West Jordan City Park Salt Lake and Utah Railroad

Long before TRAX, an electric railway ran down the west side of the valley. The Salt Lake and Utah, better known as the 'Orem Line,' opened in 1914, big red interurban cars humming south under a 1,500-volt wire from Salt Lake City through West Jordan and on to Provo and Payson, sixty-seven miles. For a decade it was how the valley moved. Then the automobile arrived, and the same paved roads Governor Bamberger championed drained its riders away. The line died in 1946, its rails torn up — the very corridor light rail would one day reclaim.

What the plaque says

Salt Lake and Utah Railroad The Salt Lake and Utah Railroad—better known in Utah as the “Orem Line”—extended south from Salt Lake City through the City of West Jordan, at this location, and to Payson, a distance of 67 miles. A branch line of nine miles in length served the town of Magna. Service between Salt Lake City and Provo was established early in the year 1914. July 18, 1915, twenty trains a day ran to Springville. By July 1, 1916, these runs extended to Spanish Fork, Utah. May 20, 1916, saw the last day of rail-laying on the main line to Payson. With the end of World War I, automobiles and trucks began to be in common use, and Salt Lake and Utah R.R. business, both passenger and freight, began to suffer. July 24, 1925, Salt Lake and Utah R.R. entered receivership. Henry I. Moore of Salt Lake and D. P. Abercrombie of Boston were appointed receivers. Court orders dated July 31, 1937, and December 17, 1937, ordered receivers to sell all properties of Salt Lake and Utah R.R. to the highest bidder. Although the receivership and foreclosure sale of the new company had relieved a lot of problems, the operating revenues of $717,678 were in the red $44,489. By the end of 1945, the deficit had grown to $220,600. Competition of subsidized highway transportation, both public and private carriers, made it impossible to compete. The Salt Lake and Utah R.R. was dead physically and legally. In June, 1946, the UPSC gave its permission to abandon S. L. & Utah R.R. Receiver J. Quinney granted authority to sell the company's property for salvage. He realized $1.10 for each $1.00 invested. Site No. 35 Jordan River Temple Chapter, Sons of Utah Pioneer Dedicated October, 1980

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• International Peace Gardens — 7.9 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
• Temple Square — 12 mi
  The spiritual and architectural heart of Salt Lake City

More markers nearby

• Utah Idaho Sugar Company Factory — steps away
• Salt Lake & Utah RR/Utah Idaho Sugar Factory — steps away
• Air Pirates Memorial — steps away
• Broom Factory and Wagon Train terminal — 0.3 mi