Utah & Pleasant Valley Railway

This page was last updated on June 24, 2010.

Additional Sources

Reeder — Clarence Reeder's research about Utah & Pleasant Valley Railway
Corporate Information
Utah & Pleasant Valley Railway Locomotives
Excerpt for Locomotives of the Rio Grande, by Colorado Railroad Museum

Overview

The Utah & Pleasant Valley Railway, incorporated December 11, 1875, does not seem to have done much work until some grading was done in 1877; apparently no track was laid prior to the acquisition of the U&PV company by Charles W. Scofield (who already owned the Bingham Canyon and the Wasatch & Jordan Valley roads) in 1878. He had, in effect, financed what little construction work had been done (prior to his acquisition of the company) by having bought most of the U&PV's issued first mortgage bonds. Scofield obtained stock control in 1878, and appears to have begun laying track about August 29, 1878, about 11 miles being completed by mid-September, at which time 'an engine' was put on the line.

It is believed that all of this former American Fork material (rails, rolling stock, locomotive, etc.) went to Scofield's then-abuilding Utah & Pleasant Valley railroad project; the rail, when taken up from the A.F.RR., was stockpiled for awhile in American Fork town (see Salt Lake Tribune, June 23, 1878), and when tracklaying began (finally) on the U&PV, the Tribune noted August 29, 1878, that "…the rails are being sent down from American Fork,…" Expectedly, little work was done on grading or track-laying during the winter of 1878-79, but by early November of 1879 the main-line, from Springville, about five miles south of Provo, on the Utah Southern Railroad, into the Pleasant Valley coal fields, was completed. In 1880, an extension of the main-line from Springville north to Provo was completed, the first coal train into Provo being on Thursday, October 21, 1880. This was essentially the state of the railroad when officially acquired by the D&RGW Ry on June 14, 1882.

In 1878 Scofield purchased the American Fork Railroad, in its entirety, from its owners, the New York firm of Howland & Aspinwall, for some $50,000 (which transaction became the subject of a suit for non-payment when Scofield failed to pay the last $10,000 or so, plus interest, whereupon Howland & Aspinwall sued for $11,050).

The former American Fork Railroad engine, appears in the "Engines in Utah Service" as U&PV number 2. Why was the American Fork engine numvered as U&PV number 2? One possibility would be that the first number '1' on the U&PV was lighter and smaller than the former A.F.RR. engine. A newspaper item (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, January 7, 1880) indicates that this earlier number 1 may have been as much as nine tons lighter than the Baldwin Mogul number 3, which itself only weighed 20 tons itself, so the first number 1 may have been as light as a mere 11 tons. A very light locomotive, considering the long stretches of 4 percent grades, and a good deal of snow trouble, and would have struggled to haul a commercially-viable tonnage of coal from one end of the line to the other.

Timeline

August 19, 1875:
Fifty-five men went south yesterday morning to start work on the grade of the narrow gauge line up Spanish Fork Canyon. (Salt Lake Herald, August 19, 1875)

March 20, 1877:
"U. & P. V. R. Co." "At a recent meeting of the stockholders of the Utah and Pleasant Valley railway company, arrangements were made for immediately completing the first twenty mile section of grade from Springville." (Salt Lake Herald, March 20, 1877)

March 21, 1877:
"Utah and Pleasant Valley Railroad. -- A meeting of the stockholders of the company was held recently in Salt Lake City, and arrangements were made to begin the first twenty miles of grading for the rails from Springville to Pleasant Valley, and it is proposed to complete that much as soon as practicable." (The Utah County Enquirer, Provo, March 21, 1877)

May 9, 1877:
Crandall Brothers have a grading contract on the U&PV line and are at work; they were apparently using some sort of small tramway, with a steam locomotive, to move dirt around, as E. Crandall, being unfamiliar with the thing, managed to wreck it on the 5th. (The Utah County Enquirer, Provo, May 9, 1877)

May 23, 1877:
"Utah and Pleasant Valley Railroad Company. -- This company is fully organized with M. Packard, President; M. P. Crandall, Superintendent; and George A. Poage, Secretary. The grade is now completed a distance of seven miles and a half, and the remainder of the road to take it to Springville is contracted for, and men busily working at it." (The Utah County Enquirer, Provo, May 23, 1877)

