Little Cottonwood Transportation Company
Alta Scenic Railway
This page was last updated on April 28, 2007.
Additional Sources:
- George Pitchard's research — Locomotive information on Little Cottonwood Transportaion Co. and Alta Scenic Ry., including very detailed mechanical information. (Removed at author's request) [#]
- Railroads of Little Cottonwood Canyon — Information about the railroads that served the quarries, smelters, and mines of Little Cottonwood Canyon.
Chronology History
- Construction appears to have begun in 1915, but the majority was done in 1916 and 1917.
- The Salt Lake Mining Review of September 30, 1916 reports that Shay locomotives for the L. C. T. 'are said to be en route'; and that the grading is all done.
- An item in the Salt Lake Mining Review issue of October 30, 1916 indicates that the Shay is on hand, and an item in November 15, 1916 refers to "…the Shay engine."
- The Salt Lake Mining Review of April 30, 1917 reported that the railroad opened on April 21, 1917, from Wasatch to Tanner's, and that the L.C.T. Co. connects at Wasatch with the Salt Lake & Alta Railroad. It also reports that the grade on the line reaches a maximum of 10.8%.
- This railroad, as the Alta Scenic (certainly, and as the L.C.T. as well), operated a variety of vehicles capable of carrying a significant number of passengers, built out of automobile or truck frames, motors and such, i.e., track autos, rail buses, or whatever you want to call them. These vehicles seem to be all that is used on the line after the end of the last known steam operations in 1921, until all operations ended, apparently in 1924 or 1925. The date of change from Little Cottonwood Transportation to Alta Scenic Railway appears to be shortly after the end of steam operations, or about 1921-1922.
- Gauge: 3 feet
An earlier company called Alta & Jordan Valley Railroad was incorporated on October 24, 1910 to build 16 miles of railway between Sandy and Alta. No further activity is known to have taken place. (Utah Corporation Index 8633)
In 1915, another company was organized on September 24, 1915 to build from Wasatch to Alta. Called the Alta-Cottonwood Transportation Co., the company's stated purpose was to construct a railroad from Wasatch, Utah, on the Salt Lake & Alta Railroad in Little Cottonwood Canyon, to a station called Alta Junction, a distance of about nine miles. This company was organized by Walter Yorston, who would later be the construction engineer for the Little Cottonwood company organized less than a year later. (Utah Corporation Index 11388)
News item about the "Alta-Cottonwood Railroad" being incorporated. (Salt Lake Mining Review, Volume 17, number 11(2nd), September 30, 1915, p.25)
"Railroad To Alta", article about proposed railroad to Alta. Walter K. Yorston, general contractor, issued a prospectus for "Cottonwood Transportation Company". To build a 24-inch gauge railroad between Wasatch and Alta for the purpose of hauling ore. The company had secured a lease and a bond to the right of way of the former horse tramway. The average grade to Alta was 7-1/2 percent. Estimated cost of the new line was $55,00.00. (Salt Lake Mining Review, Volume 17, number 11, September 15, 1915, p.28)
News item about Alta-Cottonwood Transportation stockholders making an inspection of the proposed route. (Salt Lake Mining Review, Volume 17, number 13, October 30, 1915, p.18, "In The Alta-Cottonwoods")
News item about Walter K. Yorston having a force of twenty men working on the grade for the new railroad between Alta and Wasatch in Little Cottonwood Canyon, with "steel to be laid within 10 days." (Salt Lake Mining Review, Volume 18, number 4, May 30, 1916, p.39, "Dips, Spurs and Angles")
News item about Walter K. Yorston stating that twenty-seven men were working on the grade of the proposed railroad into the Alta camp. Shipping contracts have been signed with many of the mining companies. (Salt Lake Mining Review, Volume 18, number 7, July 15, 1916, p.23, "In The Alta-Cottonwoods")
August 8, 1916:
Little Cottonwood Transportation Co., was incorporated
in Maine on August 8, 1916; and in Utah on November 3, 1916. (Utah Corporation
Index 12256)
October 1916:
Construction of the first mile completed. The Shay is on hand and as soon as
the track is properly ballasted, the Shay will be used to complete construction.
To be completed to Tanners Flat "within a few weeks". At Tanners
Flat, a large tonnage of ore will be delivered via the aerial tramway of
Michigan-Utah Mining Co. (Salt Lake Mining Review, October 30, 1916, page
31)
PROGRESS OF ALTA RAILROAD -- Walter K. Yorston, engineer in charge of the construction of the new railroad to the Alta district of Utah, reported last week that the first mile of construction work was completed, and that sufficient headway in securing materials has been made to guarantee the completion of the line before winter sets in. A heavy rail is being laid, and as soon as ballasting is completed a Shay engine will be used for delivering materials to the end of the line. This will mean better headway, and it is practically assured that the road will be finished and operating as far as Tanner's Flat within a few weeks. Here a big tonnage of ore will be secured, which is delivered to that point by the Michigan-Utah aerial tramway.
