Yet another look back at some of the hundreds of railway depots that I've photographed over the past several years. The following series of photos begins with September 2018 and goes back to September of 2017. I touch on depots I checked out in Tennessee, Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Scotland in the United Kingdom. Once again, I've shied away from derelict depots that once upon a time were the center of activity in many towns, but now have been forgotten and neglected. Railroad fans love railroad history but they also care about the preservation, furbishing and reuse of the thousands of depots here and abroad that no longer serve railroad systems.
Where possible, I have included old time photos of the depots included in this post. I find them interesting, especially when juxtaposed against the current condition and use of the depots today.
This was the former Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railroad combination passenger and freight depot in Paris Tennessee. As per the papers filed with the US National Park Service in order to establish the Paris Tennessee Commercial Historic District, this depot was built ca. 1910. Other sources provide different dates ranging as far back as 1896. Passenger service to Paris Tennessee continued until 1951.
I found a photo on-line that I couldn't copy that showed that the depot was being used as an antique shop sometime in the latter part of the 1900s. When I took the photo shown above in June or July of 1918, the sign on the building advertised a Tax Service. Apparently the owner/proprietor passed away in February of 2019 and the business closed. Consequently, I don't know if this old depot is still being repurposed.
In my search for updated information about the Paris Tennessee Depot, I discovered that by the 1890s this city in western Tennessee also served as a repair shop hub and rail yard for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. Love the old postcard.
I recently discovered this old photo ca. early 1900s, showing the Tomahawk Wisconsin passenger and freight depot.
This is the repurposed depot as it appeared when I took the photo back in 2018. In northern Wisconsin growth and prosperity in the late 1800s was all based on the timber industry. In order for the timber business to grow, railroads were needed. Both industries arrived at about the same time...in September of 1887. The first train from the Wisconsin Valley Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad arrived in September of that year. I couldn't determine when the depot was built by it appears to have been completely abandoned by ca. 1980.
The exterior of the former depot has been restored by Tomahawk Stove Junction, LLC. The restoration work was completed in 2006. The building now serves as the company's office, warehouse and store.
The city of Tomahawk also has this Marinette, Tomahawk and Western Railway Company locomotive on display. Locomotive #19 was built in 1923 for the Charcoal Iron Company of America for use in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. This tough old 2-6-0 type locomotive later served a Wisconsin lumber company from 1927 until 1947. The lumber company then sold it to the Marinette, Tomahawk and Western Railway and ca. 1960, it was donated to the City of Tomahawk. The M.T. and W. Railway never had more than 50 miles of track. By the 1930s, the railroad's trackage was down to 13 miles and the railway had earned the nickname "Miserable, Tired and Weary".
This photo was taken in Plover Wisconsin's Heritage Park in the summer of 2018. This park is just one of the 4 Portage County Historical Society's properties. The park is home to a number of historical buildings from the area that have been relocated to the site and which are preserved for future generations. The exterior and first floor of the depot were restored by Central Wisconsin Model Railroaders, Ltd. They use the basement for their clubhouse.
The depot was moved to the park from nearby Bancroft Wisconsin. It was built by the the Wisconsin Central Railway in 1898. Subsequently it was served as a depot on the "Soo Line", aka the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad. The caboose sitting next to the depot was originally operated by the Green Bay and Western Railway.
This large conjoined Prairie school style structure is the former Wisconsin Central Railway passenger and freight depot which is located in Stevens Point Wisconsin. It was built in 1918. The Wisconsin Central Railroad first arrived in Stevens Point in the 1870s and was instrumental in the city growing into a lumbering center. Passenger train service to Stevens Point ended in the early 1950s.
As you can imagine, just based on the size of the building or buildings, Stevens Point was once a key rail center in central Wisconsin. Other buildings and trackage still exist in the vicinity...from back in the times when railroads ruled land-based transportation. Canadian National Railway Offices, doing business as Wisconsin Central Limited, are located in the old depot.
