Elko Subdivision
{{Short description|Railway line in Nevada}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Elko Subdivision}}
The Elko Subdivision is a railway line in Nevada owned and operated by the Union Pacific Railroad running from Weso (switching point just east of Winnemucca) to the freight yard in Elko. It is part of both the Overland Route and the Central Corridor.{{Cite map |url=http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/maps/attachments/upcomnam.pdf |title=UPRR Common Line Names |publisher=Union Pacific Railroad |format=PDF |accessdate=4 Jan 2009}} The line generally follows the Humboldt River and has several small tunnels while traversing the Palisade and Carlin Canyons, the longest tunnel is called the Carlin Tunnel.
Description
The Elko subdivision is unique in that the entire subdivision is operated as a dual track main, but each of the two tracks in the main were formerly competing lines, built by different companies and at different times, that were combined with directional running.{{cite web
|url = http://www.yuccamountain.org/impact_report/section3.htm
|publisher = Eureka County ā Yucca Mountain Project
|title = Eureka County, Yucca Mountain Existing Transportation Corridor Study
|year = 2005
|access-date = 2010-05-08}} The westbound track was part of the first transcontinental railroad built in the 1860s by the Central Pacific Railroad, while the eastbound track was built by the Western Pacific Railroad as part of the Feather River Route, between 1906 and 1909. The two tracks generally follow each other, however, the routes are not identical. This results in several oddities in the Elko Subdivision. For example, the community of Battle Mountain is only accessible by westbound trains, as the Western Pacific built track used for eastbound trains is routed several miles to the north of Battle Mountain. The North Valmy Generating Station resides between the two tracks, and the feeders from each track can be used as a crossover for trains to turn around. Also unique, the two tracks have a grade separated crossover near Palisade. As a result, trains in the eastern half of the Elko Subdivision observe right hand traffic, while trains in the western half observe left hand traffic.{{cite map
|publisher = Benchmark Maps
|title = Nevada Road and Recreation Atlas
|url = http://www.benchmarkmaps.com
|edition = 2003
|year = 2003
|scale = 1:250000
|page = 41ā44
|isbn = 0-929591-81-X
}} This shared track arrangement continues east of the Elko freight yards, where the line becomes the Shafter Subdivision until Alazon, Nevada (near Wells). At Alazon, the two lines separate, with the Central Corridor proceeding to Salt Lake City, while the Overland Route proceeds to Ogden, Utah.
History
The 1939 City of San Francisco derailment occurred along today's Elko Subdivision, near a rail siding called Harney, between Beowawe and Palisade.{{cite web | last=Dowd | first=Katie | title=Sabotage killed dozens on the City of San Francisco. The killer escaped. | website=SFGATE | date=2019-09-09 | url=https://www.sfgate.com/sfhistory/article/city-of-san-francisco-train-sabotage-killer-14425484.php | access-date=2024-08-02}}
In the 1980s both tracks were relocated out of downtown Elko along the banks of the Humboldt River,{{cite news |last1=McMillin |first1=Doug |title=Elko: where you never need to wory about catching a train |agency=Nevada State Journal |date=September 11, 1983 |pages=1Cā2C}} resulting in Elko having two historical train depots downtown, with neither connected to track today. The Southern Pacific Railroad depot (for westbound passengers) was at 683 Railroad Street, while the Western Pacific (eastbound) depot was at the corner of 3rd and Silver streets.{{cite web |url = http://www.trainweb.org/usarail/elko.htm |title = Trainweb - Elko |publisher = American Passenger Rail Heritage Foundation |accessdate = March 13, 2017}}