Ogden in Weber County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

U.S. Army Locomotive #1216 44-ton Switch Engine

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, June 21, 2025

1. U.S. Army Locomotive #1216 44-ton Switch Engine Marker

Inscription.
A Little Engine with a Big Job
Switch engines move cars and put trains together.

#1216 belongs to the "44-ton" class of switch engines. Many of these locomotives were built for the military. They were designed to be small, with a low cab, so they could fit into cargo ships during wartime. This locomotive, designed to be operated by one person, was built by American Locomotive Company (ALCO).

#1216 served at the Tooele Army Depot in Utah.

Fun Facts
Built: Sometime between 1940 and 1956
Weight: 91,270 pounds (45 tons, 41,399 kg)
Length: 33 feet, 9.5 inches (10.3 meters)
Engine: 400-horsepower
Fuel capacity: 250 gallons diesel fuel (946 ltr)
Top speed: 42 miles per hour (68 kmpm)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1956.

Location. 41° 13.189′ N, 111° 58.786′ W. Marker is in Ogden, Utah, in Weber County. It is on Wall Avenue. Marker is south of the Union Pacific Building. Access is through the Depot building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 813 Wall Avenue, Ogden UT 84401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Wasatch Front

and in Greater Salt Lake.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in Colorado Plateau.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Union Pacific Caboose #25766 (here, next to this marker); Union Pacific Railway Post Office Car

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(a few steps from this marker); Union Pacific Wrecking Derrick #X-250 (a few steps from this marker); U.S.A.F. Locomotive #7277 100-ton Switch Engine (a few steps from this marker); Rio Grande #5371 (within shouting distance of this marker); Union Pacific DDA40X locomotive #6916 (within shouting distance of this marker); Union Pacific Steam Locomotive #833 (within shouting distance of this marker); South Pacific Diesel Locomotive SD-45 #7457 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ogden.

U.S. Army Locomotive #1216 44-ton Switch Engine image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, June 21, 2025

2. U.S. Army Locomotive #1216 44-ton Switch Engine

Credits. This page was last revised on July 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 7, 2025, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. This page has been viewed 91 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 7, 2025, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.