EXPLORE LAGOON: PIONEER VILLAGE TOUR: Model Train Museum

 

MODEL TRAIN MUSEUM

 

David E. Sperry's Model Train Museum is housed in an original railroad depot from Kaysville, Utah. When it was relocated to Lagoon, it was used as the station for the Pioneer Village Railroad. The ride closed in the late 1980s, but a 1995 newspaper article in the Deseret News briefly mentioned that it could re-open "when Lagoon adds another train line that will encircle the park." Most of the P.V.R.R. track has been removed now, however, and in 2002, this museum opened with an impressive collection of model trains and railroad memorabilia.

 

"Built circa 1920 by the Union Switch And Signal Company in Swissvale, Pennsylvania.  This is a style B, lower quadrant semaphore, and was originally located in Nephi, Utah on the Union Pacific Railroad line. It was used to signal the train to slow down and pick up the train orders, or proceed through to the next signal.

      Traffic stop lights used at intersections were adopted from this type of signaling devise.

      This semaphore was the very generous donation from the Promontory Chapter of the National Railroad Historical Society, Lester Tippie, President."

 

In the center of the museum we find Engine No. 999 which was created for use in Lagoon in the 1920s. It most recently operated in Pioneer Village as the Lagoon Miniature Railroad.

 

 

 

 

 

In back, there is an old passenger car from the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad which used to be on display behind the station. It now features this model railroad which starts at the push of a button.

 

NEXT STOP: Governor Dern Livery Stable / Telephone Museum

 

 

SOURCES

Lagoon

Deseret News

 

Updated 12 Aug 2007