Help! I’m stuck in Jackson Hole, Wyoming with my wife for five days! Can somebody familiar with the area tell me if there are any good railroading spots within 2 or 3 hours of here? How does all that Powder River coal get west?
Thanks
Coal probably goes west by going south to the southern edge of the state and then west from Laramie to Ogden, if my handy-dandy railroad map on the wall is accurate. Looks like the closest railroad action to you is over the mountains in Idaho Falls.
The closest hot spot would probably be down in Soda Springs Id where UP’s PNW traffic is hopping. It is another 15 minutes over to Lava Hot Springs, where you could drop off the family for a soak while you train watch, or you can even watch the action from a hot pool itself.
Other than that, Green River WY and surrounding area is about three hours drive.
3 hours to Green Giver??? Try like 5 hours to Rock Springs/Green River.
Pugh- You could always take a ride through Yellowstone NP and then hit Cody on the other side and catch some action there. Lots of unit grain trains through that area.
Thanks for the info…drove up here thru Weber Pass, lots of action there. Guess I’ll try Soda Springs tomorrow and Cody the day after…looks like some heavy drive time
I was in Jackson Hole in June. You have to go south to the UPRR mainline like Rock Springs/Green River/Granger. You can go west over the Tetons to the UPRR mainline from Granger to Pocatello ID also. Take the chair lift ride you will get terrific views of the Tetons in Jackson. [:o)][:D][:p]
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Originally posted by pugh
the closest railroad to Jackson Hole used to be the Teton Branch - which ran from Ashton ID to Driggs ID. However, that line was pulled up in about 1975. The East Idaho RR runs to Ashton most every day.
I would not reccomend driving the highway from Jackson to Driggs unless you have a few mountain passes of experience - 10% grades and stacks of hairpin turns. There is even an engineered avalanche chute.
The railroad no longer runs from Ashton to West Yellowstone either - but if you get to West Yellowstone, the Union Pacific station is now a museum. The station is a massive log building right at the Yellowstone Park entrance. The exhibits in the museum focus on Yellowstone park, but they have photos of early train travel to West Yellowstone.
dd
They also have a real old fashion baggage car there + the UPRR marker that that is the end of the road. West of West Yellowstone the line is still in use as I saw reefers being loaded 27 miles miles west of West Yellowstone MT on that spur line in May. One of the places I saw them at was Green Giant plant in Rexburg ID [:o)][:D]
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Originally posted by dldance
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BTW it took me 3 1/2 hours from JH to RS when I did it in May which included a pit stop. Maybe I was lucky had no slow pokes or construction to contend with. [:o)]
Look up my web site it may be worth your time to go to Green River WY. Lots & lots of action there which you can easily see from a overhead bridge.Scenery is also terrific [:o)][:p][:)]
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Originally posted by pugh
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[quote]
Originally posted by spbed
They also have a real old fashion baggage car there + the UPRR marker that that is the end of the road. West of West Yellowstone the line is still in use as I saw reefers being loaded 27 miles miles west of West Yellowstone MT on that spur line in May. One of the places I saw them at was Green Giant plant in Rexburg ID [:o)][:D]
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Potato traffice will be slow right now (that is what the reefers were loading) as it is the end of last year’s shipping season and just before this fall’s harvest begins. However, grain traffic to the west coast ought to be starting strong.
dd
I mentioned I saw the reeefers in May so I doubt that would be end of the season since the ground would just be thawing out from the winter for planting to begin. The fact was actually that the spur line is being used by the UPRR & is producing revenue for them. [:o)][:p][:)]
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Originally posted by dldance
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Drive a few miles North to Jenny lake, take a short boat trip across the lake, then hike up the mountain trail as far as you’re able. You won’t feel the need to watch trains.
Guys, what do you think of this? the line out of west yellowstone being rebuilt to ease auto trafic and its a great tourist line! It could be called the yellowstome special and would help ease auto trafic and would be a great way for winter travel! Imajion what can be done!