166. Early Steam Engines at Bingham Canyon Mine

Most of the early small steam engines were Davenport or Porter 0-4-0 saddle tank or side tank locomotives. These small steam engines were nicknamed Dinkeys. They went to a little larger Baldwin 0-6-0 locomotive. The steam era ended in the mine in the late 1920s when Utah Copper converted to Electric motive power, trains, and shovels. Comment from Don Strack, utahrails.net. Two bits of trivia that I likely have not mentioned to you. The Boston Consolidated dual gauge trackage was needed because the steam shovels were standard gauge and were moved into place from the shops by the Shay. The Shay was also used on the trackage at the top of Carr Fork, connected to the Copper Belt line at the Boston Consolidated powerhouse where Muddy Fork met Carr Fork. The Shay was used to move standard gauge cars loaded shovel parts and machinery up to the shops, as well as wood for the underground mine. Also, if you notice that the Dinkey 0-4-0 engines all have a hole in the back of the locomotive, through the coal bunker. This was to allow the fireman to cleanout the ashes in the firebox, through the fire door on the boiler's backhead. The fireman used a very long-handled rod that looked like a garden hoe.