BINGHAM & GARFIELD RAILWAY COMPANY
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Historical Note: Bingham & Garfield Railway The Utah Copper Company incorporated the Bingham & Garfield Railway Company, On July 8, 1908, to construct and operate a railroad from their holdings in Bingham Canyon to their Mill and smelter at Garfield, Utah. On October 1, 1911, the 35.6 mile main line was open for business. Moody's Railroad Manual for 1917, rerported that the line was operating 66.94 miles of branch lines, spurs, sidings and yard trackage in addition to their main line. The company had 19 locomotives (probably included quarry, mill and smelter engines); two passenger cars, and 631 freight cars. Interchange was accomplished with the Los Angeles & Salt Lake (later Union Pacific) at Garfield. Early photo of train crossing the Markham Bridge shows a steel baggage/coach combine and a passenger car. (See J. Willard collection Univ. of Utah.) October 26, 1926: Milage - 86 miles (probably including, branch lines, spurs, etc.), locomotives - five coal burning; one coach and one business car; 657 freight cars of which 250 were available for revenue service. Additional interchange connections (carload freight only): Magma, Utah - Denver & Rio Grande, Garfield Jct. - Western Pacific. The Kennecott Copper Company acquired The Utah Copper Company in 1936. January, 1938: Miles operated - 33.5; locomotives - six coal burning, two electric; freight 190 revenue freight cars. Mention is made that the company is an authorized Railway Express carrier. December 31, 1940: With the exception of the rail size increasing to (90 lbs., 112 lbs. & 121 lbs.). 1940 turned out to be a deficit year and one of the first years the railroad did not pay a dividend to its eight registered stock holders. In 1947, the B. &. G Ry. was entirely replaced by a new all-electric low line railway from the mine to the smelter & mill. Moody's 1951 Railroad former line directory states: "Bingham & Garfield Railway abandoned July 1948, in liquidation."
B&G 0-8-8-0 #106 Image, Bingham & Garfield 0-8-8-0 Loco #106 Order No. BIGA106I Magma, Utah, January, 1940: A hefty 0-8-8-0 locomotive #106, belonging to the Bingham & Garfield Railway, has steam up and is under power. --------------------
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