By Railfan & Railroad Staff

A Utah-based sign company announced on October 15, that it was restoring a historic neon sign that once sat atop the Denver & Rio Grande Western’s depot in Salt Lake City. The restored Rio Grande sign will soon be put on display at the Heber Valley Railroad. 

The Rio Grande sign was originally created by YESCO in the 1950s and sat atop the station until just a few years ago. The restoration is expected to be completed by December and installed atop the Heber Valley’s shop soon after. The restored sign will feature state-of-the-art LED lights and will be lit for special occasions. 

“The Heber Valley Railroad is excited to preserve this piece of Rio Grande history,” said Mark Nelson, executive director of the Heber Valley Railroad. “It is a perfect fit to be displayed along with our vintage Rio Grande train rolling stock and locomotives.”

“The YESCO team is working diligently to restore this piece of history to its former glory,” said Jeff Young, executive vice president, YESCO. “We hope the restored sign will serve as a reminder of the enduring impact the Rio Grande Railroad had on the development of this region.”