Now off to central Tennessee... This is the old Tennessee Central Railway Depot in Cookeville. The railroad ceased all operations in 1968, but like with hundreds of towns and cities across the USA, the railroad was key to Cookeville's development and growth. In 1909 this structure replaced the original Nashville and Knoxville Depot that had been built in 1890. With its pagoda style roof and all brick construction, it was unusual for the Tennessee Central Railroad. Passenger service ended here in 1955.
I really appreciate old photos showing the depots back in the days when they were still a critical part of so many town's and their economies. This photo probably dates back to the late 1930s or early 1940s.
The old depot was in dire straits when a group of local citizens decided to preserve it as a museum. The city of Cookeville purchased the property and depot from the Louisville and Nashville Railroad in 1975. By 1985, preservation efforts were completed and the Cookeville Depot Museum became a reality.
The locomotive and rolling stock shown above are just a part of the exhibits that belong to and are preserved by the Cookeville Depot Museum. That locomotive is a 1913 model 4-6-0 Ten Wheeler that was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works. After a career working for a couple of local rail lines in Louisiana...and being knocked out of service after a collision, it was sidelined until the Friends of the Cookeville Depot Museum acquired it in 2002. It was then painted to match the fleet of 4-6-0s that had been operated by the Tennessee Central Railway Company.
Moving on from central Tennessee in the USA, the recap of railway depots I've photographed will now cross over the Atlantic Ocean to Scotland.
This lovely little depot is owned by ScotRail and it's located at the Village of Bridge of Orchy. The village dates back to 1751 and it has a population of 152 residents. The depot was completed in 1894. At last check, the depot was being utilized as a resting point or bunk house for hikers along the West Highland Way, a popular long distance trail in Scotland. Passengers have to buy their tickets in advance or from the guard on the train.
Given the tiny population of the Village of Bridge of Orchy, it's a bit stunning that in a 12 month period from 2023 /2024, a total of 7,286 passengers, (almost 20 passengers a day) were served at this stop on ScotRail. The West Highland Way trail plus the fact that the River Orchy is one of the finest white water rivers in the UK must be the sources for most of the railway passengers. Monday to Saturday there are 4 trains in each direction serving this depot, 3 from ScotRail and 1 from Caledonian Sleeper.
The Dalmally Railway Station opened in April of 1877. For some time it was the western end of the Callander and Oban Railroad. This solid looking station is laid out with 2 platforms, one on either side of a passing loop past the station. In earlier times, the Village of Dalmally also had a small railroad engine shed and a turntable.
The Village of Dalmally grew up around an Inn that was built in 1782 which was followed by a church being built by a local Earl in 1811. The advent of the railroad and the popularity of tourist steamers on nearby Loch Awe accelerated the village's growth. Today the population includes about 400 people.
Today the Dalmally Depot is served by 6 trains in either direction Mondays through Saturdays. An additional train operates from this station to Oban on weekdays. More trains stop here during the summer/tourist season. As is common in the USA, no real services are offered at the station. Tickets must be purchased in advance or from the guard on the train. A total of 15,298 passengers were served by this station during a 12 month period from 2023 - 2024.
Talk about a railway depot that seems to be in the middle of nowhere! That's Laurie's brother-in-law Bill wandering down the depot platform at Upper Tyndrum in Scotland.
The Village of Tyndrum, population 167, actually has 2 railway stations...Upper Tyndrum and Lower Tyndrum. These stations service 2 different rail lines with both depots constructed to match the contour of the countryside they service. Upper for the highlands and Lower for the lower elevations. The two stations are about a mile apart...a 15 minute walk. The Upper Tyndrum station currently houses the offices of Scotgold Resources Ltd., an Australian company that recently reopened a gold mine in the hills just south of the village.
