As the transport volume of the mining companies was less than predicted, excursions for tourists were offered.The American Fork Canon. In: The Pacific tourist: Williams' illustrated trans-continental guide of travel, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. 1876, p. 143–148. In order to cover expenses the railroad began taking tourist groups up the canyon on sightseeing trips. The Miller Hill Mine stopped producing ore by 1874, started up again briefly the next year, then shut down permanently. The Sultana Smelter was dismantled in 1876, and Forest City was in serious decline. The canyon's other mines were not rich enough to keep the railroad profitable. The operation of the railroad uneconomical, so that the operation was discontinued. In June 1878 the American Fork Railroad became the first Utah railroad to go out of business, Its tracks were subsequently lifted. The rails and wagons were probably sold to Charles W. Scofield, the owner of the Bingham Canyon Railroad, the Camp Floyd Railroad and the Wasatch & Jordan Valley Railroad, who used them in August 1878 for the construction of the Utah & Pleasant Valley Railroad. 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." However, this prediction has not come true due to the increase in automobile tourism.