May 30, 1877:
Utah & Pleasant Valley -- M. P. Crandall, superintendent, and S. F. Pritchard, one of the owners, called on the editor on the 28th Monday; say that from a point 9-1/2 miles from Springville, to the other side of the Warm Springs, is already graded, and the space in between, to Springville, is being done now. Packard's first name is Mylan (or Milan). (The Utah County Enquirer, Provo, May 30, 1877)

July 11, 1877:
Twelve miles of grading now done on the U. & P.V. (The Utah County Enquirer, Provo, July 11, 1877)

August 29, 1878:
"Tracklaying on the Utah & Pleasant Valley Railroad is to be commenced today at Springville. Superintendent Goss, who is just up from there, says the rails are being sent down from American Fork, and that the construction train will start out with horses, doing the transporting in that manner until the track is laid a distance of three or four miles, after which an engine will be put on the road to complete the work thirty miles the present season. The ties are being rapidly delivered, and work on the new road is being pushed generally." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, August 29, 1878)

September 18, 1878:
"The citizens of Springville had a grand time yesterday riding on the new narrow gauge rail." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, September 18, 1878)

November 9, 1878:
"The first car load of new rails for the Utah and Pleasant Valley Railroad has arrived and is the first of a consignment sufficient to finish the road a distance of about thirty miles." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, November 9, 1878)

December 4, 1878:
"The Provo Enquirer says that nine car loads of iron for the Pleasant Valley Railroad passed over the Utah Southern one day last week." (Ogden Junction, December 4, 1878)

December 4, 1878:
Nine cars of iron for the Utah & Pleasant Valley went south over the Utah Southern one day last week. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, December 4, 1878)

March 15, 1879:
"We are informed that the work on the Pleasant Valley railroad has commenced again; only a few hands are employed at present. More men will be put on when the weather gets warmer and the frost is out of the ground in the canyon." (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, March 15, 1879)

March 26, 1879:
"Work on the narrow gauge in Spanish Fork Canyon is being vigorously prosecuted." (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, March 26, 1879)

April 2, 1879:
"Over seventeen miles of the Utah & Pleasant Valley railway are now completed and the track-laying progresses at the rate of half a mile a day." (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, April 2, 1879)

April 4, 1879:
"The Provo Times says that over seventeen miles of the Utah and Pleasant Valley Railway are now completed and the track-laying progresses at the rate of half a mile a day." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, April 4, 1879)

May 1, 1879:
"The Utah & Pleasant Valley Railroad has received several car loads of iron and will immediately commence laying track from the point where they left off last fall, about eight miles from Springville. The iron now on hand will build about twenty miles, and the company design completing the road to the coal beds of San Pete by September." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, May 1, 1879)

May 3, 1879:
"The Narrow Gauge. -- Thirty-five miles of grading and twenty miles of track-laying are now done on the route of the Utah & Pleasant Valley narrow-gauge railroad. The ties are bedded some thirty miles on the grading, and it is anticipated that the whole of the track - about 52 miles in length - will be laid by the 1st of July next. Then we shall have an abundance of good and cheap coal." "Five car loads of rails were received at Springville, on Thursday, for the Utah & Pleasant Valley narrow-gauge railroad." (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, May 3, 1879)

June 1, 1879:
"The Pleasant Valley Railroad received twelve cars the other day." (Salt Lake Herald, June 1, 1879)

June 7, 1879:
"Fifteen car loads of rails went over the Utah Southern on Wednesday for the Pleasant Valley railroad." (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, June 7, 1879)

June 10, 1879:
"The Provo & Springville road is completed a distance of thirty miles, and will reach the San Pete coal fields this fall." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, June 10, 1879)

June 13, 1879:
"The Enquirer says, about thirty miles of the Pleasant Valley railroad is completed; it will reach the coal fields by fall." (Ogden Junction, June 13, 1879)

July 10, 1879:
"The Pleasant Valley R.R. is within about fifteen miles of the coalfields." (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, July 10, 1879)

