Heber Valley Railroad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Heber Valley Railroad |
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Union Pacific 618, a 2-8-0 Baldwin built in 1907.
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| Locale | Heber City, Utah |
| Terminus | Vivian Park, Utah |
| Coordinates | 40°30′8.06″N 111°25′28.14″W / 40.5022389°N 111.4244833°W |
| Connections | None |
| Commercial operations | |
| Name | Provo Canyon Branch of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad |
| Built by | Rio Grande Western & Utah Eastern Railway |
| Preserved operations | |
| Operated by | Heber Valley Historic Railroad Authority |
| Reporting mark | HVRX |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | 1899 |
| Closed | 1967 |
| 1992 | Operation as Heber Valley Railroad begins. |
| Website | |
| http://www.hebervalleyrr.org/ | |
The Heber Valley Railroad (HVRX) is a special train line in Heber City, Utah. It's called a heritage railroad because it keeps old trains running. This railroad takes people on fun trips between Heber City and Vivian Park in Provo Canyon. More than 110,000 people ride these trains every year!
The train track is about 16 miles (26 km) long. A full round trip usually takes about 3 hours. Along the way, you can see amazing sights like Mount Timpanogos and Deer Creek Dam and Reservoir. You might even spot wildlife such as deer, eagles, fox, and moose!
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Meet the Trains: Locomotives of HVRX
The Heber Valley Railroad has many cool trains. They have two old steam locomotives built in 1907 by Baldwin Locomotive Works. These are Union Pacific No. 618 and Great Western No. 75. They are currently being worked on to make sure they are safe to run.
The railroad also has several diesel locomotives. These include former Union Pacific trains like EMD NW2 No. 1011 and EMD GP-9 No. 296. In 2018, the railroad bought three more GP9 trains. These new trains are numbers 52, 72, and 77. In 2019, they added another special train, a former VIA FP9ARM #6300.
A Journey Through Time: History of the Railroad
The train tracks used by the HVRX were once part of a bigger railroad line. This line connected Heber City to Provo, Utah. It was finished in 1899 and carried both goods and people. The line stopped running in 1967.
Luckily, the tracks were saved for fun tourist rides! The railroad reopened in 1970. During the 1970s and 1980s, it was known as the "Heber Creeper." This railroad eventually closed down.
But the people of Heber didn't give up! They asked the State of Utah to help save the railroad. This led to the creation of the Heber Valley Historic Railroad Authority in the early 1990s. Since then, the railroad has grown a lot. It is now a non-profit organization.
Olympic Steam Team: A Special Moment
During the 2002 Winter Olympics, the Heber Valley Railroad played a big part. It was part of the Olympic Steam Team. The trains carried fans to the Soldier Hollow Olympic venue. The railroad's own steam engines, No. 618 and 75, helped with this. Another steam engine, No. 93, also joined them.
These trains pulled eight cars full of passengers. When they arrived at Soldier Hollow, people got off. Then they rode horse-drawn sleighs to the event entrance. The day before the Olympics started, all three steam engines pulled the Olympic flame from Soldier Hollow to Heber City. This was part of the torch relay!
Riding the Rails: Current Adventures
The main station for the Heber Valley Railroad is in Heber City. You can also get on the train at Soldier Hollow or Vivian Park. The railroad runs all year long. They have special events and evening train rides.
Some popular trips include the Provo Canyon Limited. This is a three-hour round trip to Vivian Park. There's also the shorter Deer Creek Express to Deer Creek Reservoir. You can often see the train from U.S. Highway 189. You can also hear its whistle echoing through the valley!
Star of the Screen: Locomotive 618
Locomotive No. 618 was even in a movie! It appeared in the 2006 film, Outlaw Trail: The Treasure of Butch Cassidy. This locomotive turned 100 years old in July 2007.
From 2008 to 2010, No. 618 ran for a limited time. Then it was taken out of service for a big inspection and repair. This is required to meet safety rules. The railroad raised $750,000 for this project. They hope to have No. 618 running again for another 30 years! It is expected to be ready in 2021. Locomotive #75 has also been undergoing restoration since 2003.
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