Utah & Northern Railway (1878-1889)
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Overview
Utah & Northern Railway was organized in April 1878 by Union Pacific interests to own and operate the bankrupt Utah Northern Railroad. The route was three-feet narrow gauge from Ogden, Utah, north to Garrison, Montana, a total of 466 miles. From Pocatello north into Montana, the route was changed to standard gauge on July 24, 1887. The narrow gauge line north from Ogden to McGammon, Idaho, was replaced in 1890 by a newly constructed standard gauge line.
(Read more about the Utah Northern Railroad)
In 1889, Utah & Northern became part of Oregon Short Line & Utah Northern Railway, which was organized in July 1889 as a consolidation of the original 1881 Oregon Short Line Railway and six other UP-controlled railroads operating in Utah and Idaho.
(Read more about the Oregon Short Line & Utah Northern Railway)
Timeline
(Based on newspaper research completed by George Pitchard; more has been added as additional research has been completed.)
April 3, 1878
"The U. N. Sale -- the sale of the Utah Northern RR took place at Salt Lake yesterday; it was bought by Mr. S. H. H. Clark, for $100,000. He passed over the road on a special train today." (Ogden Junction, April 4, 1878, "yesterday")
Clark, who was the General Superintendent of the Union Pacific, deeded the old Utah Northern to the new Utah & Northern on May 3, 1878. (OSL corporate history).
April 5, 1878
"The Utah Northern." "The Utah Northern was purchased by Mr. S.H.H. Clark, of the Union Pacific, for $100,000, and yesterday he went to Logan to be installed in his new estate. He made the purchase for Jay Gould and his associates,..." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, April 5, 1878)
April 30, 1878
"An engine from the Summit County line has been put on the road, in addition to the five heretofore in use, and still another has been ordered." Also, 20 new box cars have recently been added, and another 20 to be added soon. (Deseret Evening News, April 30, 1878)
May 16, 1878
"Northern shipments -- Mr. Funge made his initial shipment to Franklin yesterday, consisting of two cars of grain. The road is now running to its utmost capacity, and would have been very short of rolling stock were it not for the conversion of many flat cars into Doddridge refrigerator cars, the invention of Mr. Doddridge, the U. P. agent at this point. They make a good car, Mr. Funge choosing them to carry his grain in preference to their regular box cars, as they are much more convenient to load and unload." (Ogden Junction, May 16, 1878)
May 21, 1878
The U & N is building a ticket office and waiting room in Ogden, nearly opposite the U.C.RR. depot, and it is nearly completed. (Ogden Junction, May 21, 1878)
June 15, 1878
The U&N end of track is now at Marsh Valley. (Ogden Junction, June 15, 1878)
June 19, 1878
U&N track is now 45 miles beyond Franklin, near the entrance to Portneuf Canyon. Iron is being forwarded every day. (Ogden Junction, June 19, 1878)
June 20, 1878
The Utah & Northern track is now to a point 45 miles north of Franklin, and somewhere near the entrance to Portneuf Canyon. (Salt Lake Herald, June 20, 1878)
June 22, 1878
U&N trains now run to Oneida, which name is changed from Watson today. There are about 70,000 ties on hand at present. (Ogden Junction, June 22, 1878)
June 26, 1878
New U&N timetable, on and after June 22, 1878, to Oneida; Train 1 is northbound and train 2 is southbound. (Ogden Junction, June 26, 1878)
July 7, 1878
The Utah & Northern depot at Ogden to be moved from its present location, a short distance to the south nearer to the UP & CP depot. (Salt Lake Herald, July 7, 1878)
July 9, 1879
Item says that there are 16 locomotives on the road, 15 of which were running on Monday the 7th; also, "Three more of the elegant parlor coaches will soon arrive,..." (Deseret Evening News, July 9, 1879)
July 14, 1878
New U&N timetable, again. (Ogden Junction, July 14, 1878)
August 10, 1878
"The Omaha Republican, of the 6th, says: 'A narrow gauge cattle car, number 101, stands ready for shipment at the Union Pacific shops, for the Utah Northern Railroad. The company is preparing a number of box and flat cars for the same road."' (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, August 10, 1878)
August 15, 1878
Ogden -- "Utah & Northern Improvements." "The Utah and Northern depot is about to be changed from its present quarters to a place near the Union depot, the U. P. track being all the space that will intervene between them. The road will be changed from its present route about a block south of the iron works, from which point it will run directly to the location of the new depot, instead of following the curved line at present in use. It will cross the Utah Central track immediately east of that company's station, and pass in the rear of the Keeney House and adjacent buildings to the new quarters shortly to be prepared. This will necessitate crossing the "Y" at the back of Keisel's establishment, and the grade of that switch is now being lowered and will be reduced about a foot to admit of the crossing." "It is understood that the new buildings for the Northern will be more commodious and convenient than those at present used, and will bring the business nearer to the center where it belongs." (Ogden Junction, August 15, 1878)
August 25, 1878
U&N track is seven miles north of Oneida. (Ogden Junction, August 25, 1878)
September 10, 1878
As of yesterday, the U&N track is 15 miles beyond Oneida, and laying 3/4 of a mile per day. (Ogden Junction, September 10, 1878)
September 12, 1878
Utah & Northern track is laid some 15 miles beyond Oneida, and is going down at the rate of 3/4ths mile per day. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, September 12, 1878)
September 16, 1878
"The Utah and Northern." "The new depot track for the Utah and Northern is now completed with the exception of same little work on the switches,..." (Ogden Junction, September 16, 1878)
September 18, 1878
"Progress of the Utah & Northern," from a letter dated at Oneida, 14th of September 1878 - the track is 17 miles beyond Oneida; "Three engines from Baldwin's Locomotive works at Philadelphia are expected to arrive in ten days, after which the company will put down ten miles a week. Grading is done beyond Pocatello." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, September 18, 1878)
September 20, 1878
Utah & Northern trains began using new depot in Ogden. (Salt Lake Herald, September 21, 1878)
September 21, 1878
Tracks are laid to the new Utah & Northern depot in Ogden, which was used for the first time yesterday. The freight houses are now being built. (Salt Lake Herald, September 21, 1878)
December 12, 1878
"The Depot" at Ogden; lengthy, descriptive item. (Ogden Junction, December 12, 1878)
March 15, 1879
The Utah & Northern track is 11 miles beyond Blackfoot. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, March 15, 1879)
March 27, 1879
U&N track is 15 miles beyond Blackfoot. (Ogden Junction, March 27, 1879)
April 8, 1879
The iron bridge to be used by the Utah & Northern across the Snake River at the present end-of-track arrived in Ogden yesterday. Three new locomotives, for the Utah & Northern, were received at Ogden yesterday. (Salt Lake Herald, April 8, 1879)
April 11, 1879
"The Utah and Northern Railroad some months ago contracted for twelve engines, two of which arrived last fall and three this week, leaving seven yet to come. There are now eleven engines on the road." (Salt Lake Herald, April 11, 1879)
April 15, 1879
The Utah & Northern has been completed to Eagle Rock, and regular trains to that place are to start today. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, April 15, 1879)
April 20, 1879
Utah & Northern bridge across the Snake river at Eagle Rock is completed, and the construction trains now pass over it. Paper says that Eagle Rock is 199 miles from Ogden. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, April 20, 1879)
April 26, 1879
Oneida has been eclipsed, as everyone is packing up and going to Eagle Rock, the new U&N terminus. (Ogden Junction, April 26, 1879)
May 11, 1879
"The bridge at Eagle Rock was tested on Friday by three heavily laden locomotives. It stood the test,..." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, May 11, 1879)
June 3, 1879
"A Direct Denial and a Cutting Criticism." "Logan, Utah, May 31, 1879." "Editor, Ogden Junction:" "Dear Sir:--My attention has been called to an article in yesterday's issue of a paper supposed to be published in your city or some of its suburbs, by one Freeman. The article is entitled 'Mormon Engineers,' and states that three of the new locomotives on the U. & N. R. R. have been burned out; that they have to go into the shops that new crown sheets may be put in, and that the cost of repairing them is $2,500. To any person who knows the paper and its publisher, the statement requires no denial; but in case any one might suppose there was any shadow of truth in it, will you allow me to say that there never has been a locomotive burned on this road; that we have never had to put in a new crown-sheet; that all our new locomotives are in good order, and have been so ever since they were set on this road; and that our engineers, as a class and without exception, will bear favorable comparison with those of any road in the West. Respectfully, Robert Croft, Master Mechanic, U. & N. R. R." (Ogden Junction, June 3, 1879)
June 13, 1879
"Increasing Work." "The Utah & Northern Railway are putting up a large addition to their shops at Logan to accommodate a lot of new machinery that is coming on for them and is expected in a short time. This is necessary on account of the constantly increasing work that has to be done for the road. They have now 16 locomotives and over 300 cars, which, all being kept in repair at Logan, furnishes a great deal of work. A large blacksmith shop was erected last fall, and the 25-horsepower engine which was then put in, will furnish sufficient power to run the new machinery, which will include lathes, a hydraulic wheel press, capable of putting on locomotive driving wheels, a wheel borer, and a power bolt and nut-tapping machine. These with the machinery which they now have, it is expected, will enable them to do all the work for the road for same time to come." "We saw a locomotive which is now being overhauled and thoroughly repaired, inside and outside, which when turned out, will be about as good as new. The shops are in charge of Mr. Robert Croft, who is a thorough mechanic and a very pleasant gentleman." (Ogden Junction, June 13, 1879)
July 9, 1879
Item says that there are 16 locomotives on the U&N road, 15 of which were running on Monday the 7th; also, "Three more of the elegant parlor coaches will soon arrive,..." (Deseret Evening News, July 9, 1879)
July 23, 1879
The new timetable on the Utah & Northern yesterday shows service to Camas Creek, 247 miles north of Ogden. (Ogden Junction, July 23, 1879)
July 23, 1879
Last night's train out of Ogden on the Utah & Northern had one mail car, one baggage car, one passenger coach, and two parlor coaches. (Ogden Junction, July 23, 1879)
September 4, 1879
Utah & Northern now complete to Beaver Canyon, 275 miles from Ogden. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, September 4, 1879)
October 9, 1879
Utah & Northern timetable No. 8, effective September 13, 1879; later, paper has timetable No. 10, effective November 30, 1879. (The Logan Leader, October 9, 1879)
October 11, 1879
"The new mail cars for the Utah & Northern Railroad are on their way from Omaha, and are expected here in a few days." (Salt Lake Herald, October 11, 1879)
October 19, 1879
"Three new postal cars have been placed upon the Utah & Northern." (Salt Lake Herald, October 19, 1879)
October 30, 1879
Has Utah & Northern RR Timetable No. 8, in effect September 13, 1879, showing passenger service to Beaver Canyon. (The Logan Leader, October 30, 1879)
November 27, 1879
"The U.& N.R.R. pay car during the past week has been scattering wealth among its employees, and they in turn have been distributing the lucre among merchants and mechanics until everybody has been made happy. (The Logan Leader, November 27, 1879)
December 4, 1879
"The Logan U. O. Foundry company have built 21 water tanks for the Utah & Northern R.R. during the year 1879." (The Logan Leader, December 4, 1879)
December 4, 1879
"Timetable No. 10 has been issued by the U.& N.R.R. It went into effect on the 30th of November." (The Logan Leader, December 4, 1879)
December 11, 1879
"The U. and N. R.R. Co. have put in a new turn table, and are erecting a commodious round house, under the direction of the master mechanic, Robert Croft, at the depot in this city. A full description will be given in our next issue." (The Logan Leader, December 11, 1879)
December 11, 1879
"A magnificent snow plow has just been completed at the U. & N. R.R. shops, in this city, for use on the road. It is built upon a new and improved plan, is almost unbreakable; and is powerful enough to batter down a stone wall of comparative thickness. The one great point of superiority in its construction is that instead of throwing the snow where it is liable to again clog the track, it casts the obstruction to a considerable distance." (The Logan Leader, December 11, 1879)
December 18, 1879
"U. & N. R.R. Shops" a long and rather uninformative piece; says that the Blacksmith, machine and repair shop is 'about' 30' x 160' with a 'lean-to' on the east side to accommodate an engine or a car in for repairs. (The Logan Leader, December 18, 1879)
December 18, 1879
"The new turn table of the U.& N.R.R. at this place is a model of solidity and neatness; and the round house now in course of construction, though built of wood, will be a credit to the town and to the road. It will be in semi-circular form, and will contain six stalls for engines. All the tracks for the round house communicate with the main tracks. The carpenter work is being done under the direction of Mr. James Quayle; and the whole labor is under the supervision of Robert Croft, Esq., Master Mechanic of the road." (The Logan Leader, December 18, 1879)
January 1, 1880
"A Good Hotel," being the Corinne House, at Terminus, Beaver Canyon. The proprietor is C. L. Bristol, and clerk is James Wells. (The Logan Leader, January 1, 1880)
January 9, 1880
"The U. O. Foundry is casting six large stoves for the new roundhouse and enginehouse along the line of the U. & N. RR. They will weigh 1,000 pounds each." (The Logan Leader, January 9, 1880)
January 16, 1880
Twenty U&N box cars blown over recently at Blackfoot. On the 11th, two fellows walking on the track near Mendon were run over by snowplow, three engines and the caboose. Joseph Lindon Baker died on the spot, and David Rowe was severely injured. Train was moving about 15mph. (The Logan Leader, January 16, 1880)
January 23, 1880
"The U. & N. pay car went north yesterday. All the boys are by this time as happy as mountain oysters." (The Logan Leader, January 23, 1880)
January 23, 1880
During 1879, the U. O. Foundry made 23 water tanks for the railroad. (The Logan Leader, January 23, 1880)
January 30, 1880
"The U. & N. round house at this point is approaching completion." (The Logan Leader, January 30, 1880)
February 1, 1880
The Utah & Northern enginehouse at Logan is nearing completion. (Salt Lake Herald, February 1, 1880)
February 6, 1880
Hampton's Station is now 'Collinston', A. Pratt is agent-operator. (The Logan Leader, February 6, 1880)
February 18, 1880
A letter from 'Ogden', dated 17th, says that the Utah & Northern has 16 locomotives, 10 passenger coaches, seven baggage, mail and express cars, one pay car, six cabooses, 170 box cars, 12 stock cars, 81 flat cars, for a total of 287 cars. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, February 18, 1880)
February 27, 1880
The pay car came through on Wednesday, and all are happy. (The Logan Leader, February 27, 1880)
March 9, 1880
Utah & Northern rails reached the Montana territorial line. ("Utah & Northern, the Narrow Gauge That Opened a Frontier" by Mallory Hope Ferrell, in Colorado Rail Annual No. 15, Golden, Colorado, 1981, page 45)
March 12, 1880
An item in "Territorial Talk" headed "Summit of Rocky Mountains, Idaho, March 9, 1880" -- driving of the first spike in Montana was on the Utah & Northern, on the 9th; Captain E. T. Hulaniski, the agent at Terminus, drove the said first spike. (The Logan Leader, March 12, 1880)
March 19, 1880
Item from Junction, on death of Thomas Bolt, injured in accident on the U & N during the snow blockade (about December 29th), from a piece of cab window glass piercing his brain; he died March 16th at Ogden. (The Logan Leader, March 19, 1880)
March 26, 1880
"Mr. I. H. Congdon, General Master Mechanic of the U. P. Rwy. Co., has organized a branch of his business in Logan with our citizen Robert Croft as Division Master Mechanic." (The Logan Leader, March 26, 1880)
March 26, 1880
"Three new engines lately arrived for the U.& N. Ry., and three more are soon expected; this addition is to provide for the anticipated increase in traffic, the extension of the track, etc." (The Logan Leader, March 26, 1880)
March 26, 1880
"Mr. Geo. E. Stevens, general master car builder of the U. P. Railway Company, has lately been in Logan and organized a branch of the business for this division of the road with Mr. Shoemaker as Division Master Car Builder, and Mr. Frost as his assistant. The shops for the car works are soon to be put up in Logan. This is another step in the right direction, towards keeping the headquarters of the U. & N. in this city." (The Logan Leader, March 26, 1880)
