Near Park Valley in Box Elder County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Bovine
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, June 20, 2017
1. Bovine Marker
Caption: (bottom left) Teams of mules as well as oxen and horses were used to pull wagons west. Settlers brought with them cattle, pigs, and poultry to start their settlements and provide food during the journey.
Track-laying crews reached Bovine March 28, 1869 and established a section station. A freight platform was constructed in Bovine in 1885. The site was named after Bovine Mountain located directly north of the site. Herds of feral cattle roamed the area having apparently been lost or abandoned by emigrants.
The freight business suffered a massive blow by the construction of the Utah Northern Railroad in 1871. The railroad was built by the Mormon people with the intent of capturing the market that supplied the mining fields to the north of Idaho and Montana.
After the silver panic of 1873, the Utah Northern Railroad was sold to the Union Pacific. As silver prospecting ended, the demand for supplies shipped by rail dwindled significantly.
In 1869, facilities here included a section house, train car body, Chinese bunk and cook house, and a water tank. The site as been extensively looted, with most of the small artifacts carried off. Features that can be seen today include a bake oven cut into the side embankment of the railroad grade and a brick walkway leading from the rear of a house foundation to an old outhouse.
The section station was abandoned following the completion of the Lucin Cutoff, but the siding continued to be used for a time by area ranchers.
Erected by
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Transcontinental Railroad series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 28, 1869.
Location. 41° 25.998′ N, 113° 41.862′ W. Marker is near Park Valley, Utah, in Box Elder County. Marker is on Transcontinental Railroad Back Country Byway, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Park Valley UT 84329, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Medea Siding (approx. 5.2 miles away); Walden Siding (approx. 5.7 miles away); Watercress (approx. 8.2 miles away); Terrace (approx. 10.6 miles away); Terrace Cemetery (approx. 11.1 miles away); Historic Lucin (approx. 11.1 miles away); Old Terrace (approx. 11.7 miles away).
More about this marker. The Transcontinental Railroad Back Country Byway is a 90 mile dirt/gravel track on top of or beside the old Central Pacific Rail Road grade between Old Lucin and Promontory Summit. Other than markers designating old station and sidings there are few, if any, road signs identifying any of the side roads. Any other road names or numbers use on this marker page have been taken Google Maps
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, June 20, 2017
2. Bovine Marker
Neither are there any mileage posts, though one could do the arithmetic using the "Mile ... from San Francisco" on the markers to determine distances. Nor is there any mail delivery, so no addresses either.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 14, 2017. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 290 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 14, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
