Railroads of Little Cottonwood Canyon
Compiled By Don Strack
This page was last updated on June 26, 2010.
Additional Information
- Wasatch & Jordan Valley Railroad/D&RGW (1873-1895)
- Clarence Reeder's research
- Salt Lake & Alta Railroad (1913-1917)
- Little Cottonwood Transportation Co. (1916-1925) (including Alta Scenic Railway)
- Granite For The Temple [research notes]
Overview
General description of branch, from the 1937 D&RGW Branchline summary:
- LITTLE COTTONWOOD BRANCH - SALT LAKE DIVISION
- 3.41 Miles
- Purchased narrow gauge 1881
- Standard gauged to Sandy 1890 - to Wasatch 1913.
- The upper part of the branch from Sandy to Wasatch was built by the Wasatch & Jordan Valley Railroad Company in 1873 and extended to Alta in 1876, primarily to reach the rich gold mines at Alta, bringing the ores from those mines to the old smelter at Sandy. Soon after the construction of the branch, granite quarries were opened at Wasatch from which granite for the Mormon Temple and other important buildings was obtained. While the narrow gauge track was built from Wasatch to Alta, it was found impossible to operate the upper part of the line successfully with steam power, horses being substituted as motive power for operating the track as a tramway from Wasatch to Alta.
- In 1881, the branch and tramway were acquired by our predecessor, The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railway Company, but operation of the upper part of the branch was soon discontinued.
- The lower part, from Midvale to Sandy, was originally a part of Bingham Canon and Camp Floyd Railroad which was acquired by the Denver & Rio Crande Western Railway Company in 1881.
- After many years of inoperative ownership, during which the upper part of the branch was leased to the Little Cottonwood Transportation Company; the track was removed above Sand Pit in 1934.
- The rail in this line is 90 pound, laid in 1937. It is on natural dirt and sand.
- There are approximately 3,200 ties per mile, 90 percent of which are treated.
- Maximum grade 4.2 percent.
- Maximum curvature 16 degrees.
- The only natural resource of any consequence remaining on this branch is a sand and gravel pit located at Sand Pit, Utah. A movement of ore and concentrates from points adjacent to the branch has been discontinued, with no possibility of movement in the future.
- The Ideal Sand Company, located at Sand Pit, Utah, ships sand, gravel and engine sand. During the year of 1937, 50 cars of commercial sand and gravel, and 267 cars of engine sand for the Union Pacific Railroad were shipped from Sand Pit. At Sandy, Utah, we have one coal and lumber dealer and one retail gas and oil dealer.
- Irregular service - operated as required - average service about one trip per week which is made by the "Ping-Pong" crew. This crew handles all industry work at Sugar House, between Roper and Midvale, and on Little Cottonwood Branch.
- Our conclusions are that that portion of the branch beyond the spur serving the Superior Oil Company at Mile Post 1.4 be abandoned. (Mile Post 1.4 was east of the UP/D&RGW gantlet crossing of State Street, and west of the crossing of UP at Sandy.)
The branch was built in 1872-1873 as a 3-feet narrow gauge line by the Wasatch & Jordan Valley Railway. W&JV was controlled by D&RG after 1881. The above branchline summary shows that the line above the granite quarries went out of operation in the 1880s, suggesting that the mies at Alta had played out. (see also Clarence Reeder's research) The rails likely remained in place, explaining the interest in 1902-1907 (below) about the horse tramway along the same route.
From Clarence Reeder:
The Wasatch and Jordan Valley Railroad did not remain in existence long after the consolidation of 1879. The road, as may be seen from the financial statements, was able to show a profit after expenses and interest payments on its bonds through 1878. In 1879, however, the mines of Alta on which the road was dependent for its income began to fail. Income during 1879, 1880 and 1881 was large enough to meet operating expenses; but interest on bonds could not be paid, and foreclosure action was taken in August of 1881. The road was sold to the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad on December 31, 1881. The portion of the road between Sandy and Alta was closed sometime in the 1880's because of the failure of the mines, but the Sandy to Bingham portion was made standard gauge and remained in profitable operation until the 1950's.
Wasatch & Jordan Valley Railroad/D&RGW
Other W&JV links:
Wasatch & Jordan Valley became part of a consolidation with its sister railroad, Bingham Canyon & Camp Floyd Railroad, from a shared terminal at Midvale and the mines in Bingham Canyon. According to Clarence Reeder, soon after D&RGW took control of the consolidated railroads in 1881, the mines at Alta began to fail and that portion of W&JV above the granite quarries was removed from service.
However, it must be noted that according to a D&RGW branch line summary, and as part of its overall surveying effort for its entire line in Utah, D&RGW completed a complete survey of the entire 16.7 miles of line from Sandy to Alta in November 1882. A filing map was accepted by the U. S. Land Office on September 14, 1883. Further, in September 1925, D&RGW later provided, and the Land Office accepted, a formal proof of construction. (U. S. Interstate Commerce Commission, Valuation Report, Denver and Rio Grande, pp. 806, 896, 901; Robert v. Sloan, ed., Utah Gazetteer and Directory of Logan. Ogden, Provo, and Salt Lake Cities for 1884, pp. 107, 110; J. Cecil Alter, Utah the Storied Domain, 1932, pp. 498, 499.)