April 16, 1880
The U. O. Foundry [of Logan] has sent to the end of track two very substantial water tanks. (The Logan Leader, April 16, 1880)
May 5, 1880
A letter from Ogden says that the Union Pacific shops at Omaha are building new coaches and freight cars for the U.P. and the Utah & Northern. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, May 5, 1880)
May 14, 1880
The roadmaster has a new 'hand-car velocipede,' which can be operated by one man, and it can be disassembled so as to be carried in a caboose, baggage car, etc. (The Logan Leader, May 14, 1880)
May 16, 1880
Another letter from Ogden, about half of which relates to the Union Pacific and the Utah & Northern: "The Omaha shops are building a large number of cars for the Utah & Northern. The coaches and baggage cars are completed at the shops, but the other cars will be sent here in bulk and put together by Ogden mechanics, which will require an increase to the present force of men here." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, May 16, 1880)
May 21, 1880
U&N timetable No. 11, in effect May 6, 1880 at 1:15am; shows Red Rock to be the end of the line at present. (The Logan Leader, May 21, 1880)
June 10, 1880
Letter from Ogden, dated 9th - "The Utah & Northern company are putting up a large number of cars, made at the Omaha shops and shipped here in bulk. The traffic over that road increases so rapidly that it keeps them busy to supply the road with sufficient rolling stock to do the business." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, June 10, 1880)
June 11, 1880
"Robt. Croft, Esq., the master mechanic of the U.& N. Ry. is having the smoke stacks of the engines on the road replaced by the fire exterminators which are of larger dimensions than the stacks which have been in use and are said to be very successful in extinguishing the sparks from the engines. They will make the danger of fire-setting a thing of the past." (The Logan Leader, June 11, 1880)
June 17, 1880
A short item notices that the 16 locomotives of the Utah & Northern are quite busy. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, June 17, 1880)
June 29, 1880
Another of those letters from Ogden, this one is dated June 2th - "The Utah & Northern is adding to their rolling stock, which is now taxed to its full capacity to transact the rapidly increasing business. Three new locomotives have just arrived from the East and are being set up." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, June 29, 1880)
July 2, 1880
"U. & N. Notes" "Three new engines have lately arrived and will immediately be brought into good use." (The Logan Leader, July 2, 1880)
July 10, 1880
A letter from Ogden, dated the 9th - "The Utah & Northern Railway now has in active service twenty-six locomotives, and these are taxed well to do their vast and growing business." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, July 10, 1880)
July 21, 1880
Track of the Utah & Northern is now laid to a point five miles north of Red Rock. (Salt Lake Herald, July 21, 1880)
July 23, 1880
A letter from Ogden, dated 22nd - an accident while switching cars in the U.P. yard at Ogden injured one A. L. Curtis; a U.P. flat car "...with some narrow gauge Utah & Northern cars on it, ..." hit the said Curtis, who apparently was unaware of its movement. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, July 23, 1880)
July 28, 1880
An item lifted from the Ogden 'Junction' says that the Utah & Northern has 26 engines in service at this time. (Salt Lake Herald, July 28, 1880)
July 31, 1880
"We learn that sleeping cars will take the place of the parlor chair cars on the Utah & Northern in a very short time." (The Blackfoot Register, July 31, 1880)
July 31, 1880
New U&N depot at Oxford is nearly completed. (The Blackfoot Register, July 31, 1880)
August 6, 1880
"The locomotive 'Idaho' has been in the machine shop for nearly three months undergoing extensive repairs. She will be ready for the road this week and will be almost as good as new." (The Logan Leader, August 6, 1880)
August 12, 1880
Letter from Ogden, dated 11th - "Mr. J. M. Bennett, Superintendent of Pullman cars, came in from Omaha this evening to look after the Knights Templar to-morrow, and will remain here several days to see the Pullman cars placed on the Utah & Northern road. These cars are on the way and at once will be put in use as soon as they arrive." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, August 12, 1880)
August 13, 1880
Another letter from Ogden, dated 12th - "Two new sleeping cars for the Utah & Northern came in this evening on the express train from the East, and will be changed from the wide gauge trucks to narrow ones, and at once put to use." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, August 13, 1880)
August 13, 1880
The depot at Oxford is nearly completed. (The Logan Leader, August 13, 1880)
August 13, 1880
"FINE CARS" "Last evening a couple of Pullman cars, the 'Advance' and the 'Argo' came into Ogden. These cars are designed for the Utah & Northern RR., and are the first of six to be put upon the road. They were made at the Pullman car manufactory. These fine rolling palaces are set upon broad gauge trucks, which are so arranged that the thirty inch wheels can be taken out and put upon regular narrow gauge width axles; the trucks will need but little alteration to bring them to the necessary width for the Northern line. The wheels will be taken to Evanston to be fixed, while the narrowing of the trucks will be done at the shops here. It is said that by this mode, much money can be saved by the company on each car.
"The cars are beauties, and the interior arrangements magnificent. The interior of each car has ten sections, containing of course 20 beds. The sides, besides having mirrors inserted at each section, are of fine woods, mahogany finish, beautifully inlaid with figures of flowers, etc. The tops of the cars are also of wood - three kinds - so laid that warping is next to impossible. Different portions of the car are mounted with German silver, the door handles, hinges, and in fact every metal part of the car is of this composition. The berths are also beautifully arranged, having every modern improvement lavished upon them in their construction.
"At one end of the cars are marble-topped wash stands and reservoirs, with silver-plated appurtenances, and so well is this arranged, that every inch of room is utilized to some useful purpose. At the other end of the car is the Baker patent steam heater, which does away entirely with the use of stoves. Above this, but on the outside is a very ingenious contrivance, a patent heat regulator, (automatic,) which upon the generation of a certain amount of steam in the heater, throws off the surplus steam, making it impossible for the cars to get too warm. The cars are lighted by patent lamps, in which is burned a fine, non-explosive sperm oil.
"These cars are pearls of workmanship and design, and will add much to the already great popularity of the Northern line. It is expected that by next Wednesday, at the latest, these two cars will be running between here and Blackfoot. none but old and experienced porters being employed upon them." (Ogden Junction, August 13, 1880)
August 14, 1880
"Two new sleeping cars for the Utah & Northern have arrived at Ogden and will be put on the road in a few days." (The Blackfoot Register, August 14, 1880)
August 15, 1880
Letter from Ogden, dated 14th - a description of the two new Pullman cars on the Utah & Northern; (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, August 15, 1880)
August 15, 1880
New Utah & Northern depot at Swan Lake is finished. (Salt Lake Herald, August 15, 1880)
August 18, 1880
"Yesterday one of the new U.& N. Pullman cars was started on its Wednesday initiatory trip north. Among the passengers therein, was M. H. Beardaley, the popular proprietor of the Union Depot Hotel, and Mr. Bennett, Pullman agent." (Ogden Junction, August 18, 1880)
August 19, 1880
"The Utah and Northern Railroad is now running Pullman sleepers on its road. 'Argo' went north last night, 'Advance' goes up tonight. L. M. Bennett, Esq., general superintendent of the Pullman Car Company went north on the Argo. The sleepers are truly beautiful and comfortable in every respect." (Salt Lake Herald, August 19, 1880)
August 20, 1880
Extract from a letter, dated August 19th at Oxford on the U&N: "After spending the hours from noon to near midnight in a pleasant visit, I found sweet rest in the fine Pullman sleeper 'Advance', now making its first trip over the road,..." This can not be later than the 18th, as the person writing this letter had been riding in the car since at least noon of the day before the letter was written. (Ogden Junction, August 20, 1880)
August 20, 1880
"The U. & N. has placed on its road two Pullman sleeping cars. These cars contain 20 berths, each berth affording luxurious accommodations for one person. The sleepers are now running from Ogden to Blackfoot, far enough to accommodate passengers for the night. We understand that more sleeping cars are to be added immediately. A new day coach has also been lately put upon the road. All these cars are models of comfort, luxury, elegance and completeness of finish." (The Logan Leader, August 20, 1880)
August 21, 1880
"The first Pullman car over the Utah & Northern came up from Ogden Wednesday morning, and it is undoubtedly one of the finest cars ever built. It is furnished with all the latest improvements and appliances calculated to furnish comfort to the traveler, and is the acme of fine workmanship and elegance. It bears the name of 'Argo.' Two similar cars have already been placed on the road, and the passenger trains each way will be supplied with one between Ogden and Blackfoot." (The Blackfoot Register, August 21, 1880)
September 4, 1880
End of track on U&N is 33 miles beyond Red Rock. (The Blackfoot Register, September 4, 1880)
September 10, 1880
"New Terminus" "The U. & N. R. R. has penetrated the Territory of Montana a distance of 19 miles, and is being pushed ahead rapidly. It is the intention to remove the terminus to a point about 50 miles beyond where it is now, on or about October 1st. The next terminus will be an important point, as freight for Helena, Virginia and eastern Montana will be left there. It is expected that a new time table will be issued when the terminus is removed." (The Logan Leader, September 10, 1880)
September 10, 1880
"On Saturday last a very fine day coach was added to the rolling stock of the U. & N. It is the finest passenger car on the road." (The Logan Leader, September 10, 1880)
September 17, 1880
An item reports that there are 23 engines now running on the Utah and Northern, eight more are being built at this time, and an additional seven are ordered for spring delivery; and the Pullmans are running to the end of the line. (Salt Lake Herald, September 17, 1880)
October 8, 1880
End of the line is now at Dillon, so a new timetable today for the added 45 miles of railroad. (The Logan Leader, October 8, 1880)
October 29, 1880
Shops and such for U&N being built at Eagle Rock. (The Logan Leader, October 29, 1880)
October 1880
Utah & Northern reached Dillion, Montana. Construction ceased until Spring 1881. ("Utah & Northern, the Narrow Gauge That Opened a Frontier" by Mallory Hope Ferrell, in Colorado Rail Annual No. 15, Golden, Colorado, 1981, page 45)
November 19, 1880
The U&N pay car went north on the 12th. (The Logan Leader, November 19, 1880)
December 3, 1880
U&N is building snow fences, to help keep line open this winter. (The Logan Leader, December 3, 1880)
December 3, 1880
"Occasionally a 'double-header' is required to take the heavy freight trains over the divide on the U. & N. The freight traffic of this road has been immense for months past, and at times has taxed to the utmost the motive power of the road." (The Logan Leader, December 3, 1880)
December 31, 1880
A train on the Utah & Northern was wrecked near Beaver Canyon on Thursday morning; engineer Phillips and fireman Lees were quite shaken up, but not injured otherwise. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, December 31, 1880)
December 31, 1880
Long story on Utah & Northern snow troubles. (The Logan Leader, December 31, 1880)
January 1, 1881
A wreck of U&N plow and engines at High Bridge, December 29, 1880. (The Blackfoot Register, January 1, 1881)
January 8, 1881
Item from Salt Lake Tribune: U&N has 21 locomotives and 15 more ordered. (The Blackfoot Register, January 8, 1881)
January 14, 1881
"Work in the Logan R. R. Shops." "Master Mechanic Robt. Croft of the U. & N. courteously conducted us, a few days since, through the railroad shops at the depot. At present, the shops are very much crowded with work. Among the jobs now in hand are the construction of a snow plow, the repairing of the stationary engines of the shops, and the repairing of the engine that was wrecked near High Bridge on Dec. 29th. The snow plow is nearly finished. The switch engine furnishes the power to run the machinery of the shops while the stationary engine is being repaired. The locomotive, wrecked Dec. 29th, was very much injured. As is supposed, a broken rail was the cause of its flying the track. It was completely inverted, the cab was entirely demolished, the smokestack knocked off, and the tender considerably injured. It lay in a position at right angles with the track, and had to be turned right side up, placed on the track, and brought to Logan to be repaired. ... as the frame and wheels of the engine were intact it was easily brought to Logan. "The work done at these shops is first class, and all repairs to the rolling stock of the road are executed here. Work is also being done here for the shops at Eagle Rock, until they get fully under way." (The Logan Leader, January 14, 1881)
January 14, 1881
"More Locomotives" "Several new locomotives are expected to be placed on the U. & N. about March 1st. It is understood that fifteen locomotives are now in the course of construction for this road at the Bolton works, Philadelphia, and that eight of them will be ready about March 1st." (The Logan Leader, January 14, 1881)
January 27, 1881
"On Tuesday the Utah and Northern received what is called a flanger, a little machine used to clear the rails of ice." "This flanger is attached to the rear of the engine running the snow plow, and clears the rails of ice,..." Tuesday was the 25th. (Salt Lake Herald, January 27, 1881)
January 30, 1881
U&N Logan roundhouse is nearing completion. (The Logan Leader, January 30, 1881)
February 8, 1881
Letter from Ogden, dated the 7th: "Geo. E. Stevens, master car builder and superintendent of buildings for the Union Pacific, spent today in this city, and left this evening for Eagle Rock, on business." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, February 8, 1881)
February 12, 1881
Eagle Rock is the end of the first passenger division, and the second freight division; Battle Creek is end of first freight division, and so beginning of the second. (The Blackfoot Register, February 12, 1881)
February 12, 1881
"Eagle Rock - Machine Shops, Buildings, &c." "On Monday we paid a visit to Eagle Rock, at which place the Utah & Northern railroad is building machine shops..." "The roundhouse which has ten stalls is nearly completed, the tracks now being laid." "The machine shop ... building is 60' x 150', all in one room. All the machinery for boiler making and engine repairing will be placed in this building. Adjoining this on one side is the boiler and engine room, a stone building 40' x 60' which will soon be ready for setting the engine and boiler." "The blacksmith shop which is 60' x 100', is nearly completed, but the largest building will be the car shop, the foundation and floor of which is completed, its size being 60' x 2001. In this shop all kinds of cars will be made, from a flat car to a fine coach. An office for the master mechanic 20' x 40' is nearly completed, another one of the same size for the foreman of the car shop will be erected. An ice house 24' x 60' is furnished and filled with ice. Several other buildings, such as store-houses, oil-houses, and a sand-drying house will be put up." "Three buildings, 22' x 40' for boarding houses, have been built and are occupied. Several smaller tenement houses will be built as soon as other work is finished. A new depot will also be built. Between fifty and sixty men are now employed there and it is estimated that when the shops are running nearly two hundred men will find work. The machinery that is being put in is all new, none of that now used at Logan being shipped there (i.e., to Eagle Rock), but will probably be taken to Battle Creek,..." (The Blackfoot Register, February 12, 1881)
February 15, 1881
Ogden letter dated the 14th: the U & N to get three more sleepers, and nine coaches, all now being built by Pullman; and new locomotives are soon to arrive. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, February 15, 1881)
February 24, 1881
Ogden letter dated the 23rd - the Utah & Northern has 31 engines in service; at Spring Hill (formerly Red Rock) a 7-stall roundhouse is being built, also one of like size at Battle Creek; and much work is being done at Eagle Rock, the roundhouse there being of 10 stalls, together with shops and so forth. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, February 24, 1881) (Spring Hill was where the rail line met the Red Rock River, and in 1889 was renamed Lima.)
