Touring the Utah Midland Railway

We begin our tour of the layout with engine number 124, a 280, as it pulls out of the town of Spring Canyon with a string of empty hoppers. Here the Utah Midland and the Denver & Rio Grande share trackage rights. Number 124 moves along the back of the layout, goes into a couple of tunnels, and reappears at Tanner's Cut. The Tanner's Crossing Mine complex is above us. This consolidation is one of only two oil burners on this coal hauling railroad. This is the lowest point in the canyon. We move into the tunnel west of Miller Pass. Here the line leaves the canyon to gain elevation. Upon re-entering the canyon, we pass behind Tanner's Crossing Mine number two, duck into a short tunnel, and emerge on the approach to Lockwood. Two miles away, we can see Tanner's Crossing Mine number three. Closer to us is the back of Buckeye Mine number one. The Canyon hoppers belong to the Canyon Coal Company, which runs all the mines in the area. This is Lockwood. Although it's directly above the town of Spring Canyon, it's separated by a grade that requires a complete loop of the entire layout. Here's the biggest mine on the layout, Lockwood number two. It and all the mines are built from scratch. After looping the Lockwood Mine complex, we've gained even more elevation, and cross the Spring Canyon bridge. Below is the Spring Canyon yard where we started. In back is the Buckeye Mine. Exiting a through truss bridge, the 280 passes Tanner Crossing Mine number three, then over Tanner's Cut. This is the town of Tanner's Crossing. Since the main industry is coal mining, the town is framed by mines number one and number two. The town buildings are a recent addition to the mining complex. The mine's chief engineer got tired of seeing the miners' tent city and built them some decent shacks. After Tanner's Crossing, the line ducks into a tunnel on the way to Miller Pass. Below the main line is a partial ghost town. In the foreground is Miller Pass Mine number three. As it exits tunnel number six, number 124 drifts by Miller Pass Mine number two. We loop the butte and head for the town of Miller Pass. Miller Pass is home to a mine supply company, miners' shacks, a few stores, plus the two large mines. From here, the line loops under itself and returns to Spring Canyon yard.