Helper, UT (HER)

The community was formed with the arrival of the D&RGW in the early 1880s. “Helper” or extra locomotives were available to assist heavy freight trains traveling up Soldier Summit.

Helper, UT, station exterior.

1 Depot Street
Helper, UT 84526

Station Hours

Annual Ticket Revenue (FY 2023): $168,282
Annual Station Ridership (FY 2023): 2,048
  • Facility Ownership: Union Pacific Railroad
  • Parking Lot Ownership: Union Pacific Railroad
  • Platform Ownership: Union Pacific Railroad
  • Track Ownership: Union Pacific Railroad

Alex Khalfin
Regional Contact
governmentaffairsoak@amtrak.com
For information about Amtrak fares and schedules, please visit Amtrak.com or call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245).

The present Helper depot was constructed by the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW) around 1940 as a replacement for the original depot, which had stood directly to the northeast. The buff brick structure exhibits light Art Moderne touches in the windows and doors, which are multi-paned and horizontal in orientation. Above the principal entrances, the brick is laid in a decorative basketweave pattern and the door surrounds include buff brick interspersed with cream colored decorative stone blocks. The flat roof, typical of Art Moderne buildings, was later replaced with a gabled version. In addition to a passenger waiting room, the depot also houses UP offices.

The settlement of Helper began with the arrival of the D&RGW, which completed its line between Denver and Salt Lake City in 1883. It became a freight terminal where “helper” or extra locomotives were available to assist heavy freight trains traveling up Soldier Summit in the Wasatch Mountains, thereby lending the name “Helper” to the town. The old D&RGW depot is located in the Helper Commercial National Historic District, which is centered on Main Street. It encompasses numerous buildings associated with Helper’s early development, including many constructed by the D&RGW, such as company housing, a chapel and an express freight depot.

Coal mining and railroading, the town’s major economic activities, brought an influx of immigrants to Helper. Today, the town remains the center of vast coal reserves and is known as the “Hub of Carbon County.” Helper is most known for its Western Mining and Railroad Museum which houses household and commercial artifacts from the 19th and 20th centuries. The town is currently reviving itself as an arts and crafts center.

Station Building (with waiting room)

Features

  • ATM not available
  • No elevator
  • Payphones
  • No Quik-Trak kiosks
  • No Restrooms
  • Unaccompanied child travel not allowed
  • No vending machines
  • No WiFi
  • Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to departure
  • Indicates an accessible service.

Baggage

  • Amtrak Express shipping not available
  • No checked baggage service
  • No checked baggage storage
  • Bike boxes not available
  • No baggage carts
  • Ski bags not available
  • No bag storage
  • Shipping boxes not available
  • No baggage assistance

Parking

  • Same-day parking is available for free
  • Overnight parking is available for free
  • Indicates an accessible service.

Accessibility

  • Payphones
  • Accessible platform
  • No accessible restrooms
  • No accessible ticket office
  • Accessible waiting room
  • No accessible water fountain
  • Same-day, accessible parking is available for free
  • Overnight, accessible parking is available for free
  • No high platform
  • No wheelchair
  • Wheelchair lift available

Hours

Station Waiting Room Hours
Mon24 HOURS
Tue24 HOURS
Wed24 HOURS
Thu24 HOURS
Fri24 HOURS
Sat24 HOURS
Sun24 HOURS
Ticket Office Hours
No ticket office at this location.
Passenger Assistance Hours
No passenger assistance service at this location.
Checked Baggage Service
No checked baggage at this location.
Parking Hours
No parking at this location.
Quik-Track Kiosk Hours
No Quik-Trak kiosks at this location.
Lounge Hours
No lounge at this location.
Amtrak Express Hours
No Amtrak Express at this location.