February 26, 1881
Item says eight to ten cars of iron arrive daily at Ogden for the U & N. (The Blackfoot Register, February 26, 1881)
March 4, 1881
New iron bridge over the Snake river at Blackfoot, built by King Bridge Co., Cleveland, Ohio; cost $47,000.00; five spans, each 100 feet long, with a 60 foot trestle approach on the east, and 25 foot on the west. Bridge is six feet above the high water mark. Item from Blackfoot Register. (The Logan Leader, March 4, 1881)
March 12, 1881
One shipment of rails for U&N, comprising 85 cars, has arrived at Ogden, from Joliet, Illinois. (The Blackfoot Register, March 12, 1881)
March 17, 1881
An item on the Utah & Northern reports that the road has 22 "old" engines, and is getting the new ones at the rate of two per week. Another, longer item on the Utah & Northern, while mostly the usual puff, does contain some useful information, such as "the fact that twenty-three new Brooks locomotives have been ordered, four of which have been received, while the remainder are to be delivered at stated intervals between the present date and the first of next September." And the sizes of the various buildings making up the Eagle Rock shop complex are given (in feet): car shop, 60 x 200; locomotive shop, 60 x 150; engine house, 40 x 48; blacksmith shop, 60 x 90; two store rooms, 12 x 40 and 24 x 60; office, 30 x 40; and a coal house of 26 x 300. There is also a water tank, sand house, an ice house of 400 to 500 ton capacity, and a roundhouse of 10 stalls, making a quarter circle. (Salt Lake Herald, March 17, 1881)
March 18, 1881
"Terrific Wind Storm" last Sunday night - two box cars blown over at Smithfield; nine blown over at Hyde Park; and four at Deweyville. (The Logan Leader, March 18, 1881)
March 25, 1881
Pay car went north last Monday. Master mechanic at Eagle Rock is one Frank Reardon. (The Logan Leader, March 25, 1881)
March 31, 1881
Utah & Northern six stall roundhouse in Logan burned to the ground, leaving only the heavy timber framework standing. (Salt Lake Herald, April 2, 1881; Blackfoot Register April 2, 1881) Five locomotives in for repairs were damaged in the fire. Four of the five were repaired by the end of April, two by Union Pacific at Evanston and two by Utah & Northern at Logan. The repairs on the fifth, and smallest, was completed sometime after April. (Salt Lake Herald, April 30, 1881)
April 1, 1881
"The Utah & Northern" "Colonel Washington Dunn, Superintendent of Construction of the Utah & Northern railroad, was in Butte a few days since,..." Track was laid last year to a point two miles above Dillon. (New North West, Deer Lodge, April 1, 1881)
April 2, 1881
"Fire at Logan." "Round House and Five Engines Burned." "On the arrival of the passenger train from the South yesterday morning news was received of the burning of the round house of the U. &. N. R. R. at Logan with five engines. Fran Conductor D. F. Brown we get the following particulars:" "About seven o'clock, a short time after the employees had quit work the round house was seen to be in a blaze, and almost before anything could be done to check it the entire building was burned to the ground. It was a six-stall frame building, the framework being of heavy timber. The covering burned off and left the frame standing. There were five engines in the building being repaired, nearly all of which had been taken to pieces, most of them with their jackets off, consequently they were injured but little. The master mechanic says he can have two of them ready in fifteen days. How and where the fire caught is a mystery; no one being able to form any idea." (The Blackfoot Register, April 2, 1881)
April 2, 1881
A letter from Logan, dated March 31, 1881, and signed "Spiv," in regard to the Logan enginehouse fire. He starts out: "At 7:30 o'clock tonight,..." The roundhouse fire appears to have started in the southwest corner of the building, and with a light west wind then blowing, the entire house was in flames in five minutes. There were at the time six engines in the house, only one of which was saved, and it had to be pulled out by hand. (Salt Lake Herald, April 2, 1881)
April 3, 1881
The above fire is thought to have started in the oil and waste closet. The present estimate of damage to the five burned engines is $6,000, and to the building, tools and the like, $4,000. (Salt Lake Herald, April 3, 1881)
April 5, 1881
Excerpt from a letter from Logan, dated April 3, 1881, in regard to the engines damaged in the U&N Logan roundhouse fire of March 31st: "Men are now at work on two of the engines and it is expected that they will be ready for the road again in fifteen days. Two more of the damaged engines will be shipped to the U. P. shops at Evanston for repairs at once and will be rushed through. The fifth is a smaller engine and not so badly needed, but will be repaired as soon as the more urgent work will permit." (Salt Lake Herald, April 5, 1881)
April 5, 1881
Another letter from "Spiv" in Logan, dated April 3, 1881, excerpt: "Men are now at work on two of the engines and it is expected that they will be ready for the road again in fifteen days. Two more of the damaged engines will be shipped to the U. P. shops at Evanston for repairs at once and will be rushed through. The fifth is a smaller engine and not so badly needed, but will be repaired as soon as the more urgent work will permit." (Salt Lake Herald, April 5, 1881)
April 8, 1881
"Burning of the U. & N. Roundhouse." "At just about half past seven o'clock on Thursday evening, March 31st; and after about half of our last week's edition was worked off, a series of prolonged whistles were heard throughout most of the city, issuing from a locomotive at the depot. It was generally comprehended that the sound meant 'fire,' and a glance towards the depot showed at once its location. Crowds at once commenced to rush in that direction, to discover the roundhouse to be in flames. The building was in a hopeless state of burning too soon for anything to be done to save it or its contents, only about four minutes having elapsed after the first alarm until the structure was completely enveloped in flames, making entrance into it impossible. The roundhouse contained six stalls, all of which were occupied by locomotives, only one of which was got out. The other five remained where they stood, and were soon covered with the falling timbers, .&c., of the burning building. The roundhouse was built almost entirely of wood, but even this would scarcely seem to account for the rapidity with which it burned. The embers were pretty well extinguished that night. It was supposed that the five locomotives were utterly ruined, and this caused the report to be circulated that the loss would reach from $40,000 to $50,000; but an examination of them showed that they could easily be repaired at a moderate expense, and this is now being done. The loss is thus reduced to about $10,000." "No one was seriously hurt during the fire,..." (The Logan Leader, April 8, 1881)
April 8, 1881
"Railroad Shop Fire at Logan" "Five U. & N. Locomotives Badly Burnt" "A Logan correspondent of the Salt Lake Tribune writing March 31st says: 'This evening, about 7 o'clock...'" "Of the locomotives burned at Logan the Pilot says: 'All are so badly burned that they will have to be taken down and have a general overhauling, amounting to about the same as rebuilding. This will take time and cost considerable, but the greater loss will be crippling the road of motive power during the few weeks required in replacing these engines. The road had twenty engines, all told, before this catastrophe, and the busy season coming on will require even a greater number of locomotives than the entire number, but we are assured that the road will push the rebuilding and most likely secure new engines, so that the business of the road will not suffer. We were unable to learn the cause of the fire.'" "The railroad shops were to have been removed from Logan to Eagle Rock the day after the fire. For this reason the work is supposed to have been done by an incendiary. The loss of five locomotives just at this time is likely to retard the extension of the road as all were needed. Four of the five were, however, old engines." (The New North West, Deer Lodge, April 8, 1881)
April 9, 1881
"Local Brevities." "The Ogden Pilot says the Utah & Northern engines, No's. 10 and 26, which were burned at Logan a few days ago, were brought down last evening and will be sent to Evanston to be rebuilt. The others burned at the same time will be overhauled at the Eagle Rock shops." Superintendent of the carshops at Eagle Rock is a Mr. Shoemaker. (The Blackfoot Register, April 9, 1881)
April 9, 1881
An item from the Ogden Pilot, probably of the 8th: "The Union Pacific yesterday brought in two new locomotives for the Utah and Northern Railway. They are numbered 27 and 28 and are of the Brooks pattern. Today men are busily engaged in putting them in shape for duty. "Fourteen more similar engines are included in the order given some time ago..., and thus the road will soon have forty-two engines on duty." (Salt Lake Herald, April 9, 1881)
April 22, 1881
"Railroad Notes." "A new engine arrived Wednesday. All but one of the engines injured by the late fire have been put in working order. It is not yet known whether or not the roundhouse will be rebuilt. Work is lively in the shops." (The Logan Leader, April 22, 1881)
April 24, 1881
"The locomotives recently injured by the Logan roundhouse fire, have been repaired and are now doing service on the Utah & Northern." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, April 24, 1881)
April 29, 1881
The Union Pacific has changed a few names on the U&N recently -- Summit is now Cachill; Oneida (Watson before 1878) is now Arimo; and Riverside is now Shoshone. The U&N roadmaster is William Toombs. (The Logan Leader, April 29, 1881)
April 30, 1881
From Dillon Tribune; U&N track is 12 miles north of Dillon. (The Blackfoot Register, April 30, 1881)
April 30, 1881
A Letter from Logan, dated the 28th, rather long, but contains the following useful info: "Two of the damaged engines were sent to Evanston and the other three remained here, two of which were put into splendid running order and nicely finished in fifteen days from the time work was commenced on them." (The five engines referred to are those damaged in the Logan enginehouse fire of March 31, 1881.) "The third engine being small and of less service, repairs were not hurried. However it is now being repaired and will be finished soon." (Salt Lake Herald, April 30, 1881)
April 30, 1881
The Ogden Pilot of April 23rd had an item on the five damaged engines, in which it was said that the three engines not sent to Evanston were sent to Eagle Rock for repairs, and the job was not as well done as that at Evanston. This prompted "Spiv" up in Logan to write another of his letters, this one dated the 28th, correcting the Pilot item: "Two of the damaged engines were sent to Evanston and the other three remained here (i. e., Logan), two of which were put into splendid running order and nicely finished in fifteen days from the time work was commenced on them." "The third engine being small and of less service, repairs were not hurried. However, it is now being repaired and will be finished soon." The letter goes on to say that "The Brooks Locomotive Manufacturing Company has an order for twenty-three engines to be delivered to the Utah and Northern road. Seven of these have already been delivered and are very fine engines. Two per month will be delivered until the order is filled,..." (Salt Lake Herald, April 30, 1881)
May 14, 1881
A letter from the north describes one of the U&N passenger trains on the 11th, composed of two engines, three baggage cars, one mail car,-four coaches, and the sleeper -- nine cars in all. (Ogden Herald, May 14, 1881)
May 21, 1881
"This morning two fine new locomotives for the Utah & Northern RR. went up the road. They came from the Brooks Locomotive Works, at Dunkirk, N. Y., are numbered 30 and 31, respectively, and belong to the latest order of twenty-five new engines for the same line. When the remaining part of the order is filled, the U.& N. Co. will have forty-eight engines on their track." (Ogden Herald, May 21, 1881)
May 22, 1881
Two new locomotives received "yesterday" for the Utah & Northern, from Brooks. Yesterday was Saturday May 21st. (Salt Lake Herald, May 22, 1881)
May 27, 1881
"Good Work" "There has been a marked disposition in certain quarters to avoid giving credit to the railroad shops here in Logan for work they have turned out. The facts are that these shops are turning out work that is extremely creditable to them, and the locomotives that were injured by the burning of the roundhouse that were repaired here, present a much better and more workmanlike appearance than do the two that were repaired at Evanston." "There is usually an abundance of work for these shops to do, and no present probability of their early removal to Eagle Rock." (The Logan Leader, May 27, 1881)
May 28, 1881
"23 new engines are being built for the Utah & Northern Railroad." (The Blackfoot Register, May 28, 1881)
June 10, 1881
"Railroad Notes"-"The roundhouse at Logan, lately burned down, is to be rebuilt; a quantity of lumber and stone for the purpose has arrived." "A roundhouse is to be built at Battle Creek, thirty miles north of Logan. This and the rebuilding of the roundhouse at Logan, was decided upon by the officers of the company who went over the road some two weeks since." (The Logan Leader, June 10, 1881)
June 11, 1881
U&N agent at Oxford is one P. C. West. (The Blackfoot Register, June 11, 1881)
June 18, 1881
Melrose is the new terminus on the U&N, which is 20 miles north of Dillon, and about 40 miles south of Butte. (The Blackfoot Register, June 18, 1881)
June 24, 1881
"Railroad Notes" "The pay car has been remodeled at the shops here in Logan, in such a manner as to make a very elegant structure of it. The changes in it are quite extensive." "The roundhouse is to be built at an early date." (The Logan Leader, June 24, 1881)
June 27, 1881
U&N terminus is now at Melrose, trains running through to that point as of the 25th of June. (Ogden Herald, June 27, 1881)
July 1, 1881
U&N track arrived at Melrose on June 6, 1881; had begun laying track out of Dillon on April 13, 1881 -- distance covered in that time, 35 miles. As of June 21, 1881 track is three miles north of Melrose; had spent 12 days there laying tracks and such for terminal facilities. The paper has received a letter from Thomas E. Ricks, on the construction train, he having a grading and tracklaying contract. His crew is all LDS, except one man, so meetings are held every Sunday. (The Logan Leader, July 1, 1881)
July 2, 1881
U&N Northern division Roadmaster is one George Payne. (Ogden Herald, July 2, 1881)
July 9, 1881
The U&N car shops at Eagle Rock have turned out several new stock cars and more are in progress at. this time; the enginehouse at Dillon was blown down in last week's windstorm. F. M. Shoemaker is superintendent of the car shop at Eagle Rock, and Frank Reardon is the Master Mechanic. Foreman of the paint department is a fellow named Murphy. (The Blackfoot Register, July 9, 1881)
July 15, 1881
From an item in the Oxford Enterprise: There is a new depot at Smithfield, agent is Mr. Hanson, from Blackfoot. Battle Creek is getting an eight-stall roundhouse, boarding house, depot and the like. Logan is supposed to be getting a new depot soon, and the depot at Market Lake is just completed. At Spring Hill, near the old town of Red Rock, a roundhouse and other facilities will be built soon. (Salt Lake Herald, July 15, 1881) (Spring Hill was where the rail line met the Red Rock River, and in 1889 was renamed Lima.)
