There seems to have been two reasons that the D&RGW severed the connection with the Provo Canyon Branch at Hale. First, the State Legislative bill that allowed the Wasatch Mountain Railway to start up steam operations specified the excursion train could only run from Heber City to Bridal Veil Falls (in Provo Canyon). I'm not sure if the Utah Department of Transportation even owned the remainder of the line down into Provo, and I'm sure the D&RGW didn't want to maintain the small segment of track that connected to the tourist railroad. Also, I've been told that by severing the connection to the D&RGW the Heber Creeper was considered insular and therefore different rules applied to its operation than if it had been connected to a class one. I've got to research this aspect further before I can say for sure if this was indeed the case.

Jeff Terry.

> For some reason, I've never heard how the ex
> Rio Grande line that the Heeber Valley runs
> on ever got severred from the rest of the
> railroad world. Was there a big political or
> business battle for some hot real estate?
> Just curious. Always hate to see a RR line
> become disconnected from the outside world.

> Rob Gardner


jterry618@msn.com

The D&RGW yards were on the south side of Provo and Heber is to the north. The connecting track ran down the middle of 2nd West from south to north Provo. Between '72-'74 2nd West was rebuilt/repaved and the tracks removed. At least until '76 the tracks were inplace from the power plant at the mouth of Provo Canyon all the way up to Heber. Bridal Veil Falls was the most logical terminus as it already had parking, food and tram ride available.
Back when Federal ment Federal, if a RR wasn't connected to the general system, tranport interstate commerce or cross state lines, the Feds left it alone. Safety concerns fell to the State jurisdiction. Boilers were inspected by State boiler inspectors and brigdes by State DOT engineers.

> There seems to have been two reasons that
> the D&RGW severed the connection with
> the Provo Canyon Branch at Hale. First, the
> State Legislative bill that allowed the
> Wasatch Mountain Railway to start up steam
> operations specified the excursion train
> could only run from Heber City to Bridal
> Veil Falls (in Provo Canyon). I'm not sure
> if the Utah Department of Transportation
> even owned the remainder of the line down
> into Provo, and I'm sure the D&RGW
> didn't want to maintain the small segment of
> track that connected to the tourist
> railroad. Also, I've been told that by
> severing the connection to the D&RGW the
> Heber Creeper was considered insular and
> therefore different rules applied to its
> operation than if it had been connected to a
> class one. I've got to research this aspect
> further before I can say for sure if this
> was indeed the case.

> Jeff Terry.