All,

We are moving to Utah in mid-August, date to be determined. For the past seven years, my wife worked for a Salt Lake City-based company remotely. Recently, she was offered a promotion with the company, with little to no travel. Given that they are paying for the relocation, it seemed like a no-brainer. My Utah Bar application for admission via reciprocity will be dropped in the mail by this coming Monday, a benefit of having practiced for six years and for moving to a state that offers reciprocal admission.

I know of the obvious, Golden Spike, Museum in Ogden, Heber Valley, and Nevada Northern, but am I missing anything else preservation wise? Does Heber still have a volunteer program?

I've lived in St. Louis for the past seven years, and will sorely miss the Museum of Transportation, IRM and the friendships I've developed through both organizations. However, opportunity and excitement awaits along the Overland Trail.

Also, I'd be interested in meeting up with any RYPNers in the area.

David Wilkins
How Do I Move All of My Stuff, MO

David -

Good luck to you and your wife on your move to SLC. In the back of my mind, I think I remember something about an electric railway museum out that way, but maybe I'm wrong. Whatever, I'm sure you'll find a suitable spot for your interests.

Les

The Utahrails.net web site is very good. Railway preservation in the SLC area is a little weak. You could take a look at the Ogdon Station museum. Ely and the Nevada Northern is a long way from SLC. If you get east on 80, the UP depot in Rock Springs, WY has some interesting displays and memorials. This is where UP had coal mines to supply coal for their system requirements. The National Parks in southern Utah are outstanding.

Actually, Ely is closer to SLC than what I currently drive to IRM 6-8 times a year from St. Louis.

Of course, I'm at least close(r) to Rio Vista and OERM, at least for an occasional weekend visit.

Yes, there is lots of natural beauty in Utah. I'm looking forward to the change.

Les,
Utah would have been a great state for a trolley museum, however it seems to not be destined. Perhaps a half dozen restorable bodies (or better) have left the state and became projects elsewhere, mainly in California. The FJ&G bullet car being one of the best examples. More recently, Bamberger 403 left storage at Heber to become a tourist railway car at Black Hills Central. Not exactly preservation, but it is survival.
http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/controversy-erupts-over-sending-away-historic-wooden-rail-car/article_5605a920-78c4-5db1-9562-6f9f3167e535.html

There remains a birney body somewhere that was fitted on a truck frame, the hulk of a Saltair car near the Saltair ballroom (might be worth to get for the McGuire-Cummins trucks) and a freight trailer or motor at the state railroad museum. And of course the trolley body retail attraction known as Trolley Square. There is light rail in the city, but the potential for trolley operations seems to be long gone.
http://www.trolleysquare.com/

David,
There is a boy scout club on some industrial railroad somewhere west of Salt Lake, which was going to get the wooden NP caboose from Fernley Nevada before that city/volunteer partnership rail museum went through it's own Pembertonesque melt down in 2012.
The Utah scout troup seemed to be active and have its act together. A nice steam engine and caboose are on display in that area as well.

O. Anderson
not that close to Salt Lake City

Dang, the Black Hills Central would make a pretty good trolley museum now that the Bamberger car is joining the former Oregon Electric fleet.

If you're ever in Springville, be sure to grab a bite at the Art City Trolley Café:

http://www.davesrailpix.com/odds/ut/htm/bam55.htm

The Tooele County Museum west of SLC is worth seeing - they've done a good job keeping up Tooele Valley 2-8-0 No. 11 and a small collection of cars, including a pair of wooden cabooses. The locomotive sits on a surviving segment of the TV main line, alongside the Tooele depot.

Nearby in Grantsville one of Kennecott's big electrics is displayed.

The Western Mining and Railroad Museum in Helper, located in an old railroad hotel, is another great local museum. Lots of interesting stuff here from the Utah Railway and D&RGW, including some full size equipment. The new director has rehabbed many of the displays, built a new museum annex (seen to the right of the main building in the photo) and is looking into the restoration of the museum's Utah Railway caboose.

There is a steam locomotive tender from one of the Utah's big Mallets stored in a field southeast of town.

And don't forget, the helper operations conducted by Union Pacific and Utah Railway still put on great show!

The Lagoon Amusement Park, located in Farmington between SLC and Ogden, was originally built by the Bamberger Railroad. The "Pioneer Village" section features a number of restored structures from all across Utah, including the wooden UP depot from Kaysville. The depot now houses a small museum of mostly model trains, with a full railroad artifacts (including a portion of a full-size Salt Lake & Utah obs). Museum curator Howard Freed is a railfan and live steam enthusiast. A pair of 24" gauge Crown live steam trains are in operation on the "Lagoon Railroad," which circles what's left of the "Lagoon" that gave the park its name.

Also in Farmington is the fabulous S&S Shortline, with several gauges of live steam in operation. There are several full-size D&RGW narrow gauge cars on display that were obtained from another "S&S," the Sundown & Southern.

The Park City museum has a number of railroad-related exhibits, including this replica UP coach car. Don't miss the restored UP depot in town.

The Brigham City Depot features exhibits related to the Golden Spike, plus a UP caboose outside. It's run by the Golden Spike Association.

You will also be only an easy day's drive from the Portola Railroad Museum. They have a lot going on and much to be done. They do have a volunteer program.

Remember Nevada is an honest 400 miles across on I-80... and SLC to the Nevada border is another 100, the most boring in the interstate system. Every few miles there's a warning about drowsy driving, and surprisingly frequent rest areas.

I just transited it 3 days ago, impressively little of it is under construction.

If the Utah legislature acts, the speed limit on I-80 west of Grantville will be raised from the current 75 mph to 80 mph (as well as on some segments of I-15 south of Provo).

And if Nevada has it's way, portions of I-80 will be raised from 75 to 85.

That will shorten the trip up a bit in terms of time. Mr. Wilkins is coming from Missouri, which has a 70 mph limit on it's Interstate highways, and Illinois, which is still a ridiculous 65.

There is plenty to see out there if you look for it, IMHO.

Without incriminating myself further, I certainly wasn't driving 65 on my way home from a weekend at IRM last night.....

Coming originally from Kentucky, I forget how deceptively large these western states are. Mapping out the drive, I realized the largest city we pass on the way to SLC is Kansas City.....

Regardless, relocating to SLC puts me within "striking distance" to visit several new museums, many great national parks, etc. SLC is a Delta Hub, along with Southwest and my American Airlines miles, I'm pretty sure a weekend trip to visit OERM, Rio Vista, etc. is doable.

Movers come to give us an estimate today. I'm pretty sure they will see dollar signs when they see all of my RR books up on the third floor.

David Wilkins
Bibliophilia, MO

When I lived in SLC I was making weekend trips to LA, PHX, ABQ, San Diego, and Den.

The average trip length was ten hours one way, with Den - two hrs. and San Diego + three hrs.

Ten hours is a nice average trip for me, but I grew up in the west. Grin.

Regards,
Kevin