July 18, 1881
The U&N Dillon engine house was blown down last week. (Ogden Herald, July 18, 1881)
July 18, 1881
U&N roundhouse and such is laid out at Spring Hill. (Ogden Herald, July 18, 1881)
July 21, 1881
"In conversation with Mr. Bennett,..." who was superintendent of Pullman, he says that as the business on the Utah & Northern is so great, that two more of the sleepers will be put on in September. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, July 21, 1881)
July 23, 1881
U&N end of track is eight miles north of Melrose. (The Blackfoot Register, July 23, 1881)
August 11, 1881
Twenty cars of iron for the U&N are at Ogden. (Ogden Herald, August 11, 1881)
August 11, 1881
"Last evening three new engines. No's 33, 34 and 35, arrived for the U.& N.R.R. They were manufactured at the Brooks locomotive works at Dunkirk, N. Y., and are fine specimens of the mechanic's skill. They went north, this forenoon, two being bound for Logan, while the third goes as far as Eagle Rock." "The three new U.& N. engines were in charge of Mr. Smith, traveling engineer and inspector for the U.P.R.R.Co., who has come from the East to set these locomotives up and test them." (Ogden Herald, August 11, 1881)
August 11, 1881
The U&N has received three more of the engines ordered some time ago. (Salt Lake Herald, August 11, 1881)
August 12, 1881
"The roundhouse approaches completion." U&N at Logan. (The Logan Leader, August 12, 1881)
August 13, 1881
Eight stall U&N roundhouse at Battle Creek is nearly completed, with other buildings at that site. (Ogden Herald, August 13, 1881)
August 13, 1881
"Utah Notes." "Last evening three new engines (No's 33, 34 and 35) arrived for the U.& N.R.R. They were manufactured at the Brooks locomotive works at Dunkirk, N. Y., and are fine specimens of the mechanic's skill. They went north, this forenoon, two being bound for Logan, while the third goes as far as Eagle Rock. -- Ogden Herald, 11th." (The Blackfoot Register, August 13, 1881)
August 17, 1881
Forty-five cars of rail have been transferred at Ogden in the past three days. (Ogden Herald, August 17, 1881)
August 17, 1881
A new timetable on the U&N this date. (Ogden Herald, August 17, 1881)
August 30, 1881
U&N "Two narrow gauge engines arrived from the East Sunday morning, and Tuesday went north, yesterday." (Sunday was the 28th) (Ogden Herald, August 30, 1881)
September 2, 1881
"Railroad Notes"-"The roundhouse at the depot is receiving the finishing touches. It is somewhat larger and finer building than the former one." "Two new locomotives were received last Monday. This makes 28 now on the road. Nine more remain to be sent in before the order given by the company is filled." "The Logan shops continue very busy. A tender is now being built out and out, except for the wheels. An old light engine is being put in thorough repair, almost rebuilt in fact. It is the intention to sell it when completed." "We learned these and other interesting items from Master Mechanic Croft." (The Logan Leader, September 2, 1881)
September 2, 1881
"Two new engines for the Utah and Northern are added to the rolling stock of that road." (Salt Lake Herald, September 2, 1881)
September 12, 1881
U&N track is twelve miles from Butte. (Ogden Herald, September 12, 1881)
September 13, 1881
Relocation of U&N from Arimo (formerly Oneida) to Harkness, through the Portneuf Canyon, and to the Oregon Road, to avoid the Marsh Valley mess. Two miles of sidings being added in Pocatello to aid in unloading the mass of material arriving for the Oregon Short Line construction. (Ogden Herald, September 13, 1881)
September 17, 1881
New U&N timetable effective August 17, 1881 printed. (The Blackfoot Register, September 17, 1881)
September 23, 1881
Engine 14 is draped in black, on account of Garfield's death. (The Logan Leader, September 23, 1881)
October 1881
Utah & Northern reached Silver Bow, Montana. ("Utah & Northern, the Narrow Gauge That Opened a Frontier" by Mallory Hope Ferrell, in Colorado Rail Annual No. 15, Golden, Colorado, 1981, page 45)
October 3, 1881
U&N agent at Blackfoot is W. C. Borland. (Ogden Herald, October 3, 1881)
October 14, 1881
The Utah & Northern has 39 locomotives in service. (New North West, Deer Lodge, October 14, 1881)
October 18, 1881
A new engine and tender arrived today for the Utah & Northern, (Ogden Herald, October 18, 1881)
October 20, 1881
An item lifted from the Ogden Pilot, date uncertain, possibly the 19th: "Two of the oldest narrow gauge Utah and Northern engines were yesterday loaded upon Union Pacific flat cars for shipment east, but were held to await further orders. One of the engines was in the Logan round-house fire, and both have been refitted and made quite new in appearance. It is thought that the company has sold them to make place for more powerful engines." (Salt Lake Herald, October 20, 1881)
October 21, 1881
On Monday, U&N passenger trains began running to Silver Bow Junction. (New North West, Deer Lodge, October 21, 1881)
October 22, 1881
Item on the wreck of a U&N passenger train, with no details except that some folks were injured, wherein is referred to 'what is known as the combination coach', a mail car, and a baggage car. (The Blackfoot Register, October 22, 1881)
October 29, 1881
The U&N agent at Franklin, Mr. Hinckley, murdered; railroad offers a $1,000 reward for the murderer. (The Blackfoot Register, October 29, 1881)
November 4, 1881
Joel Hinkley, agent/operator at Franklin, was murdered on the evening of Thursday the 27th of October; the railroad is offering a reward of $1,000 for the killer(s). (New North West, Deer Lodge, November 4, 1881)
November 11, 1881
An item listing the equipment of the Utah & Northern: 39 locomotives; 17 passenger cars, including baggage & mail cars; five Pullman sleeping cars; 217 box cars; 226 flat cars; and 112 stock cars. "Besides these the company has several old-style cars and some classed as outfitting cars." (The New North West, Deer Lodge, November 11, 1881)
November 11, 1881
"The shops at Eagle Rock have just turned out the first railway car built in Idaho. This car is numbered 01 and is of the class called 'outfitting', for the use of the men on the road who go from place to place to build or repair bridges, station houses, or gather up wrecks. The car is 48 feet in length and is a model of good workmanship and design for the purposes required, and is provided with all the conveniences possible. The Eagle Rock shops are well prepared to do car work, and a good force of first class mechanics are employed." item from Ogden 'Pilot' (The New North West, Deer Lodge, November 11, 1881)
November 27, 1881
From the Ogden Pilot of the 26th: Nine flat cars from the Utah & Northern sold to the D&RGW, and were loaded on the 26th at Ogden to go south. (Note: U.P. journal indicates that the 9 cars were sold to the San Pete Valley Railroad.) (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, November 27, 1881)
December 13, 1881
"The Utah & Northern continues to receive new rolling stock every day or so." (Salt Lake Herald, December 13, 1881)
December 17, 1881
"Eagle Rock Items." Editor Wheeler of the Register visited the shops on Wednesday afternoon, and reported the following: Engine 15 has just been overhauled, and will now handle the passenger run between Eagle Rock and Spring Hill, with John Scott as engineer. Engine 8 has just gone into the shops for overhaul. No. 40, a new engine received a few days ago, has been set up for the road, and will go out with Jerry Griffin as engineer. No. 41 has just arrived and will soon be ready for work. The car shop has built 23 stock cars, two outfit cars and eight flat cars since work started, and two caboose cars have been entirely rebuilt there. The sleeper 'Advance' is getting an overhaul now, and the pay car is being refitted and refurnished, which when finished will be a handsome car. "The old passenger coach No. 3, which was in the wreck near Camas a few months ago, has been almost entirely rebuilt." (The Blackfoot Register, December 17, 1881) (Spring Hill was where the rail line met the Red Rock River, and in 1889 was renamed Lima.)
December 23, 1881
The terminus of the U. & N. was removed to Butte on Wednesday, 21st. "The rolling stock of the road has lately been increased." (The Logan Leader, December 23, 1881)
December 24, 1881
"Eagle Rock Items." New engine No. 41 will come out of the shop on Monday, with W. W. Chapman assigned as engineer. Car shops at present are turning out one new stock car every three days, and after Jan. 1st, they plan to put out two new flat cars per day, until 45 are built. Two box cars have been converted to outfit use for the line crews. Two engines have had snow plows attached, it being the season. (The Blackfoot Register, December 24, 1881)
December 26, 1881
Utah & Northern reached Butte, Montana. ("Utah & Northern, the Narrow Gauge That Opened a Frontier" by Mallory Hope Ferrell, in Colorado Rail Annual No. 15, Golden, Colorado, 1981, page 47)
December 30, 1881
"A Straight Line." "There are only three curves in the U. & N. railway between Deer Lodge and the upper canyon, a distance of some thirty miles. There is one curve near Race Track, one at Warm Springs, and one at the river crossing near Mrs. Thomas'. The Northern Pacific line runs parallel to the U. & N. at a distance of 63 feet for the next 20 miles. -- New North West." (The Logan Leader, December 30, 1881)
January 13, 1882
"Mr. G. J. Bywater, of the U. & N. Shops, lately finished the painting of a locomotive that was indeed done in the highest style of the art. In this class of work Mr. Bywater is unrivalled, and the Logan shops take pride in the perfection and finish of the work they turn out." (The Logan Leader, January 13, 1882)
January 14, 1882
U&N "Two new engines are daily expected, they having been heard from as having left Omaha before New Year's." (The Blackfoot Register, January 14, 1882)
January 21, 1882
"Eagle Rock Items." "Engines 31 and 38 which made an unsuccessful effort to pass each other on the same track at Market Lake last Friday, received new pilots and went out the following morning, not being retained in the shops over twelve hours." (The Blackfoot Register, January 21, 1882)
February 4, 1882
"Chips" "The sleeper and a coach of the Utah and Northern were thrown from the track near Willard yesterday morning. But little damage was done and nobody hurt." (Salt Lake Daily Herald, February 4, 1882)
February 11, 1882
"The sleeping car Advance which has been having a thorough overhauling, is nearly completed. The accident down the road a few days ago, when the sleeper and one coach ran off the track, damaged the trucks of the sleeper and the trucks of the Advance were placed under it, the broken one to be repaired and put under the Advance which will now be out in about a week." (The Blackfoot Register, February 11, 1882)
February 17, 1882
"A neat, commodious and handsome depot is just being finished in Brigham City." (The Logan Leader, February 17, 1882)
February 24, 1882
"On Saturday morning a snowplow and five engines were ditched near Pocatello trying to get through, and a track had to be built around them. (The Logan Leader, February 24, 1882)
February 26, 1882
"Chips" "Ogden Pilot: The rails for a third rail on the Utah and Northern from Silver Bow are arriving daily from Laramie. Fifty cars for this purpose are now in the yard to go north." (Salt Lake Daily Herald, February 26, 1882)
March 18, 1882
New dispatcher, J. H. Edson. (The Blackfoot Register, March 18, 1882)
April 1, 1882
"Local Brevities." "Arrangements are being made to put air brakes on the passenger trains of the U.& N. Two engines on this division have just been turned out of the shops at Eagle Rock with the necessary attachments, and as soon as it can be done the cars will be put in shape for it." (The Blackfoot Register, April 1, 1882)
April 1, 1882
"Local Brevities." "Five new and elegant coaches arrived in Ogden yesterday morning for the Utah & Northern, two of which came up on this morning's train." (The Blackfoot Register, April 1, 1882)
April 7, 1882
"Railroad Notes"-"Five new passenger coaches have lately been put on the U. & N. They are of elegant style and finish, and contain a number of improvements. They are warmed by pipes connected with a heater, enclosed in a closet at one end, a far better way of warming them than the old plan." "The engine, which was so badly wrecked with the snow plow a few weeks ago, has been put in first class order again in the shops here, under Master Mechanic Croft's supervision." "All passenger trains are to be provided with air brakes, greatly lessening the danger of accidents. The new cars are nicely lighted, and we understand an improvement in this and other respects will be made in the old passenger coaches." (The Logan Leader, April 7, 1882)
April 14, 1882
"The spring freight traffic is setting in, and will likely be very heavy. Additional rolling stock, including two locomotives, has been ordered in anticipation of the rush." (The Logan Leader, April 14, 1882)
April 14, 1882
"A late number of the Ogden Pilot says that the Utah & Northern is being improved by having air brakes placed on all passenger trains. The engines on the line are being run into the shops as fast as they can be spared off the road to have the air brake apparatus placed on them. The Westinghouse automatic brakes are to be used. Beside the cars now in use on the road, two new trains are being finished at Omaha, and will be brought out and placed on the road as soon as completed. These are very important improvements, which will add very much to the safety of the operations of this popular road. The track is being improved as rapidly as possible and everything is to be made first-class." (The New North West, Deer Lodge, April 14, 1882)
April 20, 1882
"A new engine, No. 43, arrived today (Thursday) for the Utah & Northern Railroad." (Ogden Herald, April 20, 1882)
April 20, 1882
"A sleeper on the Utah and Northern was ditched on Tuesday; no one appears to have been hurt." (Salt Lake Herald, April 20, 1882)
April 21, 1882
"On Thursday, at Ogden, a new engine (No. 43), arrived for the Utah and Northern Railroad." The (No. 43) was in the original. (Salt Lake Herald, April 21, 1882)
April 23, 1882
Utah & Northern Engine No 43 has just arrived. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, April 23, 1882)
April 28, 1882
"The first through train with air brakes on the Utah and Northern left here day before yesterday. The brakes worked splendidly, and they will hereafter be used on all of the passenger trains on that road.--Pilot, 22d." (The New North West, Deer Lodge, April 28, 1882)
April 28, 1882
"Two new engines, No's 42 and 43, have been placed on the Utah and Northern Railway, one on the south end and one on the northern division." Also received is a lot of 50 pound iron for the line from Silver Bow through Deer Lodge, about to be built. (The New North West, Deer Lodge, April 28, 1882)
May 1, 1882
Westinghouse automatic air brakes have been put on Utah & Northern passenger equipment -- the Westinghouse mechanic left for the East this morning. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, May 1, 1882)
May 24, 1882
Car shops of the U.P., at Omaha, is building a mail car for the Utah & Northern, 150 cars for the South Park line, and two observation cars for the Utah & Nevada road. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, May 24, 1882)
June 1, 1882
Thursday - new timetable this date on the Utah & Northern. (The Logan Leader, June 1, 1882)
June 2, 1882
Robert Blickensderfer is the Construction Engineer for the U&N on the line through Deer Lodge; distance from Silver Bow Junction to the Deer Lodge depot is 33 miles, 960 feet. (The New North West, Deer Lodge, June 2, 1882)
June 2, 1882
