Show A NOTABLE RAILROAD more a million liui on tons tolls or 0 earth earh itald and rock were nere moved in the building of a new track traci which has just been completed on the union pacific system just east of ogden the job is remarkable because it 11 was undertaken and completed at a time when railroad construction over the country was at the lowest ebb in years and because it cut down the maximum of 0 60 feet to the mile grades which were formerly much heavier incidentally the new track in places ga feet hilgh higher than the old gives the traveler on the overland route a better view of the scenic glories of 0 weber canyon one of the finest spots of the land the work was begun in april 1915 and cut in for service december 27 at many points the new line was constructed so close to the old line that it was difficult to carry on oil the operations of grading and ballasting without interfering seriously with tile the operation of trains on the existing line and of necessity tile the work had to be conducted with great care to avoid accidents to trains or cause delays tor to traffic the rate of grade in weber canyon canyon on the oid line is about 50 feet to the mile on the new line it is exactly CO feet to the mile there was one tunnel built on the new line thru a bold projection of granite known as sheephead rock hock the work in this tunnel was comparatively slow on cm account of the irregularity or of the layers of rock which were ere inclined at a great variety of 0 angles and made in many places ecca lations of the material both difficult and dangerous the tunnel is about aboul feet long and is lined throughout with a wall of concrete two feet thick to hold back the sand and gravel that would otherwise fall upon the track here is the place where geologists tell us there existed at one time the tha lake known as bonneville which was larger than lake michigan evidences exist in this canyon to show that the shora lines of the lake extended well up into the canyon probably much canyon probably much higher than the grade reached by the present work vork in all about yards ot of material was removed or a total weight of 12 tons which was quite an item considering that there was scarcely room to work above tile the lower level ot of the original trade track not one life was lost during the work and no serious accidents occurred it was through weber canyon that the early mormon band ot of pioneers traveled to rench reach L emigration canyon v i and thence emerged into the valley of the prom Promis ise edLand d land this and many other historical events connect weber canyon closely with the exploration and progress of the west and the traveler over the lines of the union pacific system cannot but be interested in this canyon which Is so rich in scenic attractions find and historical connection |