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Salt Lake, Garfield and Western Railway

The Salt Lake, Garfield & Western Railway (reporting mark SLGW), nicknamed through most of its history as The Saltair Route, is a short line railroad located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Originally incorporated as a dual passenger and freight railroad, it now provides freight-only railcar switching services to industries in Salt Lake City along its sixteen miles of track.

Salt Lake, Garfield & Western
The railroad's maintenance facility and offices
Overview
Headquarters1201 West North Temple Salt Lake City, UT
Reporting markSLGW
LocaleSalt Lake City, Utah
Dates of operation1891–Present
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length10 miles, plus 6 miles secondary track

History edit

 
The Saltair Resort in 1900

The SLGW was incorporated on September 6, 1891 as the Saltair Railway, with the express purpose of tapping the tourist market visiting the Saltair Beach Resort on the shores of the Great Salt Lake. It was reorganized as the Salt Lake & Los Angeles Railroad in April 1892, and renamed soon after the Salt Lake, Garfield & Western Railway. The line carried passengers to Saltair and freight to the mining area of Garfield, Utah including Morton Salt located on the shores of the Great Salt Lake. On June 8, 1893, the Saltair Resort was officially opened. Saltair was founded and owned originally by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but was later transferred to the railroad under the ownership of the Snow Family, and the railroad was sold to the Hogle family in the early 1960s.[1][page needed] For many years passenger traffic to the Saltair Resort was the line's biggest source of revenue. The line was electrified in 1916, a project that was completed in 1919. The Garfield Station was built approximately one mile from the Garfield town itself. Service to the Garfield station smelter industry ended in 1930, but continued to Morton Salt and other rail freight customers from Salt Lake City to the shores of the Great Salt Lake.[2][page needed] The railroad provided significant passenger tourist traffic, with trains of 12-16 passenger cars leaving to and from Saltair every 45 minutes. in 1933, the Great Salt Lake reached its lowest recorded levels, stranding the Saltair Beach Resort from the waterline. To make up for the loss of patronage due to the low water levels, a roller coaster was constructed, as well as a short railroad from the pavilion to the water using gasoline-powered speeders to carry patrons across the brine flat. in 1955, a fire consumed the bath houses; and in 1957 the roller coaster burned as well. The resort finally closed permanently in 1959, and the Salt Lake, Garfield & Western ceased passenger operations.[1][page needed] The first diesel locomotive on the line was purchased in 1951, and was a GE 44-tonner.[1][page needed] In July 1954 the railroad leased a GE centercab diesel from U.S. Steel, and this marked the end of electric operations on the Salt Lake, Garfield & Western.[3] The SLGW continues to haul freight to this day along its 16 miles of track with additional sidings for railcar storage, transloading, railcar cleaning, rail served warehousing and other rail-related services.

On October 13, 2017, Stadler Rail broke ground for a new manufacturing shop alongside the SLGW.[4] The factory will be used to build commuter rail units such as the Stadler FLIRT for use in the United States. In 2021 the railroad was purchased by Patriot Rail Company.[5]

 
A Stadler FLIRT DMU, painted in DART Silver Line colors at rest on the Salt Lake Garfield & Western Railway.

Current operations edit

The SLGW is dual-served by the two major mainline U.S. railroads, Union Pacific and BNSF. SLGW receives freight cars at its main switching yard at 1200 West and North Temple Street in Salt Lake City, near the Utah State Fairgrounds. Commodities vary and include lumber, cement, plastics, petroleum products, paper, frozen juices, canned goods, furniture, waste oil and others.[6] Occasionally, the line will pull a passenger special car owned by the Promontory Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, who use a section of SLGW track to store or rehab historic rail cars.[1][page needed]

Motive power edit

 
SLG&W D.S.9, an ex-Union Pacific SW10

The first SLGW locomotive, a steam-driven Rhode Island Locomotive Works 4-4-0, was delivered on May 24, 1892, and was tested by the Rio Grande Western before being placed into revenue service. Numbered 1, it weighed 45 tons, had 17X24-inch cylinders, and 62-inch drivers. A second identical locomotive, numbered 2, was received in April of the following year. A third locomotive, also a 4-4-0 but built by the Pittsburgh Locomotive Works, was delivered in 1906. No. 1 was retired in 1919, and Nos. 2 and 3 were retired in 1921. Until electrification, the SL&LA owned only these three locomotives. During times of peak business, the SLGW leased passenger locomotives from the Rio Grande Western and the Oregon Short Line to facilitate the operation of extra trains.[7][page needed]

The only electric freight locomotive was No. 401, former Salt Lake & Utah 104, purchased in 1946. A total of six powered McGuire-Cummings interurban cars were delivered in 1918, which were also used to haul freight. Two of the MucGuire-Cummings cars, when operated in Multiple Unit, could pull 40 fully loaded boxcars. The electric equipment ran on a charge of 1500 volts, delivered via single-suspension double-line poles.[2][page needed]

