Salt Lake City Interurban

[Anonymous]

In 1967 I rode on a train at Salt Lake City which included two open cars from the Saltair interuban line. I cannot now remember where the train went or how long the ride was, but I think it was possibly a reopened section of the interurban ( though the train was hauled by a small diesel loco). Does anyone have any information on this preserved line, and is it still in operation?

[artpeterson]

It's the Salt Lake Garfield & Western, for which those same open cars worked when the line was electrified. At the time your ride, the steel combines (500-series cars) were still around, although as trailers. A SLG&W 44-tonner was the power after de-electrification.

[daveklepper]

I think there is some remaining trackage in the Salt Lake area, operated as an industrial spur by UP. Other than that it has been abandoned. The lake contracted, and the beach served was no longer a beach and highway traffic wasn't that heavy to make bus or auto access difficult inn any way.

But now Salt Lake City has expancing modern light rail, with practically all the characteristics of interubans! Except the short line freight service is diesel and not trolley freight.