"The Heber Valley Railroad has acquired a rare 0-6-0 type steam locomotive, former Columbia Steel Corporation No. 300, which has quietly rusted away for the past forty years in a Provo Park. Plans call for the locomotive to be moved by semi truck to the Heber City maintenance shop during the summer of 2003, and after a complete overhaul it should be back in steam by 2005.
The No. 300 spent all of its life working as a switch engine at the Columbia Steel Corporations iron manufacturing plant at Ironton, Utah, moving slag cars between the coking plant and blast furnaces. The last days of steam at Ironton came in the late 1950s. It is unclear when No. 300 was retired, but by 1960 the plant had changed over to diesel locomotives, and the steam
locomotives were taken out of service. The No. 300 was obtained in the early 1960s by the Geneva Recreation Association and placed it on display at their private park in Provo near the Geneva mill.
In early 2003 the GRA offered the engine to the Heber Valley Railroad, the only place in Utah where the engine can be restored and used again. In a few years, when it finally rolls out of the
engine house under its own power, No. 300 will join Union Pacific 2-8-0 #618 and Great Western 2-8-0 #75 as regular power for the Heber Valley Railroad’s scenic run along Deer Creek Reservoir and Down Provo Canyon."
No. 300 Was removed from the GRA park on 07/07/03 and taken to Vivian Park, where #618 pulled it along the 16 miles through Provo Canyon and around Deer Creek Reservoir. It is now in the Heber Yard waiting to start its restoration. I have some pictures of this incredible event and I will post them once I have developed them, and I will keep you all updated on its progress.
Freelancer
The No. 300 spent all of its life working as a switch engine at the Columbia Steel Corporations iron manufacturing plant at Ironton, Utah, moving slag cars between the coking plant and blast furnaces. The last days of steam at Ironton came in the late 1950s. It is unclear when No. 300 was retired, but by 1960 the plant had changed over to diesel locomotives, and the steam
locomotives were taken out of service. The No. 300 was obtained in the early 1960s by the Geneva Recreation Association and placed it on display at their private park in Provo near the Geneva mill.
In early 2003 the GRA offered the engine to the Heber Valley Railroad, the only place in Utah where the engine can be restored and used again. In a few years, when it finally rolls out of the
engine house under its own power, No. 300 will join Union Pacific 2-8-0 #618 and Great Western 2-8-0 #75 as regular power for the Heber Valley Railroad’s scenic run along Deer Creek Reservoir and Down Provo Canyon."
No. 300 Was removed from the GRA park on 07/07/03 and taken to Vivian Park, where #618 pulled it along the 16 miles through Provo Canyon and around Deer Creek Reservoir. It is now in the Heber Yard waiting to start its restoration. I have some pictures of this incredible event and I will post them once I have developed them, and I will keep you all updated on its progress.
Freelancer
