TrainWeb.org Facebook Page

The Trip to Evanston and the Evanston Roundhouse 8/16/2021



by Chris Guenzler



Elizabeth and I woke up and had an excellent breakfast at the Quality Inn in Price. At 8:15 we left with Greg driving and headed west across Soldier Summit with no trains to be seen. We went through Provo passing Brigham Young University before heading up Provo Canyon.





Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon with Elizabeth posed. Greg drove us all to the Heber Valley Railroad where we looked around before our visit and ride tomorrow. Elizabeth then drove us to the depots in Heber City.







The Union Pacific station from Honeyville by way of Corinne.







The Heber City Denver and Rio Grande Western station.





Utah Railway wooden caboose 53 built in 1913 acquired from Southern Utah Railroad. This sat at Martin until the late 1960s or early 1970s, when it was sold to H-E Lowdermilk Co., a construction firm located at Spring Glen, Utah, between Helper and Price; moved to their equipment yard at Spring Glen. Moved from there in about 1973, to Heber, Utah, for service on the Heber Creeper tourist excursion train. Later removed from service and displayed near the original D&RGW depot at Heber, which became private property after 1990. Moved to its current location in February 2021.

From here Elizabeth drove us to Coalville.







The Union Pacific Echo station in Coalville.





The trainorders signal here.





Baggage cart in Coalville.





The station information board. From here we headed to Morgan.





Union Pacific C-11 caboose 25822 built by International Car in 1979, retired in 2019 and donated to the city.











Union Pacific Morgan station built in 1926. We drove east on Interstate 84 but stopped at a landmark.





Devil's Slide, a geological formation located near the border of Wyoming in northern Utah's Weber Canyon, near the community of Croydon in Morgan County. The slide consists of two parallel limestone strata that have been tilted to lie vertical, protruding 40 feet out of the mountainside. Intervening layers have eroded more quickly, forming a channel some eight feet wide running hundreds of feet down the mountain. I-84 runs right past Devil's Slide, which can be clearly seen from the road. The Weber River flows between the formation and the freeway. There are parking areas on both sides of the highway for viewing the slide. At Echo we took the old highway hoping to find a train and we did.









Union Pacific 2588 West with DPU 8497 in Echo Canyon. From here we then drove Interstate 80 to Evanston, stopped at Arby's for lunch then made our way to the Union Pacific station here.







The Evanston Union Pacific station built in 1900. We then drove to the Evanston Roundhouse.

Evanston Roundhouse

The Independence Day Celebration in Evanston in 1871 included the dedication of the Union Pacific Roundhouse and Machine Shop. In 1912, the present brick roundhouse and turntable were constructed to accommodate the larger steam locomotives being brought into service. The Roundhouse and associated structures served the UPRR as a main railcar and engine repair station and later as a reclamation facility.

In 1971, the UPRR officially vacated the Roundhouse, and the following year, deeded the properties (with the exception of the Power House) to the City of Evanston. From 1972 to 1998, the Roundhouse continued to be utilized as a repair station as several companies leased it from the city. In 1998, the last business vacated the site.

In 2004, a Master Plan was created designating the Roundhouse as a future public building and as a future city hall. With the completion of the nearby Machine Shop in 2005 and its parking area in 2006, it became evident that the time had arrived to save Section One of the Roundhouse. In 2007, the city was awarded a Wyoming Business Council grant to help renovate the 65,000 square foot first section, and by January, 2008, project had begun.

In 2009, the community held the first event in the renovated first section of the Roundhouse: The 27th Annual Renewal Ball.

Evanston's Historic Roundhouse & Railyards was constructed in 1912-1914 by Union Pacific Railroad and features one of the last intact roundhouses on the UPRR line. In 2009, the city was able to refurbish the first of four sections of the Roundhouse as a public facility. The bi-level structure includes a spacious gallery, un upper level lounge, three small boardrooms and/or one large classroom. It also contains an elevator and two kitchenettes. Roundhouse Section One can easily accommodate up to 1,300 conference attendees and exhibitors. With a state-of-the-art audio/visual system, stages and podiums, banquet tables and chairs, the facility is fully equipped to host events of nearly any size. Across the plaza is the Machine Shop (renovated in 2004), a 17,000 square foot building with a catering kitchen. The Roundhouse & Machine Shop can be rented together or separately. In addition, the community has an ample selection of caterers available to service such occasions. The City of Evanston proposes a minimal flat fee charge for the use of the facility. Reservations must be made as soon as possible, as the facility is used frequently throughout the year, especially during the summer months.

The Roundhouse gallery/ballroom can hold up to 900 attendees. The Portland Rose Classroom can accommodate 115 guests. Three small boardrooms can be sectioned off and each can hold 21 guests. The Upper Mezzanine Area can be used as classroom space, as well, and holds a capacity of 200.

Our Visit

Greg and Marty went one way and Elizabeth and I went the other. The Evanston School District was holding an event in both buildings.





Union Pacific work train dining car 906215, nee Union Pacific 4800, built by American Car and Foundry in 1949.





Union Pacific caboose 25188 built by Pullman in 1944 as Union Pacific 3888.





Unknown crane. I next looked through the windows of the roundhouse to find the steam engine which I knew was here.





Union Pacific 0-6-0 4420 built by Lima Locomotive Works in 1914 as Union Pacific 1271, a sister to the steam engine we saw yesterday at Clark County Museum in Henderson. It worked at the Evanston roundhouse for forty-three years before being retired in 1958 and donated to the city where it was placed on the courthouse lawn. The engine remained there until 1981 when it was moved to Elm Street for display. It was moved into the roundhouse in December 2020 and an evaluation of the cost and timeline for restoration will occur.





A track speeder in the roundhouse.







A look at all of the roundhouse doors.





The turntable at this unique roundhouse.





Some of my favorite diesels are on display here.





Union Tank Car 44 ton switcher 1301, nee USAX 8568, built by General Electric in 1944.





Union Tank Car 65 ton switcher 1303, ex. Salt Lake, Garfield and Western DS-5, nee USAX 7165 built by General Electric in 1943.





Union Tank Car 80 ton switcher 1302, nee American Smelting and Refining Company 1, built by General Electric in 1949.







Union Pacific 8637 West with DPU Union Pacific 6813 went through Evanston during our visit.







Three more views of the Evanston Roundhouse. We left here and then checked into the Best Western Dunmar Inn and recevied Room 631. I finished up the story from yesterday then wrote the story from today, after which Elizabeth and I ate dinner at the Legal Tender on the hotel grounds then went for a walk before calling it a night.



RETURN TO THE MAIN PAGE