November 1916:
A motor car was being used in the construction of the Little Cottonwood Transportation
Co. (Salt Lake Mining Review, November 15, 1916, page 24)
MOTOR ON ALTA RAILROAD -- Construction work on the new narrow-gauge railroad to the Alta district of Utah has been greatly facilitated by the recent acquisition of a small motor mounted on wheels, which is now delivering material in record time. It is now possible to deliver ties and rails to the end of the line as needed, and unless the present storms interfere too much with construction work it should be finished to Tanner's Flat by the middle of the month. This will relieve the present ore congestion at Alta, as freight from there can be delivered at Tanners by the Michigan-Utah aerial tram. The motor negotiates the grade without difficulty, and Walter K. Yorston, under whose supervision the line is being constructed, states that when the Shay engine is put to work after reaching Tanners, there is no doubt that it will handle the outgoing and incoming freight with all the speed required by the mine operators.
November 3, 1916:
Little Cottonwood Transportation Co. was incorporated in Utah. (corporate information here)
1917:
D&RG leased its line between Wasatch and Alta to Little Cottonwood Transportation
Company. By this time, the still narrow gauge (three-feet) line had been long
unused and was mostly disintegrated. Little Cottonwood Transportation agreed
to reconstruct the line. (LeMassena, p. 131)
It was completed to a point one mile from Tanner Flat during early January 1917. (Salt Lake Mining Review, Volume 18, Number 19, January 15, 1917, page 14)
Built by Pearson Engineering Co. to get the mined ore to the smelters. (Salt Lake Mining Review, Volume 19, Number 6, June 30, 1917, page 41) (Ward E. Pearson was also the line's president, and Walter Yorston was Pearson's engineer.)
The line was put into operation between Wasatch and Tanners on April 21, 1917. The line was being operated with a five ton gasoline engine, with the Shays to be used upon their arrival at Alta. Construction began in the spring of 1916. The line used 10.8 percent grades. (Salt Lake Mining Review, Volume 19, Number 2, April 30, 1917, page 42)
Little Cottonwood Transportation beginning to haul ore from Tanners on May 16, 1917, from the tramway of the Michigan-Utah mine. (Salt Lake Mining Review, Volume 19, number 4, May 30, 1917, page 43)
After a winter season shut down, Little Cottonwood Transportation Co., restarted its operations in mid May 1918. (Salt Lake Mining Review, Volume 20, Number 4, May 30, 1918, page 38)
The railroad was building a 300 foot spur from Alta to the ore loading bins of the Columbus-Rexall mine. Shay locomotives (note plural) were being used on the line. (Salt Lake Mining Review, Volume 20, Number 10, August 30, 1918, page 48)
Operations shut down for winter during December 1918. Repairs on the engines and cars was to be done during the winter months. (Salt Lake Mining Review, Volume 20, Number 18, December 30, 1918, page 23)
During 1919 the line operated an eight mile railway between Wasatch and Alta, with an average grade of 7 percent and the greatest grade being 11 percent. Its principle shippers were: South Hecla Mining Co.; Columbus Rexall Consolidated Mines Co.; Sells Mining Co.; Michigan Utah Consolidated Mines Co.; and Alta Consolidated Mining Company. During 1919 a total of 7,298 tons were shipped in 1919: South Hecla shipped 6,537 tons; Columbus Rexall shipped 583 tons; Sells Mining shipped 133 tons; Louise Mining Company shipped 28 tons; and Wasatch Mines Company shipped 17 tons. (Utah PSC Case 213)
Winter season shut down on December 12, 1919. (Utah PSC Case 240)
September 1920:
The company settled with federal government for the deficit incurred during
the period of federal control during WW I.
