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Mixed train to Victor
By: John B. West
November 5, 2006
 | | John B. West |
With Amtrak only five years away, the April 24, 1966 issue of the Union Pacific public passenger timetable was still a fairly thick publication. The fleet of “City’s” was reasonably intact (even if trains were often consolidated), and a few other name trains like the Portland Rose and Butte Special remained, plus nameless mail trains and amazingly a fair number of branch line mixed trains.
I was headed from my office in San Francisco to Wells, Nevada on business. As luck would have it, my business was on a Thursday morning, would be done quickly, and there was no need for me to back in the office before Monday morning.
So what to do in eastern Nevada for three days?
I opened the UP timetable to find the answer. My business in Wells was completed in time to catch the SP mail train east to Ogden. I slept that night in a roomette in the Idaho Falls set-out sleeper on the Butte Special. Friday I was up early for the 6 a.m. departure of the mixed train from Idaho Falls to Victor.
Even 40 years ago the Victor mixed was a throwback to even earlier days of railroading. Behind the relatively modern GP9 was a string of freight cars trailing an ancient but well cared for combine. At Rexburg they loaded milk and cream into the baggage compartment in the shadow of a traditional trainorder semaphore. At Grainville we spotted a single narrow door boxcar at one of the small elevators for loading. Perhaps the highlight of the trip was the neatly maintained station at Victor surrounded by flowers and lawn, presumably reflecting its former role as the UP’s rail gateway to Grand Teton National Park. Fortunately I had brought my camera with me to record these events.
That evening I reversed the procedure heading back to Ogden and a connection to the City of San Francisco that got me to Oakland by early Sunday afternoon. Not a bad way to spend a weekend.
Today not only is the Victor mixed gone but the tracks to Victor are gone as well.
Copyright © John B. West. All Rights Reserved.
This article has been viewed 5172 times.
User Comments on this Article:
Posted by George W. Hamlin on November 6, 2006:
A very enjoyable time capsule; the weekend was well-spent, in my opinion!
Posted by Janet Cottrell on November 7, 2006:
Fascinating glimpse of the past, thanks for sharing.
Posted by Ron Flanary on November 7, 2006:
Great story, John. Your photos, though taken 40 years ago, are still timeless. How I wish America was still like this today....
Posted by Craig Walker on November 8, 2006:
These shots are full of classic railroad flavor! Marker lights, trainorder signals ... even 40' box cars are hard to come by these days. NIce stuff ... Thanks for sharing, and for the story to accompany the images.
Posted by John Puda on November 22, 2006:
This is a great picture of how the UP used to be in the old times. Still like the UP now, living in ohio i still see a lot eveyday. Great reading!
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