An annual northern Utah event honoring American West railroad history is being canceled due to the government shutdown.
The Winter Steam Festival at the Golden Spike National Monument northwest of Ogden was scheduled for Friday and Saturday. A U.S. government webpage for the event shows it was cancelled due to the ongoing shutdown.
The festival draws train enthusiasts and photographers to watch as steam billows in the wintery air as the old trains move along the tracks.
Box Elder County commission chair Stan Summers says the county was willing to spend $21,000 to salvage the festival, but that trying to coordinate with federal employees and volunteers was too difficult due to the shutdown.
Summers says he's disappointed in government officials and politicians don't' realize the impact shutdowns have on states and counties.
