The 46-mile Harriman Cutoff over Sherman Hill was completed in 1953 and reduced the ruling grade from 1.55 percent occurring on Tracks 1 and 2, to 0.82 per ent for this line, also known as Track 3. Heavy westbound steam-powered trains would take this route and facilities were built to support these locomotives. A westbound UP freight, led by a trio of EMD SD70Ms, passes a water tank that still survives at the location of Harriman, Wyoming, on April 14, 2007.