July 29, 1879:
"The narrow gauge road is completed forty miles from Springville, and will strike the coal fields about the middle of September." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, July 29, 1879)

August 27, 1879:
Nephi Packard, of Springville, called yesterday, and says that the narrow gauge is within eight miles of the Pleasant Valley coal beds; they are not now laying track, because have no spikes.--Herald, 26th. (Ogden Junction, August 27, 1879)

October 8, 1879:
"Pleasant Valley Railroad. -- Parties just in from Pleasant Valley report that the railroad is completed within one mile of the coal beds, but will proceed no farther this season." (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, October 8, 1879)

October 9, 1879:
"The Pleasant Valley road is expected to reach its coal field terminus tomorrow." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, October 9, 1879)

October 18, 1879:
"The first installment of rails for the extension of the Utah and Pleasant Valley railroad was deposited at Provo yesterday. Soon the line will be laid between this city and Springville." (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, October 18, 1879)

October 26, 1879:
"The Pleasant Valley road, which has been pushing ahead in a quiet manner all summer, is now completed to the great coal fields." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, October 26, 1879)

October 30, 1879:
In an article on "Railroad Projects," the U.& P.V. is mentioned as being "…in operation between Pleasant Valley and Springville, where connection is made with the Southern. It is contemplated building the road to Provo, which point is expected to be reached this winter. During this season some forty miles of rail have been laid, making the line fifty-six miles long." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, October 30, 1879)

November 5, 1879:
President Scofield of U&PV has petitioned Provo City Council .for rights-of-way into Provo, to include use of parts of streets. (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, November 5, 1879)

November 7, 1879:
"Eight flat cars for the U. & P. V. R. R. passed through the city yesterday for Springville." (Salt Lake Herald, November 7, 1879)

November 12, 1879:
"Pleasant Valley Railroad", item is mostly puffery; "Up to the present, the road has been unable to supply the demand for coal. The company is now going to run an extra train of twenty new cars, so that within a very short time coal will be delivered in any required amount." (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, November 12, 1879)

November 13, 1879:
"The Pleasant Valley Railroad," from the Provo Times of the 12th-mostly a puff piece--the line is to be extended to Provo 'at once;' "Up to the present, the road has been unable to supply the demand for coal. The company is now going to run an extra train of twenty cars, so that within a very short time coal will be delivered in any required amount." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, November 13, 1879)

November 19, 1879:
Spanish Fork town, 2-1/2 miles from the U&PV, wants a branch built. (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, November 19, 1879)

November 19, 1879:
"The Utah and Pleasant Valley Railroad have received more flat cars. This company is continually receiving new cars…" (Salt Lake Herald, November 19, 1879)

November 26, 1879:
"The grading of the roadbed of the U. & P. V. R. R. is being pushed along as rapidly as the weather will permit." Steel rails are en route from the East. (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, November 26, 1879)

December 6, 1879:
"The grade of the U. & P. V. R. R. is nearly half constructed between Provo and Springville. The work will be prosecuted as rapidly as the weather will permit." (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, December 6, 1879)

December 10, 1879:
"Snowed In. -- We received information Monday that the coal train on the Utah & Pleasant Valley Railway was snow-bound in Spanish Fork Canyon. We are informed, however, that such will not happen again, as the company intends putting on snow plows, and the road is to be kept open all winter." (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, December 10, 1879)

December 10, 1879:
"The Pleasant Valley-road is experiencing some trouble by reason of the snow piling up on the track." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, December 10, 1879)

December 13, 1879:
"Snow Bound. -- Both coal trains, on the U.& P.V. Railway, were snowbound in Spanish Fork Canyon, on Thursday. Men were sent from Springville to clear the track." (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, December 13, 1879)

December 17, 1879:
"To Clear The Way. -- The Utah and Pleasant Valley Railway company started two engines with snow plows attached, up Spanish Fork Canyon on Monday. It will probably take a couple of days to clear the track from snow, after which coal will be supplied equal to the demand." (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, December 17, 1879)