The Lower Tyndrum Station provided rail service to 6,382 passengers in the 12 month period from 2023 to 2024 and the Upper Tyndrum Station handled 5,878 passengers. There were also about 1,500 interchange tickets sold between the 2 stations/rail lines. ScotRail trains service the Upper Tyndrum Station 3 times a day in either direction Monday through Saturday and Caledonian Sleeper provides service once a day on the same days.
The Village of Tyndrum is thought to have begun ca. 1740s as a crossroads of old drover routes. Its growth was enhanced by a brief gold rush in the early 1800s. The Village, a popular tourist spot, was built on the battlefield where Clan MacDougall defeated Robert the Bruce in 1306. The Village is located on The West Highland Way hiking trail.
Moving along, this is the railway station located just outside the Village of Plockton in Scotland. The depot was built by the Highland Railroad and it first opened in 1897. The station was privately renovated ca. 2010 and it now serves as a self-catering holiday cottage.
ScotRail serves this depot with 4 trains each way Monday through Saturday and 1 train each way on Sunday. In the 12 month period between 2023 and 2024, a total of 10,816 passengers were boarded at this station. As with the other stations described previously, no services are actually available at the station.
The Village of Plockton is situated on the shore of Loch Carron. With the warm North Atlantic Drift current just offshore and the village facing away from the prevailing winds, the village has a very moderate climate. New Zealand cabbage palms thrive in town. Plockton was established as a planned fishing village ca. 1800. Locals had been removed from their lands and villages as part of the plan to clear the way for sheep grazing to accommodate the wool industry. Considered to be perhaps the prettiest village in the Highlands, Plockton has served as the backdrop for at least one movie and two TV series.
To learn more about the Highland Clearances (Removals) and to learn about the impact on Scottish culture, go to https://www.britannica.com/event/Highland-Clearances.
Onto the last of our Scottish railway depots... This is the ScotRail station at Garve on Kyle of Lochalsh Line, one of the most heralded great train journeys of the world. The Garve Depot opened in 1870. Despite its size and the double tracks, a 1,300 foot long loop, this is the least used depot we visited in Scotland. I was unable to determine what the old depot is currently being used for...
In the 12 months from 2023 into 2024, only 4,264 passengers were served at this depot. Perhaps the fact that it is the next depot on this scenic line, with the Kyle of Lochalsh's start at Dingwall, only 11 miles away, is the primary reason for the depot's modest use. There are 4 trains in each direction Monday through Saturday, with 1 train in each direction on Sunday.
The village of Garve has a population of about 250 people and its named after nearby Loch (Lake) Garve. It is a quiet place made up of small stone cottages with their pleasant gardens behind the usual low stone walls. Quality fishing in the Loch and nearby river are the key attractions.
Note: ScotRail or ScotRail Trains Ltd. is held by Scottish Railway Holdings Limited, a publicly owned company under the control of the Scottish Government. ScotRail, just one of several passenger rail services in the United Kingdom, boarded 81,100,000 passenger journeys in the 12 month period of 2023 - 2024.
Back to the United States! Also, earlier in 2017, Laurie and I traveled down to Waco Texas and then came back up through Oklahoma. This is the Amtrak Depot located in Ardmore Oklahoma. Located at 251 East Main Street this southwestern style building with stucco walls, brick accents and a red clay barrel-tiled roof, was completed in 1916 for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad... Later in its history it was used by the Rock Island Railroad.
As in Scotland, the station offers only shelter, no passenger services. The structure is owned by the Ardmore Main Street Authority, which restored the station in 2015. It currently serves as an event venue and a public park, aka "Depot Park" was opened adjacent to the station in 2022.
The station platform is serviced by the daily Heartland Flyer, which travels from Oklahoma City to Fort Worth Texas...a 4 hour trip each way. A single daily trip is made in each direction. The Flyer is operated by Amtrak and its funded by the states of Oklahoma and Texas. In fiscal year 2023, the Flyer was used by 72,379 passengers.
Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them...
Thanks for stopping by for this journey by rail...then and now.
Take Care, Big Daddy Dave
