By Jeremy Couch
jeremy@newsroom.byu.edu
A ground-breaking ceremony in Heber City, Utah, on Saturday, Sept. 23, will mark the beginning of construction for a new turn-of-the-century train depot for the Heber Valley Railroad.
The railroad, was formerly known as the 'Heber Creeper.'
The train began running in 1899 between Provo and Heber as a freight train for sheep. Through the years, the train was transformed from a freight train to a tourist attraction and was shut down several times before its latest incarnation as a tourist passenger train, said Ken McConnell, marketing director for the Heber Valley Railroad.
'The train was referred to as the 'Heber Creeper' because of the slow manner that it went up the canyon,' McConnell said.
In 1990, through the efforts of local citizens and the Utah State Legislature, the train started up again as the Heber Valley Railroad, McConnell said.
'About 10 or 12 years ago others and myself started to go before the legislature to gather appropriations to help the railroad start up again,' said Senator Beverly Evans, Republican senator in the Utah State Legislature.
'Getting the Heber Creeper going again has been one of the biggest success stories that I have ever seen of a community coming together in one central cause,' Evans said.
The 'Heber Creeper' is receiving attention from the legislature because it will be instrumental in transporting people during the 2002 Olympics, Evans said.
The actual construction of the depot is scheduled to begin in October and will be ready for passengers and trains mid-April of 2001, McConnell said.