Eastbound unit oil train rolling down Soldier Pass with three SD70M (UP 4675, UP 4263 and UP 4521)

Heritage quad hopper
Sitting in Union Pacific’s former Rio Grande Helper yard is D&RGW 100-ton quad hopper No. 12272 on the afternoon of February 3, 2003. This was the only car painted ... (more)

When the days are short and that 7:00 a.m. call time gets you up in complete darkness, its only natural to want to either rub the sleep from your eyes or drink hot coffee from that favorite mug as... (more)

On June 22, 2004, Union Pacific’s LJP45 local out of Helper, Utah, was returning to town entering the yard when the lead truck of Rio Grande SD40T-2 No. 5349 derailed on the switch to Yard Track 2... (more)

An AC4400CW idles in the Helper, Utah yard.

In more recent years, Helper could still be a busy place on occasion, such as in this view on October 23, 2007. A BNSF freight marches west on Main 2, while Union Pacific’s MNYPV manifest freight ... (more)

Rio Grande SD40T-2 No. 5371 is the last D&RGW locomotive left on the Union Pacific roster in original paint and numbers when photograph at Helper, Utah, on November 7, 2007. Machinist Tony Bueno i... (more)

An eastbound manifest slow rolls into Helper, Utah, waiting for a train to clear in the yard.

Sad picture, this one. Here is D&RGW #5371 rolling east down the yard lead at Helper, Utah accompanied by 3 UP SD40-2's. This Rio Grande SD40T-2 and mates are headed out of the yard onto the UP ma... (more)

Four Utah Railway MK50-3s storm out of Helper, Utah, with a westbound coal train in for a climb up through the Price River Canyon and over Soldier Summit on the afternoon of June 22, 2004.

Amtrak #6 is slowing to a stop in front of the Union Pacific yard office in Helper, Utah. #6 will pick up 3 passengers here today in spite of being 8 hours late. Lead unit #42, the Veterans unit, ... (more)

Rio Grande SD9 No. 5306 works the north end of Helper Yard on a sunny Feb. 6, 1977 morning. The 1750 HP EMD was from an order for 10 units (DRGW 5305-5314) delivered in July 1957. It would be reti... (more)

I caught this crew change at D Street; the only at grade crossing in Helper, Utah. On the left is the CSVLR fresh from loading at the Savage Coal Terminal. It is headed to Richmond, California. Th... (more)

For 102 years the Utah Railway has been hauling Bituminus Coal over the Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains. Rumor has it, the Utah Railway will stop serving Carbon County mines on January 1st of... (more)

After a 25 mile eastward descent from Soldier Summit, with grades up to 2.4%, the Union Pacific MRONY is just now rolling into Helper Yard, Utah. It will have an easier time on the 175 mile trip f... (more)