Sandy-Alta Railroad

When the Utah Southern reached Sandy in 1871, the town became a railroad junction — and one of the strangest lines in Utah climbed east from here. A branch first ran up to the granite quarry to haul the blocks for the Salt Lake Temple; later a narrow-gauge, roofed the whole way in snowsheds, was pushed on up to the silver mines at Alta. Getting cars up that grade took horse teams. Getting them down took nerve: two loaded ore cars coasted down the mountain backwards, braked the whole way by one man riding the rear car.

What the plaque says

In 1871, Utah Southern Railroad from Salt Lake was finished and station built here. Wasatch & Jordan Valley Line ran east to Granite Quarry to bring to this junction, huge rocks for constructing S.L. Temple. Later, a narrow-gauge, completely covered with a snowshed, was extended to Alta silver mines. Empty cars were drawn up the steep grade by horse teams. Two ore-filled cars were coasted down backwards. The breaks were operated by one man from the rear car.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• International Peace Gardens — 9.2 mi
  A hidden garden where 28 countries are represented in miniature
• Gilgal Sculpture Garden — 10 mi
  A surreal and eccentric sculpture garden hidden in a residential neighborhood
• Liberty Park — 10 mi
  Salt Lake Citys beloved 80-acre urban park since 1882
• This Is The Place Heritage Park — 12 mi
  A living history village at the mouth of Emigration Canyon

More markers nearby

• Early Sandy Schools & Church Takes Root (2) — 0.2 mi
• Sandy City Bank — 0.3 mi
• ZCMI Co-Op Building, Sandy Co-op (2) — 0.4 mi
• Mingo Smelter — 0.7 mi