Heber City, UT

Steamin' on the Heber Creeper

Since 1899, the “Heber Creeper” has snaked its way through the farmlands, rivers, and canyons of north-central Utah. Originally a freight line from Provo to Heber City, the Creeper lost steam in the 1960s, when a highway supplanted the railroad, and again in the 1990s, due to financial woes.

Each time, local supporters rallied for “the little engine that could.” More than 100 years later, the Creeper is still crawling and will steam into history during the upcoming 2002 Winter Olympics.

The railroad line was originally created by the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Co. to haul freight into the Heber Valley and take livestock out. The iron horse was a lifeline for the early settlers living in the mountain valley, earning the nickname Heber Creeper for its slow-paced crawl up the canyon.

“Legend has it that a newlywed couple boarded the train in Provo, and it went so slow they had their first child when the train pulled into the Heber station,” claims Ken McConnell, director of marketing and media for the Heber Valley Railroad (HVRR).

Now based in Heber City (pop. 7291), the HVRR offers steam-engine train trips, while guides entertain travelers with folklore and tales of the area’s rich history. “Our life is so fast paced now, and time is of the essence,” says Craig H. Lacey, executive director of the HVRR. “We are harkening people back to the early 1900s and allowing them to experience simpler days.”

“Unlike many other railroads, HVRR offers splendid but differing vistas: the farmlands of the Heber Valley, following the shores of Deer Creek Reservoir, with the lake on one side and high rolling desert on the opposite side of the tracks. It then descends into a beautiful glacier-carved canyon, following the icy waters of the Provo River,” says McConnell. Add to that a blanket of white in winter. Heber City, a valley hamlet surrounded by the Wasatch Mountains, is 5,600 feet above sea level and receives about 6 feet of snow per year.

HVRR is now owned by the state of Utah and operated by the Heber Valley Historic Railroad Authority as a year-round tourist attraction. McConnell says two 1907 Baldwin steam locomotives, Engines No. 618 and 75, now do most of the work.

Engine No. 618 is the first locomotive in the nation to be taken off display in a park and put back into service. Locomotive No. 75, nicknamed the “Movie Train,” has appeared in more than 33 motion pictures, including Breakheart Pass, The Professionals, and A River Runs Through It. It was also featured on the television series Touched by an Angel. But the trains may be preparing for their greatest honor yet.

During the 2002 Winter Olympics, the iron horses of HVRR will form the 2002 International Winter Steam Team. The steam Creepers will move passengers to and from the cross-country skiing and biathlon events, which will be held at Soldier Hollow on the outskirts of Heber.

This will be the first time in Olympic history that a tourist railroad will transport passengers back and forth to official Olympic events. An estimated 20,000 spectators are anticipated daily at Soldier Hollow during the 16-day Olympic events.

“Working together, we’ll really put on a world-class steam show during the games,” says Lacey. “We’re looking forward to hosting the world and giving them an unforgettable experience of history in motion.”

Lacey describes a ride aboard a steam-engine train as a total sensory experience. “You can see the steam, feel the clickety clack of the wheels over the rail joints, smell the coal smoke and valve oil, hear the whistle and chugging of the engine, and get a taste of the days of the early 1900s.”

McConnell adds: “Winter with a steam engine is an awesome sight, especially out here,” he exclaims. “Because it’s so cold, it accentuates the steam. The engine is just alive with steam.”

Debra Hart is a freelance writer from Eagle Mountain, Utah.

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