The Utah Highway Patrol is planning a “heavy presence” on Interstates 84 and 80 between the Wyoming state line near Wahsatch, Utah, and Ogden during UP steam operations in late April with No. 844 and with the Big Boy next month. The railroad and the Interstates parallel and cross each other numerous times over the almost 500-mile route.
Utah Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Nick Street tells Trains Newswire that troopers will be on the lookout for photographers causing hazards by blocking Interstate highway traffic. Both Utah and Wyoming prohibit parking on all limited access highways from fence to fence.
Wyoming has not planned extra targeted enforcement activities, spokesman Sgt. Tim Romig says, but he underscores the concern about parking on Interstates or other controlled access roads that parallel the UP main line. “There are enough side roads along the railroad’s right-of-way so photographers and videographers should be able to safely and legally park to get their shots,” Romig says.
Two county roads running adjacent to the UP main line are of particular concern to the Utah Department of Transportation. Utah DOT Region 1 Communications Manager Vic Saunders says Old Highway 30 in Weber Canyon and Echo Canyon Road in Echo Canyon are county roads and are not maintained to state standards. These two undulating two-lane county roads parallel the Union Pacific main line for a total of 36 miles,” he says. “They present multiple hazards to caravans of train-pacing vehicles,” Saunders warned. “The biggest hazard is limited locations for safe passing.”
His best advice: Don’t pace. Pick a great shot, go early, get it, and then take your time going to the next location. An exit with a large parking area is at Castle Rock, Utah, and the Echo Canyon I-80 west rest area overlooks the UP main line.
Another major concern for fans is highway construction. In Utah, in early May, work will be light. UDOT’s Saunders says the inside lane on northbound I-84 will be closed between mile markers 81 and 87.7 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. near the Ogden suburbs of Uintah and South Weber. Otherwise, that’s it.
Wyoming, however, is another story. At least four repair projects will be underway when the UP’s historic trains begin run. Wyoming Department of Transportation Staff Engineer Cliff Spoonemore says construction with possible lane closures will occur at the following I-80 locations:
• MP 49 – 57 in the Lyman area
• MP 120 – 130 between Rock Springs and Point of Rocks
• MP 210 – 217 on the Rawlins bypass with two overhead railroad bridges
• MP 330 – 336 in the Buford area of Sherman Hill
As always, good planning, attention to safety, and getting to your spot early is the best thing photographers can do for themselves and everyone.
Don’t pace Highway Patrol will give you a ticket. If you want shots park at Wasatch, Emory, Castle Rock, Bootleg Hallow, Echo, and at Devils Slide everywhere else is a no no and stay off Old Highway 30 and Emory Road those are narrow and you can get stuck in traffic.
I don’t fly much Miller so thanks any ways.
Mr. Peavler, this is to notify you that your first class upgrade has cleared for your May 9th Aeroflot flight from Denver (DEN) to Laramie International (LIE).
Mr. Winter, I checked earlier this week and FAA currently has no current plans to issue any sort of bulletin (NOTAM) in relation to this event. 99% of the route is good ole Class E airspace.
Will the FAA be monitoring air traffic? Helicopters, maybe light planes, and I’m sure a squadron of drones.
They’re not kidding about Echo and Weber Canyons. Yes, you can chase normal trains all through there, the road is usually dead traffic-wise. I’ve paced trains up and down the hill several times, proof on my YouTube Channel – but that’s on a regular day and I wasn’t driving, of course!
But I’m also a civil engineering student, and I can tell you that road will be basically impassable during the 4014 transit. The road doesn’t have effective shoulders so people will be packed into a small space. It’ll be crawling speed, at best. I hope the Utah and Wyoming law enforcement people can keep things under control and nobody gets hurt.
Find yourself an open spot a few hours in advance and hold tight. It’s a gorgeous area. Hang out with the other railfans – people will be there from all over. And when she comes into view, make sure you take in the moment – don’t waste it trying to get that crappy cellphone photo!
Saw a lot of interaction between cops and chasers riding the UP #844 steam special from Omaha to No. Platte in 2010. Some cops went the speed limit and a bunch of cars lined up behind them, we soon left them all behind. We had seats in dome diner with a great view of what was going on. Some did get nailed by cops for reckless driving. Even on return trip, when #844 had been cut off at Bailey Yard and we had heritage diesels pulling our consist. People were still chasing and getting caught.