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Photo ID: 112363
Date Shot
Photo By
Saturday, May 3, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
CP RG645 (Colton (Crossover))
Utah County, UT
295
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Provo (UP) Union Pacific
These fives units were mid-train DPUs on a westbound loaded oil train. The crew followed the train (in a van) to Colton, where the DPUs were de-linked from the oil train and the crew got aboard the five units and cut them out of the oil train. They were getting ready to return to Helper when they discovered PTC was not working on the lead unit, UP 8377. They called UP's "PTC Help Desk" to see if they could get an exemption to return to Helper without PTC enabled.

Unfortunately, the lady working the PTC help desk did not understand that these units were cut out here at Colton, about 20 miles west of Helper. The help desk said that they needed to swap units with one that had PTC operationally. As the crew explained (and as you can see in this shot) the other four units are facing west and could not be used as a leader. The crew went back and forth with the help desk for nearly an hour! At one point, the crew lost their patience and said "we've been running trains out here for 150 years...why can't we just get a PTC exemption to run 20 miles east". Finally, after speaking with supervisors, the PTC help desk granted them an exception to return to helper without PTC enabled.
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Photo ID: 112362
Date Shot
Photo By
Saturday, May 3, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
CP RG645 (Colton (Crossover))
Utah County, UT
234
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Provo (UP) Union Pacific
The Skyline Mine on the Pleasant Valley Subdivision still periodically loads coal trains. I was lucky enough during my handful of days on Soldier Summit to catch one heading that direction.
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Photo ID: 112361
Date Shot
Photo By
Saturday, May 3, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Colton to Summit (MP 644.9 to MP 649.9)
Wasatch County, UT
202
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Provo (UP) Union Pacific
As this Intermountain Power coal empty crosses UT-96, the train is also slowing as it is running on a yellow over flashing red (Approach Restricting) signal. The train will be leaving Main 2 ahead at Colton to enter the Pleasant Valley Subdivision.
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Photo ID: 112360
Date Shot
Photo By
Saturday, May 3, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
CP RG660 (East Gilluly)
Wasatch County, UT
293
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Provo (UP) Union Pacific
The eastbound grade here at Gilluly is close to 2%. Fortunately, this coal train is empty, so the four units (setup 2x2) are having no problem making the climb.
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Photo ID: 112359
Date Shot
Photo By
Saturday, May 3, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Gilluly (Center Siding) (7,900 ft)
Wasatch County, UT
299
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Provo (UP) Union Pacific
As the morning turned to afternoon, a few more clouds started to appear and as a result, I had to start playing dodge cloud a bit more often! Here, the two units leading an Intermountain Power coal empty pass by in the sunlight on Main 2 at Gilluly.
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Photo ID: 112358
Date Shot
Photo By
Saturday, May 3, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Gilluly to Narrows (MP 661.5 to MP 672.1)
Wasatch County, UT
313
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Provo (UP) Union Pacific
As I was chasing a BNSF coal load west, I noticed intermediate signals on Main 2 were green behind me, indicating a westbound was likely on the move. I found it, a westbound UP coal empty, just east of the crossover at Narrows. Turns out this coal empty is headed for the Skyline Mine on the Pleasant Valley Subdivision.
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Photo ID: 112346
Date Shot
Photo By
Saturday, May 3, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
CP RG629 (Utah Railway Jct)
Carbon County, UT
232
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Provo (UP) Union Pacific
After the end of coal being loaded at the Wildcat loadout on the Utah Railway, the area was repurposed and is now an oil transload facility. However, the Utah Railway now leases their yard at Martin and the main to Wildcat to UP, who facilities the oil train traffic. Here, a westbound UP oil train is loaded and waiting for a helper crew before taking joining the main at URL (Utah Railway Junction).
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Photo ID: 112345
Date Shot
Photo By
Saturday, May 3, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
CP RG645 (Colton (Crossover))
Carbon County, UT
250
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Provo (UP) Union Pacific
UP 8310 and three GEs just helped a coal load climb Soldier Summit on Main 1. Here at Colton, the manned helpers have crossed over to Main 2 so they can return to Helper. Before heading down the hill, the conductor will assist the coal load in putting their train back together.
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Photo ID: 112344
Date Shot
Photo By
Saturday, May 3, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
CP RG645 (Colton (Crossover))
Carbon County, UT
238
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Provo (UP) Union Pacific
After setting the air on the back third of the train, the helper crew indicates to the head end that they are good to pull ahead, cutting away from the train. Once they are clear of the crossover at Colton, DS-378 will cross the manned helper over to Main 2 so they can return to Helper.
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Photo ID: 112343
Date Shot
Photo By
Saturday, May 3, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
CP RG645 (Colton (Crossover))
Carbon County, UT
234
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Provo (UP) Union Pacific
The 15 miles or so between Castle Gate and Colton are the steepest part of the climb up Soldier Summit. Indeed, those 15 miles are really the only section of the climb that necessitate mid-train swing helpers. This coal load just passed the crossover at Colton and is starting to slow to a stop. It is here that the mid-train swing helpers will cut out from the train and return to Helper.
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Photo ID: 112342
Date Shot
Photo By
Saturday, May 3, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
CP RG639 (East Kyune)
Carbon County, UT
206
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Provo (UP) Union Pacific
The control point at East Kyune has to be one of the most unique control points out there. Westbound trains pass the signal on the east side of Kyune tunnel. The switches for the siding are on the west side of the tunnel. The tunnel itself is 468-feet long on Main 1 and 410-feet long on Main 2.
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Photo ID: 112341
Date Shot
Photo By
Saturday, May 3, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Nolan Tunnels to Kyune (MP 636.1 to MP 638.9)
Carbon County, UT
228
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Provo (UP) Union Pacific
After running through Nolan Tunnels, this westbound coal load left the highway for about a mile to follow along Price River. Here, the tracks rejoin US-6 at a fantastic S-Curve.
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Photo ID: 112340
Date Shot
Photo By
Saturday, May 3, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Nolan Tunnels (MP 636.1 (403 feet))
Carbon County, UT
245
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Provo (UP) Union Pacific
UP 7851 and train emerge from the 401-foot Nolan Tunnels on Main 1. This is one of the few spots on the east side of Soldier Summit where the tracks depart from US-6. The highway runs through a cut here, while the tracks follow along Price River.
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Photo ID: 112339
Date Shot
Photo By
Saturday, May 3, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Utah Railway Jct to Lynn (MP 628.9 to MP 632.7)
Carbon County, UT
221
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Provo (UP) Union Pacific
Four mid-train swing helpers are throttled up in run 8, helping this CWELB (Coal train, West Elk to Long Beach) make its way up Soldier Summit alongside US-6.
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Photo ID: 112338
Date Shot
Photo By
Saturday, May 3, 2025 Kevin Morgan
Location
Times Viewed
Utah Railway Jct to Lynn (MP 628.9 to MP 632.7)
Carbon County, UT
257
(Add a Comment)
Subdivision
Railroad
Provo (UP) Union Pacific
With four mid-train (manned) helpers cut into the train, this Long Beach, CA bound coal load is now making the climb up the 2% grade of Soldier Summit on Main 1.
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