"Another mail car for the Utah & Northern is nearing completion at the Omaha Shops." (The New North West, Deer Lodge, June 2, 1882)
June 23, 1882
U&N depot at Deer Lodge to be 50x150 feet, same as one at Silver Bow Junction. (The New North West, Deer Lodge, June 23, 1882)
June 25, 1882
"A contract has been signed for the extension of the Utah & Northern from Silver Bow Junction to Deer Lodge, and from the Butte depot to the Silver Bow mill and Parrot and Montana smelters." (Salt Lake Daily Herald, June 25, 1882)
June 30, 1882
"Train Wrecked." "Yesterday a train of six cars was wrecked on the U. & N. near Pocatello at a point where the road leaves the old bed to follow for some distance the grade of the Oregon Short Line. There is a sharp curve here and the train in rounding it jumped the track. No person was hurt, but one mule was killed and another so badly injured that it had to be shot." (The Logan Leader, June 30, 1882)
July 2, 1882
"The Utah & Northern received two new excursion cars on Saturday." which was yesterday; it is possible that Utah & Nevada is meant in the name. (Salt Lake Herald, July 2, 1882)
July 29, 1882
"Eagle Rock Items." "Over ninety new flat cars have been made,... Last week between seven o'clock Monday morning and six o'clock Saturday night twelve new flat cars were turned out ready for the road." "The old 'security' sleeping car seems to be wrongly named. It is out of luck again and is back in the shop." Was in a minor wreck Friday of last week, above Dillon, two coaches and this sleeper off the track; "damage was slight, only the trucks being broken. This is the fourth accident that the 'security' has been in, not one of the other sleepers ever having met with one." (The Blackfoot Register, July 29, 1882)
August 25, 1882
J. Blickensderfer is Chief Engineer of the U.P., and his son Robert is Chief Construction Engineer of the Utah & Northern. (The New North West, Deer Lodge, August 25, 1882)
September 16, 1882
Union Pacific circular dated September 11, 1882 appoints W. B. Doddridge as Superintendent of the Utah & Northern Railway, account George W. Thatcher resigned, effective October 10, 1882. (The Blackfoot Register, September 16, 1882)
September 16, 1882
Arimo water tank destroyed by fire, September 9, 1882. (The Blackfoot Register, September 16, 1882)
September 19, 1882
George W. Thatcher has resigned as Superintendent of the Utah & Northern Railway. (Utah Journal, Logan, September 19, 1882)
September 19, 1882
Two miles south of Preston, the regular southbound freight train was wrecked; mostly an ore train, 17 cars were badly smashed up. (Utah Journal, Logan, September 19, 1882)
September 22, 1882
George W. Thatcher has resigned as Superintendent of the Utah and Northern, and will be replaced by W. B. Doddridge. (New North West, Deer Lodge, September 22, 1882)
October 3, 1882
Utah & Northern reached Deer Lodge, Montana, 33 miles from Silver Bow, and 39 miles from Butte. (The New North West, Deer Lodge, 6 October 1882)
October 6, 1882
U&N track was laid into Deer Lodge on Tuesday, the 3rd; now putting in the wye, sidings, and so forth. (The New North West, Deer Lodge, October 6, 1882)
October 17, 1882
Minor derailment on the Utah & Northern yesterday, near Mendon, in which the Pullman sleeper SECURITY, on the southbound train, derailed yet again. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, October 17, 1882)
October 21, 1882
"We would advise the U. & N. Railroad company to change the name of the sleeping car Security to INsecurity, on Monday morning, when the southbound train was near Mendon, a broken rail caused this car, which was attached to the train, to jump the track. It was thrown over on its side, but fortunately no one was seriously injured, although all were frightened at being shook up in that manner so early in the morning. This is the sixth time that this sleeping car has been in the ditch during the past year and a half, while of the four other, not one has been off the track." (The Blackfoot Register, October 21, 1882)
October 27, 1882
U&N track now three miles beyond Deer Lodge. Two engines badly smashed in a collision in Portneuf canyon. (The New North West, Deer Lodge, October 27, 1882)
November 8, 1882
Personal Points: "Ogden Pilot: R. Blickensderfer, Division Superintendent of the Utah & Northern and the Oregon Short Line, came down from the North yesterday morning and was a passenger for Salt Lake last evening." (Salt Lake Evening Chronicle, November 8, 1882)
November 9, 1882
Railroad Matters: "Deer Lodge New Northwest: Samuel Ward, attorney for the Utah & Northern Railway Company, this week bought of Palmer, Mills and Larabie some twenty-five acres of ground on what is known as 'the Palmer ranche,' at the mouth of Little Blackfoot, for the depot and yards of the Utah & Northern company at that point. The intersection of the Utah & Northern and Northern Pacific roads will be just below, near what is known as Cedar Point. Several lines have been run for an intersection, but this latter has been determined upon, and the grade is now being built. It is anticipated that the entire track will be laid within the next two weeks." (Salt Lake Evening Chronicle, November 9, 1882)
November 10, 1882
Preparing for Winter. "The Utah & Northern people are preparing for cold weather, snow blockades, and the usual delays of winter travel, by laying in a thirty days' supply of coal at the coaling stations along the line.--Ogden Pilot." (Salt Lake Evening Chronicle, November 10, 1882)
November 10, 1882
First regular U&N passenger trains to Deer Lodge today. (The New North West, Deer Lodge, November 10, 1882)
November 11, 1882
Idaho Division timetable No. 17 took effect November 10, 1882. (Ogden Herald, November 11, 1882)
November 13, 1882
Railroad Matters: "The Utah & Northern track was laid on Thursday evening to a point about seven miles below Deer Lodge - below the mouth of Mullan canyon, where a side track goes in. There are only about three miles of track yet to lay." (Salt Lake Evening Chronicle, November 13, 1882)
November 24, 1882
The U&N pay car made its first visit to Deer Lodge yesterday, S. T. Josslyn is paymaster, (The New North West, Deer Lodge, November 24, 1882)
November 24, 1882
Arrangement of Pullman layover on U&N at Deer Lodge explained. (The New North West, Deer Lodge, November 24, 1882)
28 November 1882
H. E. Hatch has resigned as U&N agent at Logan; replaced by C. D. W. Fullmer. (The Utah Journal, Logan, 28 November 1882)
December 15, 1882
U&N trains 5 and 6, Ogden to Logan and return, will now have a passenger car. (The Utah Journal, Logan, December 15, 1882)
December 16, 1882
A new U&N timecard as of November 10, 1882. (The Blackfoot Register, December 16, 1882)
December 16, 1882
An item saying that the U & N has 21 Baldwin engines and 22 Brooks. (The Blackfoot Register, December 16, 1882)
December 30, 1882
Railroad Chat: "Constant additions are being made to the locomotive force of the Utah & Northern. The road is at present doing an immense business." (Salt Lake Evening Chronicle, December 30, 1882)
December 30, 1882
At U&N Eagle Rock shops, two box cars a day are being turned out, until 80 are finished. A sleeper and a coach are in for repairs. (The Blackfoot Register, December 30, 1882)
December 30, 1882
"O.S.L. Items" - "A few days ago a narrow gauge engine made an attempt to run on the broad gauge tracks. A complete failure was made of the experiment." (The Blackfoot Register, December 30, 1882)
January 9, 1883
"The Utah and Northern Railway has declared its first dividend." (Salt Lake Daily Herald, January 9, 1883)
January 10, 1883
"The Utah & Northern has received a new locomotive brought from the Union Pacific narrow gauge road in Kansas." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, January 10, 1883)
January 10, 1883
"The U & N locomotive force has been increased by the addition of three engines from the Nevada Central railroad, which will be used as switch engines at different stations along the line." (Ogden Herald, January 10, 1883)
January 11, 1883
"The Utah & Northern has received three locomotives from the Nevada Central." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, January 11, 1883)
January 14, 1883
"The Utah and Northern railroad has declared its first dividend." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, January 14, 1883)
February 3, 1883
A Battle Creek item mentions that U&N engines 34, 37, 39 and 43 have been transferred to the north end of the road, and engines 15, 17 and 19 to the south end; the Brooks are 'the largest engines' on the road. Engine No. 34 has just been overhauled at Eagle Rock, and is 'a thing of beauty,' (The Blackfoot Register, February 3, 1883)
February 6, 1883
"Snow on the U. & N." mentions the use of a flanger, by that word. (Utah Journal, Logan, February 6, 1883)
February 6, 1883
A wreck occurred Saturday on the U&N, at China Point, below Beaver Canyon, in the which two engines were laid over on their sides. (Utah Journal, Logan, February 6, 1883)
February 8, 1883
U&N Warm Springs depot completed. (Ogden Herald, February 8, 1883)
February 14, 1883
U&N agent at Deer Lodge is George B. Smythe (The New North West, Deer Lodge, February 14, 1883.)
March 17, 1883
New U&N timecard Wednesday March 14, 1883. (The Blackfoot Register, March 17, 1883)
March 17, 1883
There are four U&N 'dinkey' baggage cars under construction at the shops in Eagle Rock. (1885 roster says were cars 54-57) (The Blackfoot Register, March 17, 1883)
April 21, 1883
One sleeper, one coach and a caboose under repairs in the Eagle Rock car shops. (The Blackfoot Register, April 21, 1883)
April 24, 1883
"All the cars of the Utah & Northern train, consisting of coaches, cabooses and box cars, were blown from the wheels, at the depot in Ogden this morning." (Salt Lake Evening Chronicle, April 24, 1883)
April 24, 1883
Early this morning, the 24th, two coaches and a sleeper were blown over at Franklin, on the U. & N., and six box cars were blown over at Collinston. (Utah Journal, Logan, April 24, 1883)
April 27, 1883
"The freight cars, passenger coaches, cabooses and sleeper, blown from the U. & N. track on Tuesday, were brought to Logan for repairs, and on Thursday all but one were on the track again. Master Mechanic Croft fixed 'em up quick." (Utah Journal, Logan, April 27, 1883)
April 28, 1883
U&N Eagle Rock Items - "I. H. Congdon, General Superintendent of the M.P.& C. departments, with other officers of the road, were in town last Sunday. They ordered the locomotive shops at Logan to be moved to Eagle Rock, and also gave the car department some new work in the way of excursion cars." (The Blackfoot Register, April 28, 1883)
May 5, 1883
Eagle Rock notes - "The new offices are about ready for occupation. The records of the Utah & Northern will be here in a day or two." (The Blackfoot Register, May 5, 1883)
May 5, 1883
Eagle Rock notes - "Last Tuesday the sleeper Argo was turned out of the shop. It has been undergoing a thorough overhauling. The finish of it now does credit to the workmen of the Eagle Rock shops." (The Blackfoot Register, May 5, 1883)
May 19, 1883
Eagle Rock Notes - "Engine No. 11, which recently ran into another train, now has a new cab." "The car shops are building eight excursion cars, from flat cars -- they get passenger car trucks, platform added to each end, an iron roof, and the seats run across the car, no aisle, seats are reversible, a platform or step of six inches width being added the length of the car. Also the excursion cars will have heavy curtains, just in case." "We noticed the sleeping car Security in the shop again. This seems to be an ill-fated car, as it is the only one on the road that has ever met with an accident and this is the seventh time it has had to go to the shop." "Way car, or 'caboose', as it is generally called, No. 73 is just ready to leave the shop." The car has a cupola, and is a two-truck car. (The Blackfoot Register, May 19, 1883)
May 26, 1883
Eagle Rock Notes - "Three of the excursion cars are nearly done." "Coach 13 will leave the shop Saturday. It is one of the newest coaches on the road. It was built by the Pullman Palace Car Co., and was made to sell rather than for durability. It will leave the Eagle Rock Shops looking as trim as thorough workmanship can make it." "Engines 42 and 43 are in the roundhouse for general repairs." (The Blackfoot Register, May 26, 1883)
June 2, 1883
The U&N pay car is being painted. (The Blackfoot Register, June 2, 1883)
June 16, 1883
The U&N pay car about done, as also one of the excursion cars; the Motive Power department is doing work for the Oregon Short Line these days; and the Railway Mail Service on the Utah & Northern employs seven clerks, on run between Ogden and Deer Lodge, Montana. (The Blackfoot Register, June 16, 1883)
June 23, 1883
Eagle Rock Notes - "This week two new waycars were taken through to the upper divisions of the U & N. They are not as well finished as those out of the Eagle Rock shops." "The car department is working until after ten every night, in order to get out as many excursion cars as possible before the fourth. They are also rushing work on the sleeper Security." (The Blackfoot Register, June 23, 1883)
June 23, 1883
Utah & Northern completed a new depot at Franklin, Idaho. (Salt Lake Herald, June 23, 1883)
July 7, 1883
There are 47 cars of steel rails at Ogden for the U & N; the replacing of all iron with steel in the near future is contemplated. (The Blackfoot Register, July 7, 1883)
July 14, 1883
U&N engines 31, 41 and 43 are being overhauled; engine 33 is getting air brakes so as to be used on the passenger trains. "The work on the trucks of the excursion cars is progressing finely. The remaining four cars will soon be ready for the road." "The plans are all laid out and the work commenced on a new baggage car. This is a much needed car on the road." (The Blackfoot Register, July 14, 1883)
August 4, 1883
Eagle Rock Notes - "The excursion cars are all out but one. Last week one baggage car and the sleeper Advance left the shop looking neat and trim. The sleeper Progress is now in the shop for a cleaning-up and a new coat of varnish." "Air brakes are being put on the dinkey baggage cars as fast as they can be spared off the road." (The Blackfoot Register, August 4, 1883)
August 4, 1883
Engine 43 is turned out, and engine 25 is now in for overhaul. (The Blackfoot Register, August 4, 1883)
August 11, 1883
Eagle Rook Notes - "The last one of the excursion cars has just been finished. Friend Paul says the sleeper Security has not been in the shops for nearly two months, but he looks for it as soon as there is room to put it there." (The Blackfoot Register, August 11, 1883)
August 18, 1883
The locomotive shops to be removed from Logan to Eagle Rock within the next month. (The Blackfoot Register, August 18, 1883)
August 19, 1883
The southbound Utah & Northern freight hit a cow on the track about four miles out of Butte. Both engines were thrown off, and quite badly damaged, it appears; William Cullum, fireman on the second engine, was not able to jump in time, died in the wreck of scalding. (Salt Lake Daily Herald, August 19, 1883)
September 2, 1883
"The Utah & Northern connected with the Northern Pacific at Little Blackfoot, last week." (Salt Lake Daily Herald, September 2, 1883) ("Little Blackfoot" was renamed as Garrison very soon after this time. Garrison was named for William Lloyd Garrison, Sr., father-in-law of NP president Henry Villard. William Lloyd Garrison had been the nation's best known anti-slavery abolitionist and had died in 1879.)
On September 8, 1883, Northern Pacific completed its transcontinental line between St. Paul, Minnesota and Wallula, Washington, driving its last spike at Goldcreek, Montana just 8.25 miles west of Garrison.
