SoNo Switch Tower Museum
SoNo Switch Tower Museum
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
43 reviews
Excellent
30
Very good
6
Average
4
Poor
1
Terrible
2
christopherbO9687MP
Acton, MA726 contributions
Aug 2021
The SoNo Switch Tower Museum is a great example of early 20th Century railroad technology preserved in working order. The three-level tour has the main switch room in the upper floor (with a great view of the adjacent railroad junction); laid out as it was when in use. You get to try out throwing the switches (hooked up to display tracks, not the actual railroad), so you can see the level of effort needed to align a train's route (and learn why these were called "Armstrong" switches).
The other floor show more the mechanical "computer" controls used ~100 years ago to make the train rides safe; you get a sense of what electronic computers would eventually replace. There's also a New Haven-themed gift shop. A must visit for anyone interested in railroad technology or history.
The other floor show more the mechanical "computer" controls used ~100 years ago to make the train rides safe; you get a sense of what electronic computers would eventually replace. There's also a New Haven-themed gift shop. A must visit for anyone interested in railroad technology or history.
Written 21 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kenny21NJ
Bellmawr, New Jersey215 contributions
Oct 2021
It was only fitting I took the train to So Norwalk train station to visit SoNo Switch Tower Museum. about a 10 minute walk. Free to visit but gave a donation! 3 floors to explore. Staff on each floor explain the in and outs how the switch tower works. While there commuter trains past by. Staff was very friendly and helpful. only open on weekends.
Written 24 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Catherine T
Saint Helens, OR478 contributions
Aug 2014 • Couples
Seeing and experiencing are two different things, but here you do both. We were shocked ONE person performed all three major tasks and could switch fourteen switches MANUALLY in just five minutes; I could barely do one in that time! Eat your Wheaties and wear your track shoes before trying to manage a switch change and then imagine a quarter mile of pipe attached to the other end creating extra weight. Just mind boggling the technology didn't use hydrolics and be sure to ask for the guide who used to actually be the Switch Master; he's fascinating! Do browse the books, especially the kid section, and consider making a donation to this FREE great museum; it's well worth supporting.
Written 10 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Clausewitzhorse
New York City, NY183 contributions
Oct 2012 • Family
Want to really upset your kids? Take them to this museum. Because it's totally lame. I mean, give me a break, please. It's not a museum -- it's just a small gift shop underneath a room full of old switch tower equipment. If they called it a "Small but Historicly Preserved Switch Tower Guarded by Some Old Dude who Wants to Sell You a Train Mug," then I would rate this place 5 stars, becasue that's what this place is. AVOID.
Written 7 May 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert H
New Rochelle, NY17 contributions
Oct 2013 • Family
The SoNo Switch Tower Museum restoration has saved this important part of our country's industrial heritage, and is a fascinating look-back to the Country's transportation and communications before jetliners and computers. The Tower is easy to miss, tucked into a tiny plot adjacent to the Metro North tracks in downtown Norwalk. Walking up the two long flights of steel stairs leaves you curious about what is inside, but once there, it does not disappoint! During the years when railroads provided transportation everywhere in the US, there were thousands of towers similar to this one, each manned 24/7 by trained and skilled operators. Almost all are now gone, but this one has been restored to excellent condition. The museum volunteers and docents are knowledgeable and informed about the tower's history, and the people who once worked in these important junction control points.
The heart of the museum is the huge interlocking machine which controlled the switches and signals in the Norwalk area. It has been restored to working condition so that the operation of the levers replicates exactly how the machine worked, and what safeguards it provided to the railroad. Other artifacts include the old morse-code transmitter, devices to deliver written orders to passing trains, and the original 100 year old electrical control panel for the overhead wires. All of it has been restored to original condition.
The museum is NOT suitable to very small children, and if you are looking for a place to bring energetic little kids, take them to the Norwalk Aquarium, two blocks away, instead. But for youngsters about six years and older who are old enough to understand, and be curious about, how things work, this is a great place for them to absorb how machines are designed and operated, and why these towers were important to the nation's development. The staff is patient and informed and happily answers all questions about the tower and how it worked.
Added benefit for train buffs is the Amtrak and Metro North trains which pass right next to the tower every few minutes. Great fun for the kids to watch the trains, and be sure to check each one for the red marker lights on the rear.
Admission is free, with contributions or donations gratefully accepted, and there is a modest gift shop for anyone interested in buying railroad books or other items. If you or your kids are curious and interested in how things work, make a point to spend an hour or two in this museum.
The heart of the museum is the huge interlocking machine which controlled the switches and signals in the Norwalk area. It has been restored to working condition so that the operation of the levers replicates exactly how the machine worked, and what safeguards it provided to the railroad. Other artifacts include the old morse-code transmitter, devices to deliver written orders to passing trains, and the original 100 year old electrical control panel for the overhead wires. All of it has been restored to original condition.
The museum is NOT suitable to very small children, and if you are looking for a place to bring energetic little kids, take them to the Norwalk Aquarium, two blocks away, instead. But for youngsters about six years and older who are old enough to understand, and be curious about, how things work, this is a great place for them to absorb how machines are designed and operated, and why these towers were important to the nation's development. The staff is patient and informed and happily answers all questions about the tower and how it worked.
Added benefit for train buffs is the Amtrak and Metro North trains which pass right next to the tower every few minutes. Great fun for the kids to watch the trains, and be sure to check each one for the red marker lights on the rear.
Admission is free, with contributions or donations gratefully accepted, and there is a modest gift shop for anyone interested in buying railroad books or other items. If you or your kids are curious and interested in how things work, make a point to spend an hour or two in this museum.
Written 17 October 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephen M
West Chester, PA273 contributions
This large former New Haven Railroad signal tower has been wonderfully restored. There is much very interesting historical equipment and many artifacts. I recommend that it be visited by all age groups. It is located on the Amtrak Northeast Corridor and many different types of trains are passing every hour. The tour guides are great. Bring a camera.
I also found that the entire SoNo area in South Norwalk is a great little town and seaport village to visit.
Steve McEvoy
West Chester, Pennsylvania
I also found that the entire SoNo area in South Norwalk is a great little town and seaport village to visit.
Steve McEvoy
West Chester, Pennsylvania
Written 7 June 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gabriel C
Norwalk, CT30 contributions
Jun 2015 • Family
great for some railroad culture.
how has it worked for more than 100 years.
it is free, it worth 2usd per person donation.
it only opens during summer time.
how has it worked for more than 100 years.
it is free, it worth 2usd per person donation.
it only opens during summer time.
Written 1 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
D V
Norwalk, CT6 contributions
Jul 2015 • Friends
A very quick tour but worth the few minutes if you can spare it. Probably doesn't take longer than 20 minutes but everyone we take here loves it. It's very interesting to see how far the trains have come along with modern technology.
Written 7 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
oldfieldpark
New York82 contributions
Oct 2014 • Couples
2 great guys show you around the museum and explain the history of the place. No entrance fee but they appreciate any donations for the upkeep of the museum. Well worth a visit.
Written 28 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roy H
Danbury, CT7 contributions
Aug 2015 • Couples
It has outside stairs, a long flight, but very interesting and very great with kids who see the train within a yard from the upper windows and they can move the levers and ring the alarm bell. You will have fun but only on weekends afternoon,
Written 18 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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