A total of thirteen diesel locomotives were owned and operated by the SLG&W during its independent years, starting with D.S. 1 purchased in December 1951. In addition, motor car MC-3, built by American Car & Foundry and purchased by the SLG&W in 1951, was used to supplement the diesel-powered passenger trains. This car was later sold to the California Western and is still in operation as M-300.[3] From 2017 until 2019 the line operated three locomotives, D.S. 9 and 10, both ex-Union Pacific SW10 diesel-electric locomotives; and D.S. 11 an ex-Southern Pacific EMD MP15AC locomotive which arrived on the railroad June 14, 2017. In late 2019 the railroad acquired an ex-Kennecott Copper GP39-2 locomotive (D.S. 13), and acquired an EMD MP15DC locomotive (D.S. 12), retiring the two SW10 locomotives by the end of the year.[8]

After the railroad's purchase by Patriot Rail, D.S. 11 was retired and two EMD GP9 locomotives, 8201 and 8223 were added to the roster.[9]

Surviving equipment edit

  • MC-3 survives on the California Western Railroad as M300.[3]
  • DS-2, a GE 44-tonner, is on display at the Western Railway Museum in California.
  • Two open-air excursion cars are owned by the Utah State Railroad Museum in Ogden, Utah.
  • One SLGW open-air passenger car is on display at the Heber Valley Railroad.
  • Boxcar 100, originally used to store animal hides, resides at the Heber Valley Railroad.
  • The last SLGW caboose is now a coffee station located in Mount Pleasant Utah.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Carr, Stephen L. (1989). Utah Ghost Rails. Salt Lake City, Utah: Western Epics.
  2. ^ a b Swett, Ira (1974). Interurbans of Utah. Cerritos, California: Interurbans Special.
  3. ^ a b c Strack, Don. "Salt Lake, Garfield & Western Railway". Retrieved April 8, 2011.
  4. ^ Gorrell, Mike (October 13, 2017). "Stadler breaks ground on railcar manufacturing plant expected to employ 1,000 in west Salt Lake City". Salt Lake Tribune.
  5. ^ "Patriot Rail Company LLC Finalizes Acquisition of Salt Lake Garfield & Western Railway". prnewswire.com. January 4, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  6. ^ "Salt Lake Garfield & Western Company". Retrieved April 11, 2011.
  7. ^ Gould, William John Gilbert (1995). My Life on the Mountain Railroads. Utah State University Press.
  8. ^ "Salt Lake, Garfield & Western Locomotives".
  9. ^ Strack, Don. "Salt Lake, Garfield & Western Railway Diesel Locomotives". Retrieved May 7, 2023.

