Stansbury Park in Tooele County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Telegraph Car and Payroll Office
Photographed by Jeremy Snow, May 30, 2026
1. Telegraph Car and Payroll Office Marker
The paymaster lived in the telegraph car and his job was to keep track of how many men were in each crew, what nationality they were, how many days they worked, and how much they would be paid. He also had to keep a record of how many miles of track were laid each day. In order to do this, the telegraph car had to stay at the head of the line. For this reason it was built with two iron wheels on the back and a removable crazy wheel on the front.
In order to communicate over longer distances the crew would set up and string telegraph wire on poles alongside the railroad tracks. The transcontinental telegraph line, the nations second, was built along with the railroad immediately adjacent to the tracks. After the Transcontinental Railroad was completed, the telegraph car was eventually moved to Wendover, Nevada. It remained there operating until 1930 when it was moved to Knolls, Utah,
this page online
Donated by Tony Kruletz - February 2002
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1859.
Location. 40° 39.064′ N, 112° 17.898′ W. Marker is in Stansbury Park, Utah, in Tooele County. It can be reached from Pole Canyon Road. Marker located on the west side of the Benson Grist Mill historical park, across the bridge. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 325 Pole Canyon Road, Tooele UT 84074, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Utah’s Wasatch Front, in the West Desert, and in Greater Salt Lake. It is also in the American Mountain West and on the Colorado Plateau. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexico’s Alta
Photographed by Jeremy Snow, May 30, 2026
2. Telegraph Car and Payroll Office Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Liddell Granary (a few steps from this marker); Boothe Granary (a few steps from this marker); Sheep Camp (within shouting distance of this marker); Pehrson Barn (within shouting distance of this marker); Gollaher Barn (within shouting distance of this marker); Johnson Cabin (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Boyer Milk Depot (about 300 feet away); Boothe Barn (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Stansbury Park.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 3, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2026, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 1, 2026, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
