This DVD gives us a good look at Union Pacific’s main line between the Utah cities of Helper and Provo.  Soldier Summit is where the line crosses the crest of the Wasatch Mountains and grades of up to 2.5% must be overcome as westbound loaded coal trains climb up and over the top.  This is accomplished with the assistance of mid train and rear end helper locomotives.  We follow the route from Helper (elev 5840 ft) westward and over Soldier Summit (elev 7477 ft) to Provo.  As one might guess, the town of Helper is named after helper locomotives and is the base of operations for them.

This line was once part of the Denver & Rio Grande Western’s main line from Denver to Salt Lake City but the D&RGW bought the Southern Pacific and took on the SP name in 1988.  Then in 1996 the Union Pacific bought the SP and this track has been Union Pacific trackage since that time.  The BNSF has trackage rights along this route and we see some of their traffic during the video.  The Utah Railway also runs coal trains on this route, both on their own trackage and on UP trackage.  The Amtrak California Zephyr runs this route just as did the original California Zephyr.

Features encountered along the way from Helper to Provo include a rock formation known as “Castle Gate,” the twin Nolan Tunnels, another pair of tunnels at Kyune, Soldier Summit itself, Gilully Loop, and still another pair of tunnels at Thistle.

This video gives us a nice wide screen view of the Price River Canyon where US Hwy 6, the Price River, and the Union Pacific RR run parallel to one another.  The scenery and the railroad action are enough to make this video worth the price.