Frontrunner

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

I had to go to Green River today to collect my winnings from winning an Honerable Iention in the Sweetwater County Photo Contest (my Lightning picture) and as I exited the interstate I saw 2 very odd looking cars so on my way out of town, Camera at the ready, I saw them on the end of a westbound freight. So while attempting the very dangerous manuver of driving up the onramp, and taking a picture out the passenger window, I saw them.

Looks like they are getting thier rolling stock together down there in Utah. When is the system supposeed to be up and running? (ahem, Dldance [:P] )

Also on the very front of this train were about 6 flat cars with 2 tanks on them. I can post a picture but the one I took isnt very good and I dont know how uncle sam would like that…

2

Good catch, Thanks for shareing.

3

IIRC - Frontrunner is supposed to be operational 2008. Cars are being delivered as they are completed. I have seen several stored in SLC. Current construction is focused on Woods Cross to Kaysville and the Ogden approach area - where they are bridging the UP yard. Track has been laid in the Kaysville area. Drainage work - including the rerouting of a creek is occuring Woods Cross to Centerville. Layton (between Kaysville and Ogden) has thrown a kink in the works because they want to change the location of the Layton station to better match city development plans. Some of the line between Woods Cross and North Salt Lake will require UP to relocate their main line – to which UP agreed! Current construction status is available at the UTA webstie:

www.rideuta.com

dd

ps - great photo - thanks

4

Hmm. Hard to believe that UP would relocate thier line for this! I wonder how UTA got them to do that…

Where are they storing the cars in SLC?

Aren’t they also planning on building it down to Provo as well?

5

Because the UTA paid for it. You can bet (and be certain of a 100% chance to win) that the UP designed the re-alignment to suite them to a “T”.

6

That redesign and a few other benefits thrown UP’s way is allowing UP to eliminate a 10 mph curve that feeds the westbound former WP line.

Frontrunner’s long term plan is to run from Brigham City (where I live) to Payson (south of Provo). Provo is proposing that voters raise sales taxes to complete the line from the Provo to the Utah County/Salt Lake County line. However, there are no funding proposals for the gap between Utah County and Salt Lake City. Without that track - Utah County won’t build - even with funding.

dd

ps - the cars are being stored in the North Salt Lake yard - near the engine shops. I can see them from Beck Street.