The American Fork Railroad was founded by New York businessmen on April 3, 1872, as a subsidiary of the Miller Mining and Smelting Company.

At the point where the canyon forks northeast and southeast, the railway followed the northeastern branch and should have run to the Sultana Smelter in Forest City (now named Dutchman Flat).

[3] To save on operating costs, the full cars were often allowed to coast down the steepest part of the track to the waiting locomotive.

[2] The railroad reached the end of its route on November 26, 1872, at Deer Creek, on the present site of Tibble Fork Reservoir.

[1] In late 1872, severe winter weather forced operations in American Fork Canyon to shut down for the season.

Canyon industries were not developing as rapidly as expected, and plans to extend the railroad to Forest City were abandoned for good.

[6] In order to cover expenses the railroad began taking tourist groups up the canyon on sightseeing trips.

[1] The Deseret Evening News commented on the removal of the route by erroneously predicting on June 5, 1878, that the canyon "... is not likely to be visited in future, to any extent, by tourists."