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The Hazards of Railroading

Doug Harrop Photography • June 1986

 

This is easily two of the most compelling photos from the camera of Doug Harrop. They capture from the cab of a Southern Pacific GP9E the increasing peril of railroading on the Great Salt Lake causeway west of Ogden in northern Utah in 1986.

 

Doug's work train was making a futile attempt to raise the level of the right of way with ballast and rip rap during a time period when the lake was rising to record levels. In a few days, 11 miles of track would be destroyed in a series of storms, closing the SP mainline west of Ogden for 77 days.

 

Additional photos from this series will be posted on Flickr.

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Uploaded on December 13, 2025
Taken in June 1986