Visiting the Lucin Cutoff

Trains.com General Discussion (Trains.com)
1

Hi fellow railroad fans,

I’m planning to visit the Great Salt Lake to see the Lucin Cutoff in
September. I won’t have much time so I’m seeking advice on the best
places to photograph trains on the cutoff. My current plan is to
drive to Lucin (I’ll have a 4wd), then Lakeside, then drive around the
north side of the lake to Saline/ Promontory where I hope to find an
elevated location to photograph the trains ‘in the landscape’ - ie
complete trains rather than close up shots of locomotives.

My questions are:

  1. The DeLorme topo map for Utah shows a rough road parallel to the
    railroad from Lucin to Lakeside - is this a public road, or a private
    railroad access road? The map shows this road continuing across the
    cutoff, so I assume that this must be private.
  2. How high is the lake this year? Is Lakeside at the lake side?
    3)Is it possible to drive to Lakeside from the south - across the
    ‘Utah test and training range’? The De Lorme map shows a paved road -
    but I don’t want to upset the military!!
  3. How busy is the line? Will I have to wait a long time to see a
    train?
  4. Are elevated locations with views of the lake difficult to access
    at Saline? (which won’t upset private landowners or the rairoad)

Thanks in advance for your responses.

Robert
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
England

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[quote]
I’m planning to visit the Great Salt Lake to see the Lucin Cutoff

[quote]

You are livin my dream. But sense i cant drive (im only 10) i probly wont go there for a while.[:(][V][:slight_smile:][sigh]

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I’ve visited Lucin several times,from the train. Passed over when the trestle still existed, can’t remember the limit, but was probably 20MPH or less. I believe the fill was used by AMTRAK in the 70’s, and was not much faster, though I confess I was sleeping. Not to miss, is the museum at Promentory. I was there in '03, it was very impressive and, like me, you will probably never be closer.