Timeline
The Alta Tramway
April 21, 1881
The tramway to Alta is now open and doing business, the snow blockade being raised. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, April 21, 1881)
April 5, 1882
The Alta tramway, which has been closed all winter, will be opened again soon. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, April 5, 1882)
October 14, 1882
Considerable problem on the Alta Tramway - wind is repeatedly blowing down various parts of the snowshed. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, October 14, 1882)
December 29, 1882
"The Alta Tramway." "The Tribune this morning states that "the mining men and citizens of Alta complain because the railroad company have shut them off from civilization" by closing down the tramway between that camp and Wasatch. In conversation with a Chronicle representative this morning, Mr. Lamborn, assistant general passenger and freight agent of the D.& R. G. road, said he knew of no good reason for complaint on the part of anyone at Alta. It is usual to close down the tramway during the winter months, and the mining and business men of Alta fully expected that the road would be shut down this season. At present there is no ore to be sent down … and …, it is hard to see how any reasonable person could expect the tramway to be kept open. Besides, experience has fully demonstrated the danger of running cars up and down the canyon when the snow lies deep on the sides of the mountains, …" (Salt Lake Evening Chronicle, December 29, 1882)
May 16, 1883
City: "the Alta tramway, running from Wasatch to Alta, will be open for through traffic tomorrow. The tramway has been closed since December." (Salt Lake Evening Chronicle, May 16, 1883)
December 10, 1883
"Stopped for the Winter." "The Alta branch of the Denver & Rio Grande railroad, running up Little Cottonwood canyon from Wasatch to Alta, closed down to-day for the winter. Travel in this canyon during the winter months is attended by great danger from snow-slides, and the policy of the D.& R.G. management seems to be to close down the road before the dreaded avalanches can get a chance to bury people traveling over the tramway." (Salt Lake Evening Chronicle, December 10, 1883)
December 11, 1883
The line from Wasatch to Alta was closed yesterday for the winter. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, December 11, 1883)
March 11, 1884
Alta was hit by a slide on Sunday, the 9th; "The new town of Alta is situated … on a flat near the head of Little Cottonwood canyon. The old town was destroyed by fire some years ago, and the present site was supposed to be a safer place for the town." (Salt Lake Daily Herald, March 11, 1884)
July 12, 1884
Two carloads of horses and mules were taken to Wasatch yesterday for the Alta tramway. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, July 12, 1884)
July 29, 1884
Article on ride to Alta on the tramway; two mules pull the car, which seats nine, three to a seat. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, July 29, 1884)
February 13, 1885
"The D. & R. G. is running double-headers to Wasatch and Bingham." It seems this is necessary on account of snow. (Salt Lake Evening Chronicle, February 13, 1885)
February 16, 1885
The Western's depot, snowsheds, etc., at Alta were destroyed in the slide at that place on February 13, 1885. (Salt Lake Evening Chronicle, February 16, 1885)
April 28, 1885
Alta tramway to be opened by May 10, 1885. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, April 28, 1885)
May 21, 1885
Daily trains running to Alta 'via the mule power tramway'. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, May 21, 1885)
May 28, 1887
The Alta tramway is now in process of being opened up for the season. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, May 28, 1887)
October 30, 1887
"Local Railway Notes." "The D. & R. G. W. has issued a notice that the tramway between Wasatch and Alta will be closed November 10th, after which no passengers or freight will be taken to Alta, and all freight and passengers for Alta will be delivered at Wasatch." per J. H. Bennett, General Freight and Passenger Agent of the D. & R. G. W. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, October 30, 1887)
May 20, 1888
"The Alta tramway opens today for the season." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, May 20, 1888)
November 10, 1888
The Alta tramway was closed yesterday. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, November 10, 1888)
June 20, 1890
The tramway to Alta opened today, but not by the RGW, as the line from Wasatch to Alta is leased to other parties. Fare one way is $1.15. (Salt Lake Evening Times, June 20, 1890)
March 7, 1891
There was recently an avalanche at Alta, in which two men were killed. Their bodies were taken by sled down to Wasatch, "at which point the railway was taken for Sandy." (Salt Lake Daily Herald, March 7, 1891)
June 3, 1891
An advertisement item, on the RGW Alta Branch, "…which has now been made broad gauge,…" "At Wasatch tramway connection is made for Alta." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, June 3, 1891)
August 9, 1898
The tramway to Alta is now in its third summer of disuse. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, August 9, 1898)
April 25, 1900
An item on Alta in the mining section makes it clear that there is no functioning railroad to Alta at this time. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, April 25, 1900)
June 23, 1900
