excellent photo of that era, thanks for the look.
—Mac