September 4, 1883
Robbery of U&N train - conductor and eight passengers in the caboose taken for everything by 'a Montana cowboy' - near Richmond, Cache County, Utah. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, September 4, 1883)
September 8, 1883
Five wrecked engines in for repairs; engines 10 and 20 went into the ditch, killing an engineer, cause was cattle on the track; and engine 43 ran into a car of rails, which badly broke up the front of the 43. Also, engine 32 has air brakes; Engineer Baker, on engine 36, has retired. (The Blackfoot Register, September 8, 1883)
October 11, 1883
The fare on the Utah & Northern, Butte to Ogden, has been $30.10, and is now reduced to $25.00. (Salt Lake Daily Herald, October 11, 1883)
October 13, 1883
For some time the Eagle Rock car shop has been turning out two new coal cars a day, but at present they are working on a 'Pullman palace car', and they are turning out "as fine a palace car as Mr. Pullman himself." (The Blackfoot Register, October 13, 1883)
November 3, 1883
Frank Reardon, master mechanic at Eagle Rock since it was built, is now to be General Master Mechanic of the Idaho Division, having in his charge the Utah & Northern and the Oregon Short line. Mr. William Hemphill, from Rawlins, Wyoming, will take over at Eagle Rock. (The Blackfoot Register, November 3, 1883)
November 10, 1883
Fifty new U&N box cars are to be built; a new baggage car is nearly completed; "and the palace sleeping car Rambler will be out on the line in a few days" having received a general overhauling, and today is a better and finer looking car than when it came from the Pullman car shops." (The Blackfoot Register, November 10, 1883)
November 13, 1883
"The Utah & Northern has about completed arrangements for running sleeping cars up to Garrison. Heretofore, they have only come as far on the main line as Silver Bow Junction." (Salt Lake Daily Herald, November 13, 1883)
November 15, 1883
A new timetable in effect tomorrow on the Utah & Northern, which shows sleeper service to Garrison. (Salt Lake Daily Herald, November 15, 1883)
November 17, 1883
New U&N timetable went into effect Thursday 15 November 1883. (The Blackfoot Register, November 17, 1883)
November 24, 1883
Once the 50 U&N box cars mentioned on the 10th are finished, another 50 are to be built, or so says the paper. (The Blackfoot Register, November 24, 1883)
November 28, 1883
A letter from James H. Martineau, C. E., on elevations of Utah and Northern Rwy. stations. (Utah Journal, Logan, November 28, 1883)
January 12, 1884
The paint shop, Eagle Rock, about to turn out the new caboose and some coaches. (The Blackfoot Register, January 12, 1884)
February 17, 1884
"Railroad Racket." "The car shops of the Utah & Northern division of the Union Pacific road at Eagle Rock, Idaho, are full of work. They are at present engaged on fifty new box cars that are to have a carrying capacity of 30,000 pounds. A new baggage car, 42 feet by 8 feet 2 inches, has just been completed. The road is putting Miller platforms on all its passenger cars and double brakes on its freight cars." (Salt Lake Daily Herald, February 17, 1884)
February 20, 1884
"Montana Matters." "After last Sunday, Garrison station, at the mouth of Little Blackfoot, will be known as Lloyd's, and the station now known as the Utah & Northern Junction will hereafter be called Garrison." (Salt Lake Daily Herald, February 20, 1884)
March 22, 1884
Eagle Rock - "Foreman Paul just turned out the sleeper Argo, having given her a general overhauling; the Argo is now the finest sleeper on the U&N." (Paul's name was John W. Paul, and he was a Master Car Builder.) (The Blackfoot Register, March 22, 1884)
June 3, 1884
John Milligan, fireman on Utah & Northern, fell from Engine 16 into river about two miles north of Mendon, yesterday; body not found as yet. (Ogden Herald, June 3, 1884)
June 16, 1884
Body of Milligan found yesterday, seven miles downstream. (Ogden Herald, June 16, 1884)
August 19, 1884
"The Utah & Northern has just received three engines, No's 34, 36 and 38, from the Denver, South Park & Pacific. These engines are very large and powerful, and will render valuable service on the U & N, which is crowded with business." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, August 19, 1884)
September 14, 1884
Idaho Division, Union Pacific, timetable No. 7 effective 1:00am Monday September 15, 1884. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, September 14, 1884)
December 25, 1884
Utah & Northern in past three months has gotten 23 engines and 300 cars from the DSP&P, and still not enough for the business! (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, December 25, 1884)
December 27, 1884
The Utah & Northern is getting another lot of borrowed engines from the South Park, 10 to 15 having arrived in the past ten days, and more are coming. The Union Pacific's attitude appears to be that the Utah & Northern desperately needs the equipment, while the South Park does not. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, December 27, 1884)
March 13, 1885
The Logan shops of the Utah & Northern have burned down again. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, March 13, 1885)
March 14, 1885
"Fire at Logan." "At about one o'clock this morning the watchman of the Utah & Northern depot at Logan discovered the machine shops on fire. Every effort was made to extinguish the flames, but to no avail. The buildings were totally destroyed. Loss estimated at $5,000. Origin unknown, but an investigation is being made." (Salt Lake Evening Chronicle, March 14, 1885)
April 4, 1885
Frank Reardon has resigned as Master Mechanic, and gone east. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, April 4, 1885)
April 4, 1885
The Idaho Register, of Eagle Rock, put out a thing called "Resources of Idaho", No. 1 being for April 1885, and bound in with the regular paper, in this particular case. It contained an item of interest, as follows: "Curious Coal Cars" "One hundred coal cars of the Denver, South Park & Pacific RR are being fitted up for transfer cars, in the shops here, the first installment of 25 being nearly completed. They will be known as the Pocatello Transfer cars, and are of twenty ton capacity." Item is longer, but says a lot of nothing. In essence, the cars will be run from the coal mines in Wyoming up to the mining region of Montana, via U.P., O.S.L., and the U&N, changing gauge at Pocatello, on a Ramsey Transfer apparatus." (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, April 4, 1885)
April 25, 1885
A badly wrecked U&N engine has been brought in from north for repairs. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, April 25, 1885)
April 26, 1885
One of the Utah & Northern Pullman sleepers will go east tomorrow on the D&RGW, as the business is greater than can be handled in the cars assigned to the D&RG. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, April 26, 1885)
April 30, 1885
U&N sleeper used on D&RGW again yesterday. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, April 30, 1885)
May 9, 1885
"The U.& N. is renting several hundred freight cars from the Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad, and still they are scarcely able to accommodate the patrons of the road." (The Utah Journal, Logan, May 9, 1885)
May 13, 1885
"All freight trains on the U & N are now handled with the air brake. This will insure greater safety in descending the heavy grades of the road." (The Utah Journal, Logan, May 13, 1885)
May 13, 1885
"The Pullman conductor that was formerly a part of the equipment of every train, has been taken off the trains on the U. & N., and everything pertaining to the sleepers is now left in charge of the colored porter and the regular passenger conductor." (The Utah Journal, Logan, May 13, 1885)
May 13, 1885
Logan wants new depot. (The Utah Journal, Logan, May 13, 1885)
May 23, 1885
The U&N Master Mechanic at present is John S. Hickey. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, May 23, 1885)
June 10, 1885
"One of the Denver and South Park engines that has been in use on the Utah & Northern during the past winter was returned to the former road this week. Slackness of business on the U & N is the cause of the removal." (The Utah Journal, Logan, June 10, 1885)
June 13, 1885
Item saying that the U&N has 60 engines in service at present. W. H. Smith is storekeeper at the Eagle Rock shops. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, June 13, 1885)
July 22, 1885
Three wrecked engines are in for repairs at the Eagle Rock shops of the Utah & Northern. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, July 22, 1885)
August 8, 1885
"A number of D & S P freight cars which have been in use on the U & N since last winter have been shipped back to the former road." (The Utah Journal, Logan, August 8, 1885)
August 29, 1885
Item 'Logan and the Shops', from Logan Journal. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, August 29, 1885)
October 3, 1885
A new style of signal, a semaphore, has been put in at the U&N telegraph office in Logan. (The Utah Journal, Logan, October 3, 1885)
October 3, 1885
New scales are in use at Eagle Rock; to be NO more overloaded cars! (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, October 3, 1885)
October 31, 1885
Item on 'a small dinkey caboose' which 'rode smooth enough on the ties'. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, October 31, 1885)
November 5, 1885
An item lifted from the Butte Daily Miner."Brigham Young's Engine" "An old curiosity is at the Utah & Northern shops in the shape of Brigham Young's famous engine, with which he used to travel over the road when the road was under his control. The engine was manufactured by the Grant Locomotive Works in September, 1872. Its capacity was thirty-five miles an hour. The cylinders are twelve inches in diameter with a twenty-inch stroke, and when on the road it had three-foot driving wheels. The company is now using it for a stationary to supply the motive power in the shops. Engineer Stewart is proud of his engine." (Salt Lake Herald, November 5, 1885)
November 14, 1885
A new U&N timetable on Wednesday November 11, 1885. (The Utah Journal, Logan, November 14, 1885)
November 14, 1885
"The Utah & Northern has leased five engines from the Denver & Rio Grande railroad, for five or six months. Two of them arrived this morning, two more will arrive Monday, and the other next week." "It is understood that they will be used on the south end of the road." (The Utah Journal, Logan, November 14, 1885)
November 14, 1885
"The Utah & Northern has leased five engines from the Denver & Rio Grande railroad, for five or six months. Two of them arrived this morning, two more will arrive Monday, and the other next week." (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, November 14, 1885)
December 5, 1885
As one result of a recent wreck at Ross Fork, seven cars have been brought into the shops for rebuilding. (The Blackfoot Register, December 5, 1885)
December 12, 1885
Wreck of southbound passenger train between Camas and Hawgood, about 177 miles north of Logan; the baggage car and the mail car telescoped together, other cars more or less damaged; Superintendent. Blickensderfer in his special car on end of train is alright. One William O. Palmer, of Logan, was killed. (The Utah Journal, Logan, December 12, 1885)
December 12, 1885
Reference to the cabooses as '2 x 4 dinkey cars.' (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, December 12, 1885)
December 12, 1885
Serious passenger train wreck five miles north of Market Lake station, yesterday; two coaches and a sleeper thrown off by a broken rail, and the track on a high fill at that point. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, December 12, 1885)
December 26, 1885
Two columns are devoted to a reporter's ramblings after a ramble through the Eagle Rock shops. The roundhouse is one of ten stalls, in which at present there are eight engines being worked upon; at the car shops, two coaches are being repaired, and also a sleeper being rebuilt after a rather serious wreck (see 12 Dec., above); next to the sleeper were several coal cars having the "Westenhouse" air brake applied; outside, next to the shop, were standing the two coaches and a mail car from the Market Lake wreck, waiting to go in for treatment, "and a good deal of it they seem to need." The safe went through the mail car roof, among other problems; also, the reporter visited what is known as "The Scrap Pile," which consisted of four or five disabled locomotives, and other kindred scrap. (The Blackfoot Register, December 26, 1885)
January 5, 1886
Wreck of a U&N train near Ogden on the 31st of December 1885. (Salt Lake Herald, January 5, 1886)
January 9, 1886
S. T. Robinson is agent at Eagle Rock. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, January 9, 1886)
January 16, 1886
Article containing names of most of the engineers, firemen and conductors presently on the Utah & Northern.
A lengthy item, containing the names of many of the conductors, engineers and firemen who work on the Utah & Northern, and most of whom live in Eagle Rock. Passenger crews go north to Butte and South to Ogden, while freight crews go north to Spring Hill and south to Battle Creek. The timekeeper is Mr. G. A. Robethan, who says that there are about 44 engineers on the payroll. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, January 16, 1886) (Spring Hill was where the rail line met the Red Rock River, and in 1889 was renamed Lima.)
February 6, 1886
Article describing contents of new Pocatello depot, by name and room numbers. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, February 6, 1886)
February 20, 1886
Item on the Logan Shops, which have seen better days; they had a fire a year earlier, and the U. P. apparently feels no urgency to rebuild the damaged parts. At present only one engine in for repairs, another one /'having been completed last Saturday, the 13th. (The Utah Journal, Logan, February 20, 1886)
March 15, 1886
"The rolling stock on the U.& N.R.R. will shortly be supplemented by four new engines which are on the road from Omaha." (Ogden Herald, March 15, 1886)
April 1, 1886
"South Butte" "Engines number 260 and 261, which lately arrived from the East, are satisfactory to Foreman Dave Wright, who says he would like to have a few more of them on this division." (Butte Daily Miner, April 1, 1886)
April 2, 1886
New timetable in effect April 1, 1886, on the Utah & Northern. (Butte Daily Miner, April 2, 1886)
April 15, 1886
"South Butte Dots" "Engines number 262 and 263 are expected to arrive, tomorrow, from Eagle Rock. They are reported to be daisies." "Engine No. 91 was sent on the road last week after being thoroughly overhauled. She is doing well and is as good as new." "It is to be hoped that Engine No. 193 will soon be able to leave the shop. This engine has been rebuilt almost from the wheels up." "The Utah & Northern will lay a steel rail between Anaconda and Stuart, a distance of nine miles, as soon as the rails arrive, which have been ordered." "Quite a number of firemen are kicking at the large engines. They say they take lots of coal. They ought to fire one of the old camelbacks going up a 140 foot grade." "It is rumored that Engineer Orville Adams will get No. 262, one of the new engines which will be used on the Hill to the Anaconda mines, while Engineer Billy Brannan will be the other lucky man, as he will in all probability get No. 263." "Engines number 198 and 206 which were borrowed from the Denver & South Park Railroad have been ordered to Denver. The two new engines which are now at Eagle Rock will take their place. Engine No. 190 no doubt will be taken off the Hill and put to work on the Anaconda ore train." (Butte Daily Miner, April 15, 1886)
May 5, 1886
Item says the Logan railroad shops a thing of the past. (The Utah Journal, Logan, May 5, 1886)
May 5, 1886
An item on the brakemen's strike, at Eagle Rock. (Butte Daily Miner, May 5, 1886)
May 6, 1886
The brakemen's strike has reached Butte. (Butte Daily Miner, May 6, 1886)
May 7, 1886
The paper prints 'General Order No. 33,' which apparently gives a new and lower pay scale for conductors, baggage men and brakemen. The order is dated at Omaha, April 26, 1886, to take effect May 1, 1886. The new lower pay was not liked; and this order was apparently the immediate cause of the strike. (Butte Daily Miner, 7 May 1886)
May 8, 1886
The paper prints the text of an interesting telegram: "Pocatello, May 7, 1886." "To all Brakemen on the Ninth and Tenth Divisions: "You are hereby notified that unless you report for duty before 9 o'clock a.m., Sunday May 9, 1886, you will be considered as having left the service of the Company voluntarily, and your places will be filled by other men." "R. Blickensderfer, Sup't." (Butte Daily Miner, May 7, 1886)
May 8, 1886
"Beautifully decorated Pullman sleepers are attached to each express train on the Utah & Northern." (The Utah Journal, Logan, May 8, 1886)
May 8, 1886
Brakeman's strike on the Utah & Northern, as on many other roads at this time. It did not succeed in its aims, apparently. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, May 8, 1886)
May 8, 1886
The U & N shops at Logan have been permanently closed. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, May 8, 1886)
May 9, 1886
"Score One for the Company," in that the strike seems to be broken. A freight train left Butte yesterday, as did four such from Eagle Rock. Several old brakemen were willing to return to work, rather than lose their places. The train out of Butte was hauled by engines 88 and 10. The Miner received a telegram, from Spring Hill, May 9th, 3 a.m.: "Engines No. 88 and 10, hauling freight train no. 612 (mixed), arrived here at 2:40 o'clock this morning. Two extra freight trains from Eagle Rook have also arrived here,..." (Butte Daily Miner, May 9, 1886)
May 10, 1886
Another item on the late strike; apparently it did not have the approval of Mr. Wilkeson, chief of the Brotherhood. (Butte Daily Miner, May 10, 1886)
May 14, 1886
Steel for the third rail between Stuart and Silver Bow is now being distributed, and standard gauge ties are being put in between the two points named, every other tie being replaced with a new one. 120 men were put to work on Wednesday the 12th, and 50 more men are wanted. (Butte Daily Miner, May 14, 1886)
May 14, 1886
"Wreck on Utah [&] Northern," being the spectacular smash that quite effectively destroyed DSP&P Mason bogie no. 50 on the spot, and damaged Utah & Northern engines 24 and 17, Baldwin Moguls. This is a long item, which is given in full in Colorado Rail Annual No. 15, page 53. James Clark, fireman on the bogie, was killed instantly; Andy Keach, fireman on the 24, died of injuries on the 16th. (Butte Daily Miner, May 14, 1886)
May 14, 1886
"THE U. & N. ACCIDENT" (Ogden Herald, May 14, 1886)
"One Man Killed and Three Badly Injured" "The particulars of the terrible accident which occurred between Eagle Rock and Camas on the U.& N. on Wednesday night are as follows: There were eleven cars of rails being switched and three of the cars were not coupled with the rest. In moving the cars around, the three that were detached started down the line and the brakeman, a new man, being unable to stop them, opened the switch and let them run down the main line. They continued to gain speed, and after running about three miles crashed into a freight train that was going up with three engines on. The first engine was completely smashed up. The boiler was hurled on one side of the track and the water tank to the other; while the machinery and running gear laid across the track. The flue pipes were twisted in all shapes and some of the rails were sent completely through the boiler so terrible was the force with which the cars were struck.