salt, lake, garfield, western, railway, salt, lake, garfield, western, railway, reporting, mark, slgw, nicknamed, through, most, history, saltair, route, short, line, railroad, located, salt, lake, city, utah, originally, incorporated, dual, passenger, freight. The Salt Lake Garfield amp Western Railway reporting mark SLGW nicknamed through most of its history as The Saltair Route is a short line railroad located in Salt Lake City Utah Originally incorporated as a dual passenger and freight railroad it now provides freight only railcar switching services to industries in Salt Lake City along its sixteen miles of track Salt Lake Garfield amp WesternThe railroad s maintenance facility and officesOverviewHeadquarters1201 West North Temple Salt Lake City UTReporting markSLGWLocaleSalt Lake City UtahDates of operation1891 PresentTechnicalTrack gauge4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 435 mm standard gaugeLength10 miles plus 6 miles secondary track Contents 1 History 2 Current operations 3 Motive power 4 Surviving equipment 5 See also 6 ReferencesHistory edit nbsp The Saltair Resort in 1900The SLGW was incorporated on September 6 1891 as the Saltair Railway with the express purpose of tapping the tourist market visiting the Saltair Beach Resort on the shores of the Great Salt Lake It was reorganized as the Salt Lake amp Los Angeles Railroad in April 1892 and renamed soon after the Salt Lake Garfield amp Western Railway The line carried passengers to Saltair and freight to the mining area of Garfield Utah including Morton Salt located on the shores of the Great Salt Lake On June 8 1893 the Saltair Resort was officially opened Saltair was founded and owned originally by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints but was later transferred to the railroad under the ownership of the Snow Family and the railroad was sold to the Hogle family in the early 1960s 1 page needed For many years passenger traffic to the Saltair Resort was the line s biggest source of revenue The line was electrified in 1916 a project that was completed in 1919 The Garfield Station was built approximately one mile from the Garfield town itself Service to the Garfield station smelter industry ended in 1930 but continued to Morton Salt and other rail freight customers from Salt Lake City to the shores of the Great Salt Lake 2 page needed The railroad provided significant passenger tourist traffic with trains of 12 16 passenger cars leaving to and from Saltair every 45 minutes in 1933 the Great Salt Lake reached its lowest recorded levels stranding the Saltair Beach Resort from the waterline To make up for the loss of patronage due to the low water levels a roller coaster was constructed as well as a short railroad from the pavilion to the water using gasoline powered speeders to carry patrons across the brine flat in 1955 a fire consumed the bath houses and in 1957 the roller coaster burned as well The resort finally closed permanently in 1959 and the Salt Lake Garfield amp Western ceased passenger operations 1 page needed The first diesel locomotive on the line was purchased in 1951 and was a GE 44 tonner 1 page needed In July 1954 the railroad leased a GE centercab diesel from U S Steel and this marked the end of electric operations on the Salt Lake Garfield amp Western 3 The SLGW continues to haul freight to this day along its 16 miles of track with additional sidings for railcar storage transloading railcar cleaning rail served warehousing and other rail related services On October 13 2017 Stadler Rail broke ground for a new manufacturing shop alongside the SLGW 4 The factory will be used to build commuter rail units such as the Stadler FLIRT for use in the United States In 2021 the railroad was purchased by Patriot Rail Company 5 nbsp A Stadler FLIRT DMU painted in DART Silver Line colors at rest on the Salt Lake Garfield amp Western Railway Current operations editThe SLGW is dual served by the two major mainline U S railroads Union Pacific and BNSF SLGW receives freight cars at its main switching yard at 1200 West and North Temple Street in Salt Lake City near the Utah State Fairgrounds Commodities vary and include lumber cement plastics petroleum products paper frozen juices canned goods furniture waste oil and others 6 Occasionally the line will pull a passenger special car owned by the Promontory Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society who use a section of SLGW track to store or rehab historic rail cars 1 page needed Motive power edit nbsp SLG amp W D S 9 an ex Union Pacific SW10The first SLGW locomotive a steam driven Rhode Island Locomotive Works 4 4 0 was delivered on May 24 1892 and was tested by the Rio Grande Western before being placed into revenue service Numbered 1 it weighed 45 tons had 17X24 inch cylinders and 62 inch drivers A second identical locomotive numbered 2 was received in April of the following year A third locomotive also a 4 4 0 but built by the Pittsburgh Locomotive Works was delivered in 1906 No 1 was retired in 1919 and Nos 2 and 3 were retired in 1921 Until electrification the SL amp LA owned only these three locomotives During times of peak business the SLGW leased passenger locomotives from the Rio Grande Western and the Oregon Short Line to facilitate the operation of extra trains 7 page needed The only electric freight locomotive was No 401 former Salt Lake amp Utah 104 purchased in 1946 A total of six powered McGuire Cummings interurban cars were delivered in 1918 which were also used to haul freight Two of the MucGuire Cummings cars when operated in Multiple Unit could pull 40 fully loaded boxcars The electric equipment ran on a charge of 1500 volts delivered via single suspension double line poles 2 page needed A total of thirteen diesel locomotives were owned and operated by the SLG amp W during its independent years starting with D S 1 purchased in December 1951 In addition motor car MC 3 built by American Car amp Foundry and purchased by the SLG amp W in 1951 was used to supplement the diesel powered passenger trains This car was later sold to the California Western and is still in operation as M 300 3 From 2017 until 2019 the line operated three locomotives D S 9 and 10 both ex Union Pacific SW10 diesel electric locomotives and D S 11 an ex Southern Pacific EMD MP15AC locomotive which arrived on the railroad June 14 2017 In late 2019 the railroad acquired an ex Kennecott Copper GP39 2 locomotive D S 13 and acquired an EMD MP15DC locomotive D S 12 retiring the two SW10 locomotives by the end of the year 8 After the railroad s purchase by Patriot Rail D S 11 was retired and two EMD GP9 locomotives 8201 and 8223 were added to the roster 9 Surviving equipment editMC 3 survives on the California Western Railroad as M300 3 DS 2 a GE 44 tonner is on display at the Western Railway Museum in California Two open air excursion cars are owned by the Utah State Railroad Museum in Ogden Utah One SLGW open air passenger car is on display at the Heber Valley Railroad Boxcar 100 originally used to store animal hides resides at the Heber Valley Railroad The last SLGW caboose is now a coffee station located in Mount Pleasant Utah See also editSaltair UtahReferences edit a b c d Carr Stephen L 1989 Utah Ghost Rails Salt Lake City Utah Western Epics a b Swett Ira 1974 Interurbans of Utah Cerritos California Interurbans Special a b c Strack Don Salt Lake Garfield amp Western Railway Retrieved April 8 2011 Gorrell Mike October 13 2017 Stadler breaks ground on railcar manufacturing plant expected to employ 1 000 in west Salt Lake City Salt Lake Tribune Patriot Rail Company LLC Finalizes Acquisition of Salt Lake Garfield amp Western Railway prnewswire com January 4 2021 Retrieved May 7 2023 Salt Lake Garfield amp Western Company Retrieved April 11 2011 Gould William John Gilbert 1995 My Life on the Mountain Railroads Utah State University Press Salt Lake Garfield amp Western Locomotives Strack Don Salt Lake Garfield amp Western Railway Diesel Locomotives Retrieved May 7 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Salt Lake Garfield and Western Railway amp oldid 1159108404, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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