CASTLE GATE : RIO GRANDE VS. THE UTAH MOUNTAINS, 1963

The Rio Grande Railroad made its fortunes hauling coal. Almost every Rio Grande main line had significant coal traffic at one time or another, but the biggest coal traffic could be found originating at Helper, Utah, named after the helper locomotives that pulled coal up steep grades. Because almost all the customers for the coal were located on the other side of the Utah mountains, the Rio Grande was constantly battling the grade at Castle Gate over Soldier Summit. High-quality, low-sulfur seams are found in the eastern front if the Wasatch plateau and has to be carried west. To ease the grade, engineers built a double-horse-shoe. The article includes detailed route maps and historic photos.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/6163876
• Corporate Authors:

  Kalmbach Publishing Company

  21027 Crossroads Circle
  P.O. Box 1612
  Waukesha, WI  United States  53187-1612
• Authors:
  • Carter, T S
• Publication Date: 2003-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: p. 54-61
• Serial:
  • Trains
  • Volume: 63
  • Issue Number: 11
  • Publisher: Kalmbach Publishing Company
  • ISSN: 0041-0934
  • Serial URL: http://trainsmag.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Coal; Freight trains; History; Mountains
• Identifier Terms: Rio Grande Railroad
• Geographic Terms: Utah
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; History; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00966197
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
• Files: BTRIS, TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 3 2003 12:00AM