Description
Double-track main line of Union Pacific’s ex-Denver & Rio Grande Western line over the Wasatch Mountains, used jointly by UP and the Utah Railway. Assembled from many railroad company ancestors, the line was originally completed in 1882.
The western slope’s troublesome 4-percent grade was soon replaced by two horseshoe curves and a steady 2-percent grade. The eastern slope still sports a hefty 2.4-percent gradient.
Operations
CTC-controlled; main line freight action. Also, Amtrak’s California Zephyr.
Typical motive power
Any motive power that UP owns is likely to show up on freights. Helper operations (at the time of this writing) were still ex-D&RGW SD40T-2s. Since 1996, Burlington Northern Santa Fe has also been a tenant, with any available BNSF power heading up freights.
Utah Railway SDs generally work coal trains and serve as BNSF helpers. Run-through power is frequently seen.
Peak operating hours
Weekdays: Trains generally spread evenly during daylight hours.
Weekends: Early morning or late afternoons are best.
Amtrak No. 6 comes through in early morning; No. 5, late evening.
Approximate daily train frequency
Reduced drastically from the late 1990s. Currently, weekdays see 10 freights per day; weekends, four to five daily. Most traffic is coal with two or three manifest/intermodal trains breaking up the coal parade, plus two or more BNSF trackage rights trains.
Radio frequencies
UP (ex-D&RGW): 160.455 (road), 457.900 (repeater)
Utah Railway: 161.145
Nearby points of interest
In Helper, the Helper Rail Museum.
Utah Railway’s headquarters and yard at Martin.
The Thistle Mudslide site: In 1983, a massive mudslide descended upon and blocked the D&RGW main line, forcing the railroad into a six-mile right-of-way relocation and the drilling of two new tunnels.
Remarks
Scenic highlights include the two horseshoe curves on the west side of Soldier Summit (the “Gilluly loops”), the limestone buttress at Castle Gate, Price River Canyon (Kyune to Helper), and the twin “Thistle” tunnels constructed under Billies Mountain to bypass the 1983 mudslide.
Other double tunnels exist at Nolan and Kyune.
Many coal trains on the 21-mile Pleasant Valley Branch, which departs the main line at Colton.
Safety considerations
U.S. 6, which parallels the ex-D&RGW main line virtually the entire way, is a very busy two-lane road between Rio and Helper. However, with care, there are many pull-offs available for great views of the railroad.
Contributor: Dave Gayer
Soldier Summit, Utah, was where the Rio Grande waged battle against the Utah Mountains. In its November 2003 issue, TRAINS Magazine describes the ongoing challenges the Denver & Rio Grande faced in the 1960s moving coal over Soldier Summit’s 4-percent grade while the railroad itself was in a period of transition.
Rio Grande Modeling & Historical Society
Utah Rails, the vast, comprehensive rail history site of Don Strack
Get track charts of the D&RGW on-line!
News, timetables, maps, and more
My Soldier Summit been up and down these passes since I was a kid. Much has changed but it is still the greatest route in North America. Each day 15 trains including the star of the show Amtrak #6 Zephyr herself make there way up the pass. The mix is 3 BNSF, 9 UP, One Zephyr each way, and and two Utah Rail plus a ton of coal trains from each company requiring an SD40 Dash 9, SD45, or an MP 5000 to get over the pass. Helper is rightly named this is where the engines are serviced to get the trains over Soldier Summit. Helper is named after the engines themselves BNSF, UPs, and Utah Rails fleet of helper locomotives which are always on call to get a stalled freight up the hill. I know every station on the Old Rio Grande from Helper to Provo I memorized them since I was a kid. Tie Fork Rest Area is railfan themed if you want to know about the Rio Grande this is the place to go. Don’t forget all three levels of Gilluly Loop this is six times better then Horseshoe Curve instead of one horseshoe and two trains you have three loops and three trains and an amazing thing is the sidings are right under Highway 6 you see one train coming into Gilluly to set out helpers and the other is halfway to Soldier Summit. It is an amazing place.
FWIW, I have the 2012 edition of the Hot Spots Guidebook, and Soldier Summit is NOT included. I feel a little cheated! Though really, this area is not much of a "Hot Spot", though an extremely beautiful and highly recommended drive. From my experience, you won't see much on weekends, so shoot visiting this stretch weekdays.