A historic Union Pacific water tower that stood as a local landmark for nearly 80 years near the Wyoming-Colorado state line was unexpectedly torn down on Tuesday, leaving residents and train enthusiasts shocked and disheartened, Cowboy State Daily reports.
The 50-foot-tall tower, located along the Harriman railroad line about 8 miles south of Interstate 80, had been a symbol of the region’s railroad heritage since the 1940s. Perched on a 20-foot base, the 30-foot-tall water tank was once used to supply steam locomotives with water and had become a cherished backdrop for photographers and train enthusiasts, especially when Union Pacific’s iconic Big Boy 4014 passed through the area.
“We are in the process of demolishing an obsolete water tower from near Harriman, Wyoming, this week,” said Mike Jaixen, a senior manager of communications with Union Pacific Railroad, in a statement.
The railroad did not respond to additional questions or provide further details on the decision to demolish the structure.
Residents and railroad enthusiasts have expressed frustration over the lack of public notice or opportunity to preserve the structure. Michael Geary, a Harriman resident who owns property near the tower, said people in the community are “sad and angry” about its abrupt removal.
“It’s been a landmark forever, and many people have ventured here to see it,” Geary said. “It’s very dismaying.”
UPS driver Casey Lambert described the tower as “an icon” of the region’s railroad history, noting its symbolic connection to the Union Pacific’s role in the development of the American West.
“The Transcontinental Railroad went all the way up through that area, and it’s close to Sherman Hill, which was the highest point on that line,” Lambert said. “That tower was one of maybe two of its kind left in the nation.”
According to Geary, the fate of the tower may have been sealed after a severe windstorm in spring 2023. Sustained winds of 80 to 90 mph damaged the tower’s roof, scattering debris across the railroad tracks. Geary believes this incident prompted Union Pacific to assess the tower as a potential liability.
Later in the year, Geary noticed contractors conducting site surveys near the tower. When he inquired, he was told they were gathering information for potential demolition bids but was reassured that “nothing immediate” was planned.
However, Geary received an email from Laramie County Planning and Development notifying him of an application to demolish the water tower — an application that mistakenly listed his property address. He contacted the demolition contractor, who explained that his address was used because it was the nearest listed address to the tower. This confirmed Geary’s suspicion that the demolition was imminent.
Geary attempted to alert local officials, including Laramie County commissioners, but his efforts were unsuccessful. He believes Union Pacific quietly fast-tracked the demolition process to avoid public backlash or attempts to preserve the tower.
“By that time, it was clear Union Pacific did not want information about the water tower being taken down getting out into the public,” Geary said. “They put it on the fast track before any opposition could steam up, but that’s just conjecture on my part.”
On Tuesday, Geary and his wife watched as demolition crews arrived with heavy equipment to bring down the structure. The water tower proved to be a stubborn opponent, with crews having to remove about 75% of its vertical supports and all bracing structures before it finally toppled.
“It was quite a structure,” Geary said.
He noted that the tower’s enduring strength was a testament to its craftsmanship and historic significance.
Geary suspects Union Pacific made the decision to demolish the tower because of liability concerns following the storm damage.
“Some people were speculating that after the roof blew off, Union Pacific thought there might be some liability issues there,” he said. “Since they’re not talking or sharing any information, it’s hard to know their thought process.”
Railroad preservation advocates and local residents argue that the water tower could have been saved and restored. Geary said it would have required relatively little funding to repair the damaged roof, but Union Pacific chose not to pursue that option.
“I think it would have taken a very small amount of money to make the roof structure whole again and maintain it as a landmark,” Geary said. “Union Pacific certainly could’ve done it, but apparently that wasn’t of interest to them.”
Casey Lambert echoed the sentiment, pointing out that many people from across the country traveled to see and photograph the historic tower when the Big Boy 4014 steam locomotive passed through. He believes that if the community had been informed of the demolition in advance, there may have been a national push to save it.
“People living in Wyoming and Colorado cared about that tower, and people throughout the nation sought it out,” Lambert said. “Whenever Big Boy made its run or stopped along the line, hundreds of people traveled there. They wanted photos of that historic steam locomotive with the historic water tower behind it. And then they raised it without telling anyone they were doing it.”
While the Harriman section of the Union Pacific line will remain active, the iconic water tower that stood for nearly 80 years is gone for good. Its absence is a stark reminder of how quickly and quietly pieces of history can disappear.
“A big piece of history is lying in piles out there,” Geary said. “It’s dismaying that it could have been saved, but there was no interest in trying to save it. None at all.”