- Operated under federal control from April 1, 1918 to February 29, 1920, known as the "federal period"
- Operated between Wasatch and the silver, copper, and lead mines located in Little Cottonwood Canyon
- approximately 8.5 miles connecting at Wasatch with D&RGW, also under federal control
- deficit incurred during the federal period was stated as $39,073.053
- (ICC Finance Docket 166, in 65 ICC 189)
Began operations for the 1921 season on June 20. Stations on the line were shown as: Wasatch; Tanners; Drain Tunnel; Sells Mine; and Alta. (Utah PSC Case 463)
Operations taken over by Alta Scenic Railway in about 1925. (source not recorded)
1925:
Alta Scenic Railway was organized. (corporate information here)
1925:
Little Cottonwood Transportation Co. ceased its lease and operation of the
Wasatch to Alta portion of the Wasatch Branch. Portion of line later operated
by private parties. (LeMassena, p. 145)
Locomotive Roster
| Road Number |
Builder Number |
Builder Date |
Date To LCTC |
Notes and Disposition |
| 1 | 2194 | Jul 1909 | 1916 | 1, 2 |
| 2 | 540 | Dec 1897 | 1917 | 1, 3 |
| 3 | 1672 | Apr 1906 | Jul 1917 | 1, 4 |
| 4 | 1673 | Apr 1906 | Nov 1917 | 1, 5 |
General Notes:
| a. | All four locomotives were 2-Truck Shay locomotives, built by Lima. |
| b. | LCTC 1 was built new for Santa Barbara Tie & Pole Co., at Embudo and Hodges, N.M.; to W. A. Zelnicker Supply Co., (dealer) St. Louis, Mo.; to LCTC 1 in 1916 (8x8 in. cylinders; 26-1/2 in. wheels; 51,000 lbs. empty weight) (drawing in "Chili Line, The Narrow Gauge Trail To Santa Fe" by John A. Gjerre, 1969, page 47, Lima Class 29-2) |
| c. | LCTC 2 was built new for Colorado & Northwestern number 25; to Denver Boulder & Western number 25 in 1909; to Morse Bros.Machine Co., (dealer) Denver, Colo., in 1917; to LCTC 2 in 1917 (12x12 in. cylinders; 32 in. wheels; 72,800 lbs. empty weight) |
| d. | LCTC 3 was built new for Silver City, Pinos Altos & Mogollon number 3 (also known as Commanche Mining & Smelting); sold in 1913 to W. A. Zenicker Supply Co., (dealer) St. Louis, Mo., moved to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive, Birmingham, Ala., for conversion from 24-inch gauge to 36-inch gauge; shipped to Utah on July 3, 1917 (8x8 in. cylinders; 26-1/2 in. wheels; 40,500 lbs. empty weight) (plans and photos as SC,PA&M 3 in Model Railroader magazine, May 1971, pages 56-59; see also Railway & Locomotive Historical Society Bulletin Number 57, 1942) (BR&L information from Thomas Lawson letter to Don Strack, August 30, 1980) |
| e. | LCTC 4 was built new for Silver City, Pinos Altos & Mogollon number 4 (also known as Commanche Mining & Smelting); sold in 1913 to W. A. Zenicker Supply Co., (dealer) St. Louis, Mo.; moved to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive, Birmingham, Ala., for conversion from 24-inch gauge to 36-inch gauge; shipped to Utah on on November 26, 1917 (8x8 in. cylinders; 26-1/2 in. wheels; 40,400 lbs. empty weight) (BR&L information from Thomas Lawson letter to Don Strack, August 30, 1980) |
Notes:
| 1. | According to Koch's Shay book, all four LCTC locomotives passed to Alta Scenic Railway, same numbers. |
| 2. | LCTC 1 was converted from wood fuel to coal fuel in November 1925; not on LCTC or Alta Scenic at the time; sold to Pioche Pacific Transportation Co., No. 3, at Pioche, Nev., and then to Bristol Mines Co. (same location); sold in the 1940s to Robert Caudill; as of 1971 it was on display at either the Last Chance Museum or the Last Frontier Hotel, both in Las Vegas; during the late 1990s, the locomotive was still on display near the Gold Strike Casino (later known as the Hacienda Hotel & Casino) in Boulder City, Nev.; the locomotive was sold to Brad Milne for use on the West Side Narrow Gauge Restoration; moved in November 2003 to Washington state for restoration to become West Side Lumber Co. No. 16 and eventual movement to Tuolumne, Calif., for operation. (see http://www.steamlocomotive.info for a photo at Boulder City, http://www.trainweb.org/tomfassett/ for some nice detail photos in 2002 by Tom Fassett, and http://www.wsrestoration.com for some photos preparing it for the move in late 2003 to Washington state.) |
| 3. | LCTC 2 was sold back to Morse Brothers, in Denver, and reportedly scrapped by them in 1925. (see the note for No. 4, below) |
| 4. | LCTC 3 was sold in April 1928 to Utah Iron Ore Corp. No. 3, in Iron Springs (near Cedar City), Utah; possibly changed from 36 in. gauge; numerous parts sold by Lima during time at Utah Iron Ore, between 1928 and 1934; further disposition unknown. |
| 5. | LCTC 4 further disposition unknown after service as Alta Scenic No. 4; Pitchard states that according to local rumor, one of the engines was wrecked on the hill, and that the remains are in the canyon yet. Perhaps it is the No. 4. (see a letter and photo in Trains magazine, January 1952, page 48, showing a long-abandoned, wrecked Shay in Little Cottonwood Canyon in 1933; the writer/photographer says it was there at least until 1938, also saying that it was No. 2. (I suspect that we will never know what really happened to either No. 2 or No. 4) |
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