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IDAHO SUNDAY JOUINAl ftimrfvy, Jvm 10, lfW-MOld Narrow Gauge Railroad Once Ran Across CountyBy LENA ANKEN SEXTONThai mound of dirt over there?That’s ihe old track bod of the narrow gauge Utah Northern Rail, road — east Idaho's first railroad —which onee snaked across Bannock county,It was in 1877 that llie first rails crossed the Idaho boundary from Utah and the road began Its trek from Franklin up through Marsh creek, nurth to the Snake river ami through Beaver canyon to the rich gold Helds of Montana.Mrs. Fannie Richardson, Inkom was just I wo years old when her family settled in Marsh valley. The railroad came through the meadows practically in the back yard. She remembers the funny little «n. ginos that struggled along pulliug their string of little cars. The old road grading can still be seen clearly for a long distance on the Leigh Gltten’s place southwest of McCammon and there . are remnants' of the grade and the old gravel pit where they obtained ballast for the grading on the Lynn Bullock place, west of McCain-*' 'A*L *;xrion.ALONG INDIAN CAMPSITEDuring thfi years that Mrs. Rich* ardson's family lived in the Me* Canimoc-Inkom vicinity there were many changes. Years ago; she says, Indians camped along.Marsh creek between Inkom and McCam-mon. It was one of their favorite campsites, In the summer they hunted and ate the ground squirrels.Mrs. Richardson tells the story of the old Indian who watched the railroad gangs cutting the trees, hunting the wild game for the crows, working with teams along the track, and remarked with a sorrowful shake of his head:“It will take a hundred years for the Indians to get the country back in shape again, if the white man gives it back.”Originally the railroad came through the cut from Marsh creek to cross the Portneuf near tht present' upper Gathe place. Then It made a huge circle following the: lavas and circling the' upper side of Inkom. Before the town was settled or named it was called The Big Bend, because of this circle ofOld roafl grading of East Idaho’s first railroad is still visible on the Leigh Gittin's property southwest of MeCammon. The first rails of this narrow gauge UtahNorthern railroad crossed the Idaho boundary from Utah 79 years ago.the fiiwest beach on alt Waikiki...- -. and four sparkling pools are waiting for you ac the .* fabulous Hawaiian Village Hotel; created with imagination by Henry J. Kaiser and Fritz B, Bums, now under the operating management ofWestern Hotels.Are you working too hard? Imagine a refresh* ing swim in the pool or the warm surf, then back to your lovely rooms— whtch might be an authentic thatched-roof cot* tage or a breakfast-bar apartment or a lanai-bed-room on the beach. Then,perhaps, a oeutle stroll through 18through 18 acres of lush* flower-filled gardens' be*fore cocktails and a au-£Terlative dinner in theapa Room.Too nice out for bed? Agreed. Let’s dance to the soft, rhythmic music of Ha*' waffs own Alfred Apaka^-on a special floor that rollsout over the pool under the stars. Time then for refreshment^ while enjoying ancient Island songs and dances. tThere’s a languid breitst, spiced with the scent of phi*Ike railroad tracks. Years later Uie track wns changed io the present location between Inkom and Blaekrock. There are several places that a straight line of bushes or sinaii trees are the landmarks mat outline the old grade, between the Reddyville crossing and Inkom. CHANDLER RECALLS *William (Bill) Chandler is another Inkom resident, who can recall a lot of pioneer Jure. Bom in 1RB3 and Jiving most of his life in the vicinity, Chandler worked for cattle outfits, and often camped along Rapid creek between Inkom and Buckskin long before there were any white settlers, foe only cabr lus in Inkom were .those of the Sorelle’s and the Jackson’s, both Indian families, Chandler says.His father came to Idaho as bosa of the steel gang Tor the Utah Northern from Qgder., Utah. He worked for Utah Northern during construction days, and later when it became part of Oregon Short-line he was the man that ordered the first train out of MeCammon on the new wide gauge rails .that reptaces the first narrow gauge of Utah Northern.WHERE IT RANChandler recalls that the narrow gauge crossed Marsh, creek by Downata Hot Springs Then it came up the Mari^ creek -bottoms to the old town of Arimo, which was down the hill to the west of the present town,. Overnight Arimo grew from a family or two to a population of between 1000 and 1200 when the railroad crews made it their headquarter* while building nearby.From Arimo