"As stated in last evening's issue, a fireman named Azro Keech was severely injured, and Engineer Flood was badly scalded. Another fireman named James Clark was killed outright, and George Oram was considerably bruised and shaken up, but no bones were broken. Shortly after the first three cars struck the train, the remaining eight, by some means, got started, and they too came booming down the track, and struck the wreck, adding greater confusion to the already fatal wreck. Fireman Keech, with Spartan heroism, had dragged himself from the wreck. His right leg was broken between the knee and the ankle, and was hanging by a piece of flesh and a few tendons. He endeavored to get as far as possible from the wreck,. and in so doing had to pick up his broken leg and put it in front of him, and then crawl as far as possible, when the operation would be repeated. When found, he was engaged in cutting strips from his overalls and binding his leg, drawing them tight with pieces of sage brush. The injured men, with the exception of Oram, were brought to this city, and last evening Keech's leg was amputated by Dr. J. D. Carnahan, the house surgeon at the Hospital, Dr. J. J. Ahearn assisting, at the lower femur, and this morning he was resting as comfortably as could be expected. His left leg is also abrased in several places.
"Engineer Flood's burns were attended to at the Hospital, but he is yet in considerable pain.
"Keech is a married man and has two children. His wife is present with him at the hospital. Flood is an unmarried man and has no relatives in this part of the country. He comes from Iowa.
"The remains of Clark, the unfortunate young man who was killed, were expected to arrive this afternoon to be embalmed. He was only about 19 years of age and his home is in California."
In the 'Notes' column, it says "The engine of the passenger train jumped the track in endeavoring to climb the steep incline of the temporary track which was built around the wreck."
May 15, 1886
A lengthy article on the 12 May wreck of DSP&P bogie number 50, in Beaver Canyon; the brakeman who let the cars of rail loose on the mainline is given as T. M. Taylor. According to this article, the engineer of the 50 was Charles Flood, and the fireman was James Clark; of the second engine, George Oram, engineer, and A. Keach, fireman; and of the third engine, Burt Chapman, engineer, and William Purdy, fireman. "Every man was thrown from his engine." The train was one of 21 cars, with all three of the engines on the point, No. 50 leading. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, May 15, 1886)
May 20, 1886
"Eagle Rock, May 19. -- A heavy gale of wind from the south struck Eagle Rock about 2 o'clock this afternoon,..." which was Wednesday. The Utah & Northern's roundhouse, facing into this wind, and with one door open, was lifted off its foundations and came down in a heap. The house was full of engines at the time and all were somewhat damaged, as were a couple of men, then at work inside the building. (Butte Daily Miner, May 20, 1886)
May 22, 1886
The roundhouse at Eagle Rock blew down on Wednesday, the 19th, and a photographer appeared shortly thereafter and took several pictures. It at about 2:20pm, and every stall had an engine in it fell. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, May 22, 1886)
May 22, 1886
"The parts of engines 17 and 24 arrived in Eagle Rock from Dry Creek on Tuesday, and on Wednesday the boiler of engine 50 was brought in on a flat car. The boiler looks as though a cannon ball had struck it in front, and is a great object of curiosity." Wednesday was the 19th of May. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, May 22, 1886)
June 11, 1886
"The Third Rail" is completed between Stuart and Silver Bow, and is expected to be completed to Butte in a few days. (Butte Daily Miner, June 11, 1886)
June 12, 1886
"Engine 265, one of the new Rhode Island engines, broke a cylinder head on Tuesday." (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, June 12, 1886)
June 28, 1886
"Railroad Notes" column reports that sidings are having their gauge altered; Saturday a standard gauge turntable arrived, to replace the narrow one now in use at the shops; the U. & N. roundhouse at the shops, South Butte, is having seven stalls made over to accommodate the wider engines; and L. C. Leslie, Idaho Division Assistant Superintendent, is in charge of the widening work to Garrison. (Butte Daily Miner, June 28, 1886)
July 1, 1886
"The Montana Union" "Articles of Incorporation of the Montana Union Railway Company have been filed in the office of the Secretary of the Territory." The incorporators are, for the U. P., Charles Francis Adams, Jr., Fred L. Ames, and S. R. Callaway; and for the Northern Pacific, Robert Harris, J. Lewis Harris, and Benjamin P. Cheney. The seventh is General N. J. T. Dana: Control of the line between Butte and Garrison is scheduled to pass to the Montana Union company on August 7, 1886, while regular standard gauge trains are supposed to start running on the 1st of August. (Butte Daily Miner, July 1, 1886)
(Read more about Montana Union Railway)
July 5, 1886
"Railroad Notes" "All the engines are now being backed to Silver Bow Junction, for the purpose of turning them, until the new turn-table is put in place." "The Utah & Northern Company has been laying a heavy steel rail between Pocatello and South Butte during the past spring and summer, and that part of the railroad is now in excellent condition for fast trains." "The Montana Union has secured two consolidated hog engines, two ten wheelers and four eight wheelers for its road. It is expected that the two consolidated engines will be put on the ore run between Butte and Anaconda, and the two ten wheelers will be used for freight, while the others will be used on passenger business between Butte and Helena." (Butte Daily Miner, July 5, 1886)
July 5, 1886
"Railroad Notes" "The Utah & Northern, with its fifty-six stock cars, is handling over 20,000 head of stock." (Butte Daily Miner, July 5, 1886)
July 9, 1886
"Railroad Matters." Arrangements being completed for the transfer of the upper end of the U. & N. to the Montana Union. It was thought that Mr. Choate, then on the South Park, would become Superintendent of the Montana Union; but he did not. (Butte Daily Miner, July 9, 1886)
July 12, 1886
"A Smash-Up at the Depot." "A couple of Utah & Northern locomotives were somewhat damaged yesterday morning by colliding near the freight depot at South Butte. Engine No. 161, a switch engine, was moving down the main track and ran into the rear end of engine No. 262, which was being run into a side track. The cab of the 161 was badly smashed, and, strange to say, the other engine escaped with slight damage. It was the prompt action of the engineer of the yard engine that prevented a very serious accident. He reversed his engine so quick as to impair its speed. The wreck obstructed the track for some time, but did not interfere with the going and coming of regular trains." (Butte Daily Miner, July 12, 1886)
July 13, 1886
"A Chapter of Accidents," being four relatively minor scrapes on the Utah & Northern during the past two days, including the one related above. The most serious of these was the ditching of the engine and baggage car on the regular passenger train between Butte and Garrison, about three miles south of Garrison. Engine 92, then at Silver Bow, was sent to assist, as was the switch engine from Garrison. (Butte Daily Miner, July 13, 1886)
July 17, 1886
A fire in Pocatello on the 12th, in which the old passenger depot, converted into a house after the building of the new depot, burned to the ground, and five carloads of ties also destroyed. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, July 17, 1886)
July 17, 1886
Already the rumor is wafting about on the breeze that the shops will go from Eagle Rock to Pocatello. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, July 17, 1886)
July 18, 1886
Item lifted from Butte Miner of nearly a week ago, regarding four wrecks on the U&N, of a more or less minor nature, within 48 hours, mentions engine 92. (Salt Lake Herald, July 18, 1886)
July 21, 1886
"The Montana Union." "The change of gauge of the railroad between Butte and Garrison will be completed Friday next. No narrow-gauge trains will leave Butte for Garrison after 8:30 o'clock to-morrow morning. A broad-gauge passenger train will leave Garrison at 7 p.m. Friday, arriving in this city about midnight, and thereafter, until further notice, broad-gauge trains will arrive and depart at the hours by which the narrow-gauge trains are now regulated. No freight will be received for points north of Stuart until Saturday morning, but there will be no suspension of traffic between Butte and Anaconda. This announcement is official." (Butte Daily Miner, July 21, 1886)
July 22, 1886
"News of our Neighbors" "Deer Lodge and Vicinity" excerpt from a letter dated at Deer Lodge, July 18th: "The Utah and Northern will be changed next Sunday to a broad gauge from Stuart to Garrison. New ties have been put in by taking out one-half of the old and replacing them with broad gauge ties. Half the spikes have been driven on one side to shove the rail against when ready to widen so that it can all be completed on one day. The narrow gauge stock will all be drawn off next Saturday. Between Butte and Anaconda a third rail is being laid, and that part will be left for use by both broad and narrow gauge trains, while the thirty-six miles from Stuart to Garrison will have only one gauge, so that Northern Pacific trains can run over it." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, July 22, 1886)
July 22, 1886
"The Change of Gauge." "At 8:40 this morning the last through U. & N. narrow--gauge mail train will leave for Garrison, and when this train leaves Garrison on the return, crews will immediately set to work on widening the railroad in its wake, between Garrison and Deer Lodge; and the section between Deer Lodge and Stuart is at present scheduled to be widened tomorrow, with the first broad-gauge passenger train, Montana Union, to be run tomorrow night." (Butte Daily Miner, July 22, 1886)
July 23, 1886
When the (last) regular narrow gauge train left Garrison for Butte, yesterday afternoon, a large gang set to work at once on widening the railroad from that point, working south; once the train had passed Deer Lodge, another gang set out to widen the line, heading north. Also, a gang started working south from Deer Lodge; and upon the train passing Stuart, another gang went to work from that point, heading north. This is all to be completed 'this afternoon,' says the paper. (Butte Daily Miner, July 23, 1886)
July 23, 1886
A telegram sent from Deer Lodge notes that the first Montana Union train, standard gauge, arrived at that point at 9:15 p.m. on the 22nd, pulled by Northern Pacific engine No. 313. (Butte Daily Miner, July 23, 1886)
July 24, 1886
"Broad Gauge Cars in Butte." "At 4:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon the work of widening the track between Deer Lodge and Stuart was completed and at 7:10 o'clock last evening the first broad-gauge arrived in Butte. This train left Garrison at 4:30 p.m., in charge of Conductor West. It consisted of Northern Pacific locomotive No. 350, a first class passenger car, a second-class passenger car and an express car. The engine was manned by Northern Pacific employees, but the remainder of the train was in charge of Utah & Northern men. Commencing this morning, standard-gauge trains will run regularly between Butte and Garrison, but the traffic between Butte and Anaconda will continue on the narrow-gauge track until further notice." (Butte Daily Miner, July 24, 1886)
July 27, 1886
"News of Our Neighbors" "Montana Matters" "The Utah & Northern narrow gauge between Garrison and Butte has been changed to ordinary broad gauge. It was concluded in sections and altogether but one train was laid off. The first broad gauge train arrived in Butte on the 23rd. Traffic between Butte and Anaconda will be on the narrow gauge for the present." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, July 27, 1886)
July 27, 1886
A notice to the effect that Utah & Northern employees between Butte and Garrison will, on and after August 1, 1886, be working for the Montana Union Railway Company. Also, "In a few days there will be erected at Silver Bow Junction an apparatus for the transfer of cars from narrow to standard gauge trucks, and vice-versa." (Butte Daily Miner, July 27, 1886)
July 28, 1886
An item lifted from the Inter-Mountain: "The first broad gauge train ever in Butte pulled in at 7:15 Friday evening, and pulled out again at 8:50 this morning. The train was drawn by locomotive No. 350, George Neffs, engineer. The train consisted of three coaches and one baggage car, and was run by Conductor West and crew." (Salt Lake Daily Herald, July 28, 1886)
July 30, 1886
The standard gauge has been extended to Anaconda. (Butte Daily Miner, July 30, 1886)
August 3, 1886
"Local Railway Notes" "The road between Garrison and Butte will be turned over to the Montana Union August 7th." "Northern Pacific broad-gauge cars will be used, and when the third rail is laid north to Garrison through trains will be run between St. Paul and Butte." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, August 3, 1886)
August 3, 1886
Wreck of passenger train on the Utah & Northern at about 4:00 am Sunday - several cars off and variously damaged, including the sleeper Rambler, which the paper says is now kindling wood. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, August 3, 1886)
August 10, 1886
An item lifted from the Idaho Reporter: "The Utah & Northern Railroad company will hereafter have all its repairing done at Eagle Rock." (Salt Lake Herald, August 10, 1886)
August 10, 1886
An item lifted from the Idaho Reporter: "The Utah & Northern employees engaged between Butte and Garrison have been officially notified that on August 1st they will be in the employment of the Montana Union Company." (Salt Lake Herald, August 10, 1886)
September 4, 1886
The roundhouse at Eagle Rock has not yet been rebuilt. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, September 4, 1886)
September 4, 1886
A note on an excursion to Beaver Canyon, with engine 18 and two 'neat and comfortable' coaches; engineer was a fellow named Mahoney. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, September 4, 1886)
September 18, 1886
Item says the matter of rebuilding the enginehouse has been settled in the affirmative, but gauge is undecided. The grade is being widened between Pocatello and Eagle Rock at present. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, September 18, 1886)
November 1886
The Utah & Northern roundhouse in Logan was dismantled and moved to Pocatello, after being vacant since February. There had been another fire in the roundhouse in March 1885 (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, March 13, 1885) but the damage was not repaired. The last locomotive repairs were done in late February 1886, and the Logan Shops were formally closed in May 1886. (Utah Journal, February 20, 1886; May 5, 1886; November 3, 1886; Idaho Register, May 8, 1886)
November 3, 1886
The roundhouse at Logan being dismantled and taken to Pocatello; item says that it has been empty for the past seven months. (The Utah Journal, Logan, November 3, 1886)
November 17, 1886
The U&N roundhouse at Battle Creek is being dismantled and taken to Pocatello, where a roundhouse of 30 stalls is to be built. (The Utah Journal, Logan, November 17, 1886)
November 20, 1886
The new U&N standard gauge cut-off line in Cache Valley is briefly mentioned; Oxfordites expect the work to begin soon. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, November 20, 1886)
November 20, 1886
A new U&N timetable last Wednesday, the 17th. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, November 20, 1886)
November 27, 1886
An accident on Cache Hill in morning of 26th, a brakeman named McCabe being killed in the process. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, November 27, 1886)
Novemer 30, 1886
In its annual report to the Auditor of the Territory of Montana, Utah & Northern stated that it owned 45 locomotives, 29 passenger cars, 12 express and baggage cars, 834 freight cars, and six cabooses. During the year ending on November 30, 1886, the railroad carried 122,326 passengers, along with 518,068 tons of local freight, 15,044 tons of through freight, and 260,126 tons of freight consisting of ore, cattle or grain. The railroad had killed the following farm animals: 124 horses four mules, 375 cattle, and 36 sheep; for which they paid local farmers a total of $10,522.16 in damages and losses. (Utah and Nothern Railway "Railroad Report" to the Auditor of the Territory of Montana, dated February 15, 1887, photocopy furnished by Thorton Waite)
December 27, 1886
New U&N timetable as of this date, No. 15, in effect at 12:05am; is set up on the 24-hour system. (The Utah Journal, Logan, December 27, 1886)
January 1, 1887
"Eagle Rock and the Railroad." interesting personality item; there is at present quite a bit of bad feeling between the town and the railroad, arising from the brakeman's strike several months ago. It appears that during this strike, Supt. Blickensderfer tried and failed to break the strike, in which strike the townspeople sided with the brakemen; Blick's response to that was a vow to make Eagle Rock a flag station in six months' time, and the removal of the shops and all to Pocatello is not surprisingly seen by the town as a part of Blick's plan to put an end to Eagle Rock. The paper says that Frank Reardon was the master mechanic until Blickensderfer took a dislike to him, and made Reardon's life miserable. States further that the Utah & Northern engines were the finest on the system, but that Blickensderfer sent reports to Omaha that only the South Park engines were fit for service, when just the opposite was true. (see item of March 12, 1887) (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, January 1, 1887)
January 15, 1887
"The motive power of the Montana Union is now entirely broad gauge engines. The narrow gauge engines have all been withdrawn and 13 new broad gauge ones have been ordered." (The Blackfoot Register, January 15, 1887)
January 20, 1887
For the Utah & Northern, Union Pacific has ordered six Rogers freight engines and 14 Grant freight engines, four passenger engines, five switch engines, and a number of cars. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, January 20, 1887)
February 5, 1887
Article on "Mr. Blickensderfer", none too complimentary; quotes out of a letter he wrote to E. Dickenson (U. P. official) in 1885:"I have now charge of the U. & N. and shall as fast as practicable remove all employees under Mr. St. Clair." (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, February 5, 1887)
March 12, 1887
An item says it took seven locomotives to get a train over the road from Butte to Ogden.: "The following incident shows quite forcibly the condition of the motive power of the Utah & Northern railroad. Conductor Covert had been nearly twenty-four hours trying to get a train from Pocatello to Spring Hill, three engines having given out, when he sent the following telegram to Trainmaster Mann: 'Please send us a real engine.' Trainmaster Mann asked him what he had now, and received: 'We have one White Chester, one Berkshire and one Maphrodite.' The large black engines with the extension front ends are called by railroad men 'hogs' and those little engines that came from the South Park are called 'sewing machines'." (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, March 12, 1887) (Spring Hill was where the rail line met the Red Rock River, and in 1889 was renamed Lima.)
