The narrow gauge train to be used on the American Fork Railroad arrived in Salt Lake City in July 1872, but the Utah Southern Railroad had made little progress past Sandy by then.
The train was transported south to its new home by "leapfrogging": laying a section of temporary track, driving the train to the end, then pulling up the track and replacing it in front of the train.
It arrived in American Fork and made its first test run on August 20, 1872.
The railroad reached the end of its route on November 26, 1872 at Deer Creek, on the present site of Tibble Fork Reservoir.

The operation of the railway did not achieve economic success.
Initially a Mason steam locomotive was used, which weighed only 14 or 15 tons.
It proved to be unsuitable for the task.
Therefore, horses and mules were used to haul the empty wagons up the mountain.
Downhill they ran properly braked only by gravity.
The narrow gauge train to be used on the American Fork Railroad arrived in Salt Lake City in July 1872, but the Utah Southern Railroad had made little progress past Sandy by then. The train was transported south to its new home by "leapfrogging": laying a section of temporary track, driving the train to the end, then pulling up the track and replacing it in front of the train. It arrived in American Fork and made its first test run on August 20, 1872. The railroad reached the end of its route on November 26, 1872 at Deer Creek, on the present site of Tibble Fork Reservoir. 
The operation of the railway did not achieve economic success. Initially a Mason steam locomotive was used, which weighed only 14 or 15 tons. It proved to be unsuitable for the task. Therefore, horses and mules were used to haul the empty wagons up the mountain. Downhill they ran properly braked only by gravity.
American Fork Railroad