Union Pacific 618

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Union Pacific 618 is a class "C-57" 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type steam locomotive previously owned by the Union Pacific Railroad. The engine is now located in Heber City, Utah and owned by the Heber Valley Railroad. Built in July 1907 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW) of Eddystone, Pennsylvania, No. 618 is one of 12 surviving C-57 Series locomotives. The locomotive operated in revenue service until 1958. It was then donated to the State of Utah, where it sat on display for many years. In the mid 1960s, a full restoration effort began on the locomotive with the promise of heading up Utah's first tourist railroad in Heber City[1] after the state donated the engine to the National Railway Historical Society. Today, it is one of UP's oldest locomotives and the first steam locomotive to be removed from a Public Park, and put back into operational condition in excursion service.[1] The engine currently is out of service in Heber City, Utah awaiting its finished 1472 Day Inspection Test from the Surface Transportation Board.

Union Pacific 618
Heber UP618.JPG
Former Union Pacific 618 running on the Heber Valley Railroad
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderBaldwin Locomotive Works (BLW)
Serial number31250
Build dateJuly 1907
Rebuild date1957
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-8-0
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Fuel typeNo. 5 fuel oil, originally coal
Fuel capacity16 Tons
Water cap.9,000 US gal (34,000 l; 7,500 imp gal)
Boiler pressure200 lbf/in2 (1.38 MPa)
CylindersTwo, outside
Performance figures
Maximum speed60 mph (97 km/h)
Career
OperatorsUnion Pacific Railroad
Class
Numbers
  • OSL 1068
  • UP 618

History[]

Revenue Service[]

In July 1907, the Oregon Short Line Railroad received #1068. The 2-8-0 locomotive was part of the C-57 Class of locomotives for the OSL, which was a subsidiary of the Union Pacific.[2] The 2-8-0 was part of a three locomotive order from the Oregon Short Line Railroad built that month by Baldwin and numbered 1066-1068.[2]

During World War II, the husky locomotive pulled trains from the Ogden Yards to the Ogden Army Defense Base. This lasted from 1941-1945 when the Japanese surrendered. Afterward, the engine continued to handle freight in Utah and Idaho. Around 1949-1951, the standard square coal tender was replaced with a Vanderbilt styled tender. The reason why is still unknown. Through the 1950s, the locomotive continued to operate on freight duties until the engine was replaced by diesel locomotives on the Union Pacific. The locomotive's last assignment was to act as a snowplow near the Geneva Steel Mill.[3] The Union Pacific had decided to donate 618 to the State of Utah with the agreement that the locomotive could not be sold, scrapped, or given to an out of state railroad.[1][2] In late May of 1958, the locomotive was fired up what some thought was the very last time. She pulled into the Diesel Complex in Salt Lake City. She was then pushed across North Temple Street to the County Fairgrounds and placed on display.[1][2]

Retirement[]

Initially, the locomotive was fairly well received by the public. However, after a while, the locomotive had started to become an eyesore.[1] Many people wanted to get rid of 618, but the stipulations of the Union Pacific giving 618 to the state was that it couldn't be scrapped, sold, or given out of state. This prompted many to speculate what else to do with the locomotive. In the mid 1960s, there was a thought of just burying the engine. According to Stephen Carr, a historian at the Heber Valley Railroad, he stated that, "There was a thought of digging a big hole right next, next to it and tumbling it into the hole. Because nobody knew what else to do with it and nobody was interested in it."[1] In addition, the fairgrounds also were going to be expanded, and the locomotive needed to be moved to allow it. However, members of the National Railway Historical Society decided to step in and in 1969, they convinced the state to donate the engine to the Promontory Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society.[2] After the donation, the group started conversations with the state to use the locomotive in a brand new tourist railroad based out of Heber City, Utah on the Wasatch Railway Museum.

Wasatch Railway Museum[]

Two years earlier in 1967, the Denver & Rio Grande Western had abandoned the Provo Branch Line that linked Provo to Heber City. The tracks were planned to be ripped up and be turned over as an extension of U.S Route 189.[4] Several locals and businessmen fought to keep the tracks in order to start a potential tourist operation. When the Wasatch Mountain Railway moved their equipment onto the branch, Utah told them to leave. UDOT gave the historical group until April 1, 1972 to move its equipment.[4] The railroad more or less balked at the order and moved #618 to Heber City from Provo on December 7th, 1970.[4] By 1971, the railroad added to their fleet with Pacific Lumber Co. #35 and a 3-Truck Shay #4 from the .[4] That July on January 3, 1971, #618 was fired up and ran the first excursion on the Heber Creeper. In November, the state decided to rescind their eviction and granted the Wasatch Railway Museum a 25 year lease on the former branch.[4]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Engine 618, retrieved 2021-10-15
  2. ^ a b c d e "No. 618 – Heber Valley Railroad". Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  3. ^ "No. 300 – Heber Valley Railroad". Retrieved 2021-10-26.
  4. ^ a b c d e Strack, Don. "Heber Valley Railroad". utahrails.net. Retrieved 2021-10-26.
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