January 7, 1880:
"Our Railroads," The Utah & Pleasant Valley is in operation, Springville to Pleasant Valley, some 66 miles, it says; equipment not mentioned. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, January 7, 1880)

January 7, 1880:
Article on "The Coal Outlook"; the railroad still stuck in the snow; the U&PV is 'connected', as the paper puts it, with the W&JV and BC&CF lines, and supplies all of their coal, somewhat to the irritation of the locals. The only good item in this puffy piece is that "Supt. Goss intends having a new engine shortly, weighing nine tons more than either of those now on the road, and it is thought that with it and the snow plows the road can be kept open." (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, January 7, 1880)

January 10, 1880:
"The Utah and Pleasant Valley coal trains have at last got through the blockade, and on Wednesday night two car loads were shipped here. But two car loads wouldn't fill a gnat's eye, figuratively speaking." (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, January 10, 1880)

January 13, 1880:
"The Pleasant Valley Railroad is expecting two new locomotives from the Baldwin works, Philadelphia." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, January 13, 1880)

January 16, 1880:
"The Pleasant Valley road is free from obstruction, but is behind with its coal orders. The new engines will help it out. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, January 16, 1880)

January 21, 1880:
"Fifteen carloads of coal arrived from Pleasant Valley, yesterday morning, at Springville. The road is now open and will continue so long as the good weather lasts." (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, January 21, 1880)

March 10, 1880:
"Snowed in Again" U&PV coal trains have not made it through for nearly two weeks now. (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, March 10, 1880)

March 20, 1880:
The U&PV is still having much trouble with ice and snow; some days the train is moved but 1/2 mile, on account of ice having to be picked off the rails. (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, March 20, 1880)

March 24, 1880:
A coal train of 11 carloads reached Springville on Monday, 22nd. (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, March 24, 1880)

September 15, 1880:
"J. Fewson Smith, Esq., came to Provo on Saturday to finish the surveying of the extension of the U. and P. V. railway, from Springville to this city. He thinks that trains will be running into Provo from the coal mines inside of three weeks." (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, September 15, 1880)

October 20, 1880:
"Completion." "The Utah and Pleasant Valley railroad is expected to be completed to this city by tomorrow. The work of tracklaying has been vigorously prosecuted between Springville and Provo for two or three weeks, and the long expected termination of the road is now almost an established fact. It is expected that all mail matter for Springville will hereafter be carried by the U. and P. V. Railway Co., and that freight coming over the Utah Southern for that place will likewise be transferred at Provo." "The track at Springville, where it runs westward to the Utah Southern depot, from the turning point to Provo, has been taken up and utilized in the extension." (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, October 20, 1880)

October 23, 1880:
"Completed. -- The Utah and Pleasant Valley railway is now completed to Provo, the locomotive having run into the depot for the first time on Thursday night with several carloads of coal. Shipments have already begun, four carloads of coal having yesterday been transferred over the Utah Southern to Juab and two carloads to Salt Lake." (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, October 23, 1880)

October 24, 1880:
"The narrow gauge railroad is now completed, and coal is being delivered to Provo." This, of course, is the U. & P. V. Ry. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, October 24, 1880)

November 20, 1880:
The newspaper editor thinks U&PV ought to be bringing in more coal than they do. (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, November 20, 1880)

November 27, 1880:
Received five carloads of coal in Provo on Thursday night; by 9:00am Friday not a pound was left! U&PV says they will bring three cars a day. (The Territorial Enquirer, Provo, November 27, 1880)

December 10, 1880:
The Utah & Pleasant Valley are putting up an office and an enginehouse in Provo; and the road is well supplied with snow plows, and hopes to be able to keep the road open this winter. (Salt Lake Herald, December 10, 1880)

(Utah & Pleasant Valley was apparently reorganized and refinanced in February 1881. This reorganized company may have been when Scofield began to operate his three companies as a single enterprise, and could be a reflection of Jay Gould's influence as a new source of financial backing; Palmer may be equally involved by this time since Gould was also in control of D&RG.)

(click here for more information about Utah & Pleasant Valley after it was sold to William Palmer and his Denver & Rio Grande Western)

***