the tracks cut over to .Belle Marsh creek and on to Inkom. At Pocatello, Chandler says the track came into town between Third and Fourth avenue, crossed Fifth at about the location of the. Herzog Station, went up by the college and north to,the depot at Pocatello'Creek, , .Focatello Junction began with a box car depot and section house, with later a water tank and coal bin added. The town in 1882 was a city of tents and . box car** but by 1883 its railroads were handling a a average of 750 tons of freight i day, and by 1896 Pocatello was headquarters for the Idaho div-sion of the Union Pacific System-Three hundred trainmen, conductors, brakemen, engineers, and firemen were then on runs out of bo city. One hundred were employ* ed about the offices and the hotel, and fifty worked in the yards. There were machine, blacksmith and boiler shops, six car and paint shops, two round house* with 4stalls.THREE YEARS TO BUILD It was on the first day of November, 1877, that Idaho’s south* em boundary was crossed. June 12, 879, the first train crossed the wwly constructed bridge over Snake river .at Eagle Rock (Idaho falls). The road im completed to SUvenBow, Mont., In 1380. In 1887 the Utah Northern was consolidated with the Oregon Short Line, and Iin 1899 the narrow gauge was changed to standard.Wbat a great -difference there was in the little narrow gauge and those of the present time. The narrow gauge track was’ three feet wide. The rails weighed 35 pounds to the yard, standard, gauge at present is 133 pounds to the yard, although there are still some 60-pound rails on the old branch lines.Labor costs were most certainly far below present standards both in weekly hours and daily pay. Dropping spikes along the rails drew 75 cents a day, and for a better paying job, bolting rails brought. $1.05 a day. There were tiawn to dsrk hours every day, in all weather conditions.GRAVE AT BLACKROCKBoom towns sprang up along the tracks, and lawless wild tent cities traveled with the rails. Smallpoxcast a deadly .shadow, andBlaekrock south of Pocatello, in a common but long forgotten grave near the old school house, several men who’ died of this dread disease lie burled.History says that the Utah Northern camps were among the wildest of the wild-, and the only law was mob rule which often got out of band.Nevertheless most of the towns| along its route to Montana owe tbeir origin to the better railroad element that chose to settle along the right iof way and build homes and cities end new lives in Idaho Territory..When the Utah Northern railroad was being constructed, ballast lor the grading was secured from gravel pit (seen at left) situated on the Lynn Bullockproperty, west of MeCammon. Re»* nants of 4he old pit and grade are still in evidence.Pilot's Strike EndsHOME lt;UP1— Italian airlines resumed international operations Friday following settlement of a moolhJonk pilot’s strike for high-er wages and other benefits.Treaty Experts MeetPARIS lt;UP)- French and West German experta will meet here early next week to start drafting a detailed treaty returning * the Saar territory to Germany, Ihe French Foreign Ministry announced.WURLITZER ORGANUuen-loanPkm$4.95 ZyIncluding privste lessons end all materials, with »n . organ in vour home,INTRODUCTORY ACCORDIANCOURSE$15.00Ten-week court* $1.50 per l—iow tediidtt Mil rant ef «ccordion and materials*NOT a class—all private leison^—teupht by Mr. Kendall personally. Regular instruction in1 Piano, Organ and Accordion.KEITH KENDALLSTUDIO OF MUSIC731 North ArthurFIMM Sit*■tWilliam (Bill) Chandler, Inkum resident whose father was boss of the steel gang for ihe Utah Northern,, examines a piece of narrow gauge track which he fount! in. the Inkom area. Chandler’s father was the man whb ordered the first train out of MeCammon on wide gauge rails that replaced, the Utah Northern narrow gauge.UP TOWITH YOUR OLD REFRIGERATOR? IN TRAD!Y*i, this wmV in the titfie to get rid of your old refrigerator - - -while tbit hug# extra trade-inoffer laBte. Come in or phone now.PRILCORefrigerator Trade-in WeekWorld’s First Air Conditioned RefrigeratorHere’* that brand new kind of refrigerator that’s AirSAVE... ALL YEAR-ROUND• 9A HOME FREEZER PAYS FOR ITSELFA freezer saves you money. And how? You1*11 «/ -3 F lanf lii r i*AA V r-. • lt;U.I II ■ t-m-t ■ i
Newspaper Details
Idaho Journal
Pocatello, Idaho, US
Sun, Jun 10, 1956
Page 42
Full Page
Clipped by
Justin S.
ID, USA 27 Oct 2022
Other Publications Near Pocatello, Idaho
The Semi Weekly Pocatello Tribune
The Weekly Pocatello Tribune
The Pocatello Post
The Pocatello Tribune
Idaho Journal
