Denver & Rio Grande Western

Denver & Rio Grande Western [Southern Pacific]
Utah (Spanish Fork Canyon)
September 4, 1995




One of the unexpected benefits of the catastrophic rearrangement of the Denver & Rio Grande Western's main through Spanish Fork Canyon was the elevation of U.S. Route 89 well above the canyon floor, making possible panoramic views such as this one. Here a westbound freight is approaching the camera on the relocated main. The remains of the old highway can be seen below the new railroad grade, along with a bit of the Spanish Fork River. One of these two tracks actually belongs to the Utah Railway, an arrangement in place between Soldier Summit and Provo.




This page posted 5/1/2019. Text and photo ©2019 Lamont Downs.