"The resort at Wasatch, in Little Cottonwood Canyon, near Granite, has been opened to the public, and street cars commenced to operate between the Oregon Short Line station at Sandy and the Wasatch hotel yesterday. The fare from Sandy to Wasatch is 75 cents and round trip $1; …" "The hotel at Wasatch has been renovated and placed in first class condition." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, June 23, 1900)
June 26, 1900
An excerpt from an article entitled "Alta is Active" "At present no less than 25 teams are operating between the camp and the Mingo smelter at Sandy, while the tramway has finally started up and ores are being handled very satisfactorily. From the tramway they are transferred to the RGW's Little Cottonwood branch, which has been equipped with rolling stock formerly in use upon the horse-car lines of this city, so that the trip between Sandy and the diggings is made a very agreeable one. (see also item of 28 August 1900) (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, June 26, 1900)
July 20, 1900
"Cars on the Wasatch tram connect with all Short Line trains south of Salt Lake. The cars run between Sandy and Wasatch and are taking many passengers." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, July 20, 1900)
August 28, 1900
"Doings at Wasatch" "Tramway rides to Alta are still very popular, and these, with the regular traffic to Alta keeps the historic old tram car pretty well filled, both going and coming." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, August 28, 1900)
September 8, 1900
"The Alta Branch and tramway consists of 18 miles. As it is not operated, the RGW is contemplating using the steel where it will bring in some revenue." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, September 8, 1900)
August 9, 1898
"The Rio Grande Western has virtually abandoned its rail and tram line to Wasatch and Alta. This is the third summer the track has been unused, and it is doubtful if it will ever be resumed, unless the mines take an upward turn, or other business conditions should make the operation of the road a paying proposition." (Salt Lake Tribune, August 9, 1898)
January 8, 1901
Nathaniel W. Raphael vs. the Wasatch & Jordan Valley Railroad Co., the Rio Grande Western Railway Co., and the Union Trust Co. of New York -- complaint alleges that on May 1, 1879, the W. & J. V. RR. conveyed to said Trust company (to secure $1,200,000 in mortgage bonds), all of the main line (33 miles) and tramway lines (11-1/2 miles) from Bingham to Alta via Sandy; further alleges the property was foreclosed for default and came into possession of the R.G.W. through collusion and fraud. Plaintiff asks that sale to D.& R.G.W. Rwy. Co. and all subsequent actions be set aside! Paper comments that "The line from Sandy to Wasatch and Alta, however, is worthless, and has been abandoned by the company for a long time, as far as operation of it as a railroad is concerned." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, January 8, 1901)
May 22, 1901
A foreclosure suit Raphael vs. the W.& J.V., RGW, et al., wanting foreclosure on the W.&J,V. second mortgage bonds, on the lines to Alta and Bingham; wants RGW purchase of W&JV set aside and a receiver appointed under the W&JV mortgage! (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, May 22, 1901)
August 1902
An article about Alta mentioned railroad service to Little Cottonwood Canyon. (Salt Lake Mining Review, Volume 4, number 9, August 15, 1902, pp.15-18)
November 1903
C. D. Rooklidge, of Salt Lake City, obtained a lease on the RGW tramway between Alta and Sandy. He was to reconstruct and equip the line for electric operation, at a cost of $100,000.00. (Salt Lake Mining Review, Volume 5, number 15, November 15, 1903, p.23)
October 1904
Article about Alta, with photograph of "horse tramway" and brief mention of railroad service to Alta. (Salt Lake Mining Review, Volume 6, number 14, October 30, 1904, pp.16,17)
May 1906
Article about Alta, with photograph taken on "old Alta tramway". (Salt Lake Mining Review, Volume 8, number 4, May 30, 1906, pp.17-21)
August 1907
Article about Alta, past, present and future, with photographs. (Salt Lake Mining Review, Volume 9, number 10, August 30, 1907, p.19)
January 1913
News item about D&RG planning to rebuild the Alta Branch. (Salt Lake Mining Review, Volume 14, number 19, January 15, 1913, p.35, "Construction Notes")
Little Cottonwood Transportation Company (narrow gauge)
Salt Lake & Alta Railroad (standard gauge)
(1913 to 1917, Sandy to Wasatch (standard gauge) operated as Salt Lake & Alta Railroad)
(1916-1925, Wasatch to Alta (narrow gauge) operated as Little Cottonwood Transporation Company)
Abandonment
September 6, 1933
D&RGW received ICC approval to abandon 6.8 miles of the Little Cottonwood
Branch between Sand Pit and Wasatch. The line was built as narrow gauge in
1873 by the Wasatch & Jordan Valley Railroad. Operation was discontinued
in 1899 and the line was relaid as standard gauge in 1913. It saw daily service
from 1913 to 1917, while leased to the Salt Lake & Alta Railroad. Between
1917 and 1923 there was only irregular service, about two or three times per
week. There was only occasional use after 1923, with two trips made in 1932
and none in 1933. No shipments of ore were made after June 1930. There was
no service on the branch after June 1932. Car loadings of granite building
stone furnished "considerable traffic, but all of that traffic now moves by
truck". (193 ICC 461)
(LeMassena, p. 149, says that the line between Sand Pit and Alta was removed in 1934.)
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