Columbia Steel

This page was last updated on July 13, 2007.

Columbia Steel Corporation, Ironton, Utah

The iron plant at Ironton was built in 1922-1923 and was shutdown in 1962. Work to dismantle the mill began in August 1969, and was completed by October 1971. It consisted of 60 major structures, including several multi-storied power and storage buildings, two blast furnaces, and a coke tower. USS donatted the 338-acre site to Brigham Young University after its closure in 1962. In 1978 Provo City purchased 58 acres and in 1991 took an option on another 149 acres. The 149 acres was sold to Provo in 1999. Environmental cleanup of the site began in 1998 and was completed during 2000.

Like its sister company Carbon County Railway, Columbia Steel Corporation was headed by L. F. Rains, at least until Columbia Steel was sold to United States Steel in 1930.

Steam Locomotives

Road Number	Wheel Arrangement	Builder	Builder Number	Builder Date	Date To Columbia Steel	Date Retired	Notes
1?	0-8-0	Pittsburgh	42075	1907	30 Jul 1942		1
2?	0-8-0	Pittsburgh	42076	1907	30 Jul 1942		2
3?	0-8-0	Baldwin	26570	Oct 1905	1 Aug 1942		3
4?	0-8-0	Baldwin	26571	Oct 1905	1 Aug 1942		4
100?	4-6-0	Rhode Island	2491	Jan 1891	Jun 1923		5
200	0-6-0	Baldwin	57585	Dec 1923	(new)		6
300	0-6-0	Baldwin	58379	May 1925	(new)		7
301?	0-6-0	Baldwin	37377	Dec 1911	(?)		8
302?	0-6-0	Baldwin	37671	Apr 1912	(?)		9

Steam General Notes:

a.	Above roster information furnished in April 1988 by P. Allen Copeland, later published in Locomotives Notes II, Number 113, page 1.
b.	A visit by a group of California railfans in 1939 (see Colorado Rail Annual #18), along with recollections of retired Ironton workers, suggests that only two steam locomotives were operated at Ironton: CSC 200 and 300. All other references to addional locomotives are likely locomotives that were shipped to Ironton to be scrapped. (information from Steve Seguine, via email on March 4, 2003)
c.	Number 300 changed from May 1923 build date to May 1925. (correction from Jay Reed via May 3, 2007 email)
d.	Ownership changed from Columbia Steel Co., to Geneva Steel Co., in June 1946; to United States Steel Co., in December 1951; to United States Steel Corp. in January 1953. (information from Jeff Terry, via email on February 26, 2003)
e.	Steam (numbers 200 and 300) was used at Ironton throughout the mid 1950s; replaced by center-cab GE diesel locomotives borrowed from Geneva Works by 1960-1961. (information from Steve Seguine, via email on February 26, 2003)

Steam Notes:

1.	CSC 1 was built as EJ&E 2-8-0 95, rebuilt to EJ&E 0-8-0 528 in March 1929, retired by EJ&E in January 1942; sold to Columbia Steel Corp. in July 1942. (21x28 cylinders)
2.	CSC 2 was built as EJ&E 2-8-0 96, rebuilt to EJ&E 0-8-0 529 in March 1929, retired by EJ&E in January 1942; sold to Columbia Steel Corp. in July 1942. (21x28 cylinders)
3.	CSC 3 was built as Chicago, Lake Shore & Eastern 100; to EJ&E 300; sold to Columbia Steel Corp., in August 1942. (22x28 cylinders)
4.	CSC 4 was built as Chicago, Lake Shore & Eastern 101; to EJ&E 301; sold to Columbia Steel Corp., in August 1942. (22x28 cylinders)
5.	CSC 100 was ex OSL 1513, ex OSL 616, nee OSL 1444; purchased to operate on Carbon County Railway. (19-1/2x24 cylinders, 62 inch drivers)
6.	CSC 200 (21x26 cylinders, 51 inch drivers)
7.	CSC 300 was donated to Geneva Recreation Association (GRA) before 1963; displayed at GRA Park, Provo, Utah; park closed and sold, locomotive donated in January 2003 to Heber Valley Historic Railroad; moved to Heber City in July 2003; locomotive was missing one of its main drive rods, which was to be fabrcated as part of its restoration. (21x26 cylinders 51 inch drivers) (see also photo and article at SteamLocomotive.info)
8.	CSC 301 was ex Utah Copper 301 ?? (21x26 cylinders, 51 inch drivers)
9.	CSC 305 was ex Utah Copper 305 ?? (21x26 cylinders, 51 inch drivers)

Diesel Locomotives

Road Number	Builder Model	Builder Date	Builder Number	Notes
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