March 29, 1887
Three of the 35 locomotives, built by Baldwin, arrived in Evanston last week. Have 18x26 inch cylinders, 63 inch drivers, two pair, and weigh 40 tons. Built with extended front end and straight stack. They are built for the Utah & Northern, lettered for U&N, and are numbered 730, 731 and 732. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, March 29, 1887)
April 23, 1887
Freight train 613 was wrecked on Beaver Canyon hill last Thursday. Another bit indicates that the sleepers are still in use on the narrow gauge line. (The Blackfoot Register, April 23, 1887)
June 11, 1887
On Sunday passenger train wrecked at Woodin, north of Melrose, engine, baggage and mail cars thrown into the ditch, by hitting cattle on track. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, June 11, 1887)
June 18, 1887
The U & N track has been moved over on the ties, every second one being a standard gauge tie, so that only one rail will have to be moved to widen the line. While moving the track over, new steel rails were used, so as to handle the coming standard gauge equipment. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, June 18, 1887)
June 25, 1887
Crews are now in the process of completing the new bridge over the Snake River at Eagle Rock, to replace the soon-to-be-too-small old 'narrow gauge' bridge of 1879. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, June 25, 1887)
July 9, 1887
Standard gauge rails being laid outside of the narrow gauge ones in the Eagle Rock yards. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, July 9, 1887)
July 10, 1887
"Local Railway Notes." "Evanston Chieftain: A large number of narrow gauge cars and engines are now passing through Evanston every day, being sent back from the Utah & Northern, which is being changed to a standard gauge line, to the South Park road, from which they were borrowed. They are loaded on common flat cars, and even a narrow gauge engine makes a pretty big load." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, July 10, 1887)
July 14, 1887
"Montana Matters." "Mr. C. H. Leslie, superintendent of the Union Pacific, came up from Pocatello on his special car this morning, says the Butte InterMountain of the 11th, and has been the guest of General Agent Baldwin to-day. In regard to the approaching widening of the gauge from Pocatello to Butte, Mr. Leslie said that it will be done on the 25th of this month. The ties have already been clipped for the purpose of widening, and everything is in readiness." (item continues.) (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, July 14, 1887)
July 16, 1887
The last narrow gauge passenger train through to Butte will leave Ogden on the 22nd; the train leaving Ogden on the 23rd will go only to Pocatello, because if went to Butte, would be no narrow gauge track to come back on. The widening is slated to be on Monday, the 25th of July. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, July 16, 1887)
Conversion To Standard Gauge
Pocatello, Idaho, to Silver Bow, Montana, converted to standard gauge in July 1887.
July 22, 1887
"The work of widening the Utah & Northern gauge is progressing rapidly." (Deseret Evening News, July 22, 1887)
July 23, 1887
Item on the last narrow gauge trains on the Utah & Northern north of Pocatello. (Deseret Evening News, July 23, 1887)
July 23, 1887
Monday the 25th is still to be Widening day, north of Pocatello. The new bridge across the river at Eagle Rock was built around the old narrow gauge one. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, July 23, 1887)
July 23, 1887
An item on the widening of the Utah & Northern, lifted from the Butte Daily Miner of July 21, 1887. The last narrow gauge freight train was to leave Butte, southbound, the morning of the 23rd, in two sections. The last narrow gauge passenger train south out of Butte is to leave at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 24, 1887, instead of its usual time of 7:10 p.m., in order to be able to get to Pocatello earlier in the morning on Monday, July 25, 1887, the date selected for the widening of the railroad. (Salt Lake Herald, July 23, 1887)
July 26, 1887
"The Utah & Northern." "Quick Work." "Butte, Montana, July 25 -- A Spring Hill, Montana, special to the Miner: The great work of changing the gauge of the Utah & Northern Railway, the Montana branch of the Union Pacific, to a standard from Silver Bow to Pocatello was made in five hours to-day. The distance was 246 miles, divided into sections of six miles to each gang. The purse of $25 for the quickest time was won by Foreman Dowling in three hours and forty-three minutes. This beats the record. A special run on the return trip was made south at the rate of forty-three miles per hour. Heavy trains of standard gauge laden with coal for Anaconda are already moving north." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, July 26, 1887) (Spring Hill was where the rail line met the Red Rock River, and in 1889 was renamed Lima.)
July 26, 1887
"The Utah & Northern Widened." "Butte, M. T., July 25. [Special to Tribune.] The Utah & Northern, formerly a narrow gauge, was to-day widened to the standard gauge between here and Pocatello, a distance of 246 miles. The change was made most expeditiously and in approved style, the first train over it today having made average running time of 38 miles an hour." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, July 26, 1887)
July 26, 1887
"Local Railway Notes." "The Utah & Northern road is now open for broad gauge traffic from Pocatello to Butte. When the line to Ogden will be changed is not known." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, July 26, 1887)
July 26, 1887
"Yesterday was the day set for the widening of the gauge on the U. & N. This morning the broad gauge trains will commence running." (Salt Lake Herald, July 26, 1887)
July 30, 1887
"The Gauge Widened" on Monday, the 25th as planned. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, July 30, 1887)
July 24, 1887
The Utah & Northern line between Butte [Silver Bow] and Pocatello was converted to standard-gauge. Men, tools, and materials were distributed along the line and the job was done in one day. (Reeder, p. 252)
(The line between Ogden to Pocatello took longer because it required almost 50 miles of new construction. That portion was completed in October 1890.)
August 9, 1887
"Local Railway Notes." Interview with Union Pacific General Manager Potter is published, from which: Q.: "Will the gauge from Pocatello to Ogden be widened also?" A.: "Well, not at present. The narrow gauge piece in there is of course a great inconvenience, and is now more so than ever since the northern end has been widened. But just now the money is not handy for doing the work, and the scheme is not at present under consideration. Of course it is an inevitable consequence and I look for it to be done within two or three years at the outside." Since the widening of the line above Pocatello, 75 men in the Idaho Division master mechanic's force have been let go; 45 men have been discharged already from the transfer force at Pocatello, and another 20 are to be let go by August 15th. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, August 9, 1887)
August 17, 1887
"Removal of the Eagle Rock Shops." "The removal of the Utah & Northern shops from Eagle Rock to Pocatello has been settled in the letting of a contract to do the work," which is to be completed in 60 days. The plan is, once the shop buildings have been removed to Pocatello and set up once again, that all car work for the Utah & Northern and the Oregon Short Line will be done at Pocatello, and all locomotive shop work for both roads will be done at the O. S. L. shop at Shoshone, Idaho." "The Pocatello Yards" had little to do with the said yard, but did mention that the Utah & Northern has lately received 100 new dump cars specifically for hauling coal from Rock Springs to Anaconda." "New Rolling Stock" comments that the Utah & Northern has under contract, for delivery over the next three months, three new Pullman sleepers, six coaches, three mail cars, three baggage cars, 20 cabooses, and 350 coal cars. "The old narrow gauge rolling stock is being shipped away. Already 300 cars have been sent to Denver, and 100 more are to go. Fifteen cars have been sent also to Colorado, and 26 more are in the Pocatello yards awaiting repairs to be sent away. Ten cars and one locomotive are ordered held for the Willamette Bay in Oregon. Enough rolling stock will be retained to fully supply the road between Ogden and Pocatello, and the balance will all be sent away." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, August 17, 1887)
August 27, 1887
Work began on removing the Eagle Rock shops to Pocatello last Monday, which was the 22nd of August. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, August 27, 1887)
August 28, 1887
"Local Railway Notes." "New bridges are being put in on the Utah & Northern between McCammon and Pocatello,..." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, August 28, 1887)
August 28, 1887
"Superintendent Blickensderfer left Pocatello yesterday morning for Omaha to look over his new field of labor. He will remain away ten days or more and then return to settle up his affairs in Idaho, and then fully assume control of the Nebraska division of the Union Pacific." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, August 28, 1887)
August 28, 1887
"A Gauge Widener." "The adzing machine used in widening the gauge on the Utah & Northern will go to Colorado to aid in similar work there. This machine made a fine record for itself. Between Pocatello and Silver Bow it is 255 miles, and there are 3,500 ties per mile. In widening the track just one-half that number had to be leveled off for the rail when moved out twenty inches. To do this by hand would have cost fully $15,000, and yet this machine was constructed and did the work at a cost of only $2,000, including the cost of the machine. Master Mechanic Hickey suggested the machine and F. S. Mitchell looked after its construction. Parts of old locomotives were used for the trucks to carry the revolving cutters, and this being attached to another truck furnished the base for a small engine. Steam was conveyed from the locomotive which pushed it along at the rate of one and a half miles per hour, and it took only sixty days to do the work. The cutter revolves at a rapid rate, and with its saws and knives made a cut across the tie six inches long, giving room for the rail, fishplates and spikes. This machine certainly proved a big success." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, August 28, 1887)
August 28, 1887
Extract from letter, dated at Eagle Rock, August 26, 1887: "The Eagle Rock railway shops are being torn down and carted off to Pocatello to be again set up at that place for the convenience of both roads of the Idaho division. Work commenced about one week ago and the car shop has already been taken down and loaded on cars. Besides the car shop, the machine and blacksmith shops, power house and round house, there are some ten or twelve dwelling and boarding houses which are to be removed. These buildings stand on the north and east sides of the railway track, and hence are removed from the business and dwelling portion of the town, and were on property donated to the railway by Anderson Brothers, there being 107 acres in the plot." (item continues) (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, August 28, 1887)
September 1, 1887
The shops at Eagle Rock have been in the process of removal for two or three days past, going to Pocatello. The car shop has already been torn down and taken on cars to its new home in Pocatello. Entire job supposed to be done in three weeks. (Salt Lake Herald, September 1, 1887)
September 1, 1887
Utah & Northern notes: a tie-adze, built at the shops from parts of old locomotives, etc., was used during the recent widening project. It was invented by a U. & N. shop employee. And, the shops at Eagle Rock have been in process of being removed to Pocatello for some days past, the car shop already having been torn down and removed thither. The entire project is to be done in about three weeks' time. (Salt Lake Herald, September 1, 1887)
September 3, 1887
Since the winter of 1883, Robert Blickensderfer has been Superintendent of the Idaho Division. (The Utah Journal, Logan, September 3, 1887)
September 3, 1887
Everything from the shops at Eagle Rock is being removed to Pocatello; included are a number of the houses of shop employees. (The Utah Journal, Logan, September 3, 1887)
September 6, 1887
"Local Railway Notes." "Two-thirds of the Utah & Northern buildings to be removed from Eagle Rock, are now standing on the cars at Pocatello to be unloaded and re-erected. About sixty men are engaged in removing these shops and houses, and the work will not be long in being fully accomplished." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, September 6, 1887)
September 6, 1887
"Local Railway Notes." R. Blickensderfer is superintendent of the Nebraska Division, effective September 1, 1887, and will remain as superintendent of the Idaho Division until further notice, per a recent circular issued by U. P. General Manager Potter. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, September 6, 1887)
October 11, 1887
C. F. Resseguie is appointed Superintendent of the Idaho Division, with headquarters at Pocatello. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, October 11, 1887)
October 20, 1887
"The car shops lately removed from Eagle Rock to Pocatello are so nearly completed that to-day the mechanics move in. Ed Stein, general foreman of car repairs, Idaho Division, is jubilant over getting into these shops." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, October 20, 1887)
December 18, 1887
Timetable No. 18, Idaho Division, U. P., went into effect at 12:05 a.m. this morning, the 18th. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, December 18, 1887)
January 7, 1888
Standard gauge rotary snow plow passed through Eagle Rock, northbound, on Wednesday the 4th. (The Idaho Register, Eagle Rock, January 7, 1888)
March 23, 1888
"The Fort Douglas railroad people ...have bought a couple of engines and several passenger and box cars from the Utah & Northern Railroad, and are happy." (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, March 23, 1888)
August 31, 1888
"The S.P.V.Ry. received a first-class engine yesterday from the Utah & Northern Ry. Company. It made its pioneer trip into San Pete last evening." (Ensign, Nephi, August 31, 1888)
November 17, 1888
U&N Superintendent Resseguie has been replaced by J. Rapelje. (Utah Journal, Logan, November 17, 1888)
May 8, 1889
"Pullman cars are now again running on the U. & N. passenger trains between Ogden and Pocatello." (The Utah Journal, Logan, May 8, 1889)
July 27, 1889
Oregon Short Line & Utah Northern Railway is organized by merging the Utah & Northern Railway, the Utah Central Railway, the Utah & Nevada Railway, the Salt Lake & Western Railway, and the Ogden & Syracuse Railway (all in Utah), the Oregon Short Line Railway and Idaho Central Railway (both in Idaho), and the unbuilt Nevada Pacific Railway in Nevada. (OSL corporate history)
In 1889, Utah & Northern became part of Oregon Short Line & Utah Northern Railway, which was organized in July 1889 as a consolidation of the original 1881 Oregon Short Line Railway and six other UP-controlled railroads operating in Utah and Idaho.
(Read more about the Oregon Short Line & Utah Northern Railway)
October 10, 1891
A letter from Baker City, Oregon, dated the 6th; says the Sumpter Valley road runs out a distance of 22 miles, and is built with old Utah & Northern rails and rolling stock. (Salt Lake Daily Tribune, October 10, 1891)
June 9, 1897
An item dated at New York on June 8, 1897, "Joseph Richardson Dead," who was quite involved in the Utah Northern, the later Utah & Northern, as well as other of John W. Young's railroad projects. Richardson died in New York on the 8th, and was a native of England. His fortune is estimated at 20 millions of dollars. (Salt Lake Daily Herald, June 9, 1897)
Locomotives
Utah & Northern Locomotives -- A roster listing of the locomotives used by Utah & Northern.
More Information
Corporate Information -- Information about the Utah & Northern Railway corporate organization
Utah & Northern, by Reeder -- An excerpt about Utah & Northern from Clarence Reeder's 1970 thesis "History of Utah's Railroads".
Ogden Rails -- An excerpt about Utah Northern and Utah & Northern from Don Strack's "Ogden Rails".
Utah & Northern entry from George W. Hilton's American Narrow Gauge Railroads (Stanford University Press, 1990)
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