Existing comment:
Utah & Northern Railway:
One mile south and directly west of this highway, an old 1878 railroad grade still is visible although trains have not used it since 1890.
Jay Gould -- a nationally prominent financier, and Union Pacific owner -- extended Utah and Northern service north from Franklin to Montana by 1880. A narrow gauge line until 1887, it helped build up Cache Valley and accounted for many new Idaho cities and towns farther north. But small, wood-burning locomotives had a hard time ascending this hill. After a more direct route 4 miles west of here was completed, service north of Preston was abandoned on this grade. |