The 110-year-old Joplin Union Depot in Joplin, Missouri, recently made Missouri Preservation's annual Places in Peril list of endangered historic properties. These places are nominated by concerned individuals and decided upon by a committee of preservation advocates, according to a news release from the organization that has operated since 1976. Joplin Union Depot opened to … Continue reading Joplin Union Depot makes Missouri Preservation’s Places in Peril list
Category: Railroad
Ribbon-cutting held for Route 66 Village Train Depot in Tulsa
City officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday to mark the completion of the Route 66 Village Train Depot museum and events center in southwest Tulsa. According to the Tulsa World, the $3 million project was funded by voter-approved Vision Tulsa sales tax. “These things don’t happen by accident,” said Mayor G.T. Bynum, speaking to the … Continue reading Ribbon-cutting held for Route 66 Village Train Depot in Tulsa
Red Fork Train Depot in Tulsa will hold its grand opening Oct. 24
The Red Fork Train Depot, a replica of the original depot in the Route 66 Historical Village complex in southwest Tulsa, will hold its grand opening celebration on Oct. 24. According to Tulsa People magazine, the sold-out grand opening will feature guest speakers that include Mayor G.T. Bynum. The depot will be open to the … Continue reading Red Fork Train Depot in Tulsa will hold its grand opening Oct. 24
Century-old passenger rail car will be converted into a diner on Route 66
A 110-year-old passenger rail car is being moved to Bloomington, Illinois, so it can be converted into a diner on Route 66. The decaying Illinois Terminal rail car once sat for more than 30 years at a former depot in Harristown, Illinois, west of Decatur. David Parker of Bloomington was forced to cut the rail … Continue reading Century-old passenger rail car will be converted into a diner on Route 66
Needles Chamber breaks ground on a new office, visitors center in El Garces
The Needles, California, Chamber of Commerce last week broke ground to build a new office and visitors center in a seemingly ideal location -- the historic El Garces train depot. The Mohave Valley Daily News had more details about the 1,200-square-feet project, which had been years in the making: The chamber will operate a full-service … Continue reading Needles Chamber breaks ground on a new office, visitors center in El Garces
Big Boy locomotive will make several stops in Route 66 towns in Missouri, Oklahoma
The legendary Big Boy No. 4014 steam locomotive owned by the Union Pacific Railroad will make stops in several Route 66 towns in Oklahoma and Missouri in August during its 2021 tour. The Big Boy will make scheduled stops at these Mother Road cities: Aug. 12, Vinita, Oklahoma, at East Flint Avenue crossing; 9:45 a.m. … Continue reading Big Boy locomotive will make several stops in Route 66 towns in Missouri, Oklahoma
City of Santa Fe to repair historic railroad depot
After more than a decade of tentative plans, the City of Santa Fe, New Mexico, recently agreed to spend $1 million to rehabilitate its long-decaying railroad depot in the Railyard. According to an article in the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper, the city had been discussing a face-lift for the century-old depot since 2009. And … Continue reading City of Santa Fe to repair historic railroad depot
Century-old Webb City streetcar rolling again after being sidelined during pandemic
The No. 60 streetcar, built in 1916, is rolling again around King Jack Park in Webb City, Missouri, after a one-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. King Jack Park probably is best-known for its Praying Hands Memorial on the north side of the grounds. The Southwest Missouri Electric Railway trolley runs on the park's … Continue reading Century-old Webb City streetcar rolling again after being sidelined during pandemic
City of Barstow gets $5M grant to help replace historic First Avenue Bridge
The City of Barstow, California, recently received a $5 million state grant to help replace the First Avenue Bridge that leads to the Harvey House and its Route 66 Mother Road Museum. According to a news release Sunday from city manager James Hart: The City of Barstow requested $5,000,000 million dollars from the Railroad Grade … Continue reading City of Barstow gets $5M grant to help replace historic First Avenue Bridge
First Avenue Bridge in Barstow scheduled to be torn down
The historic First Avenue Bridge in Barstow, California, that leads to the Harvey House and one of its tenants, the Route 66 Mother Road Museum, will be demolished after a new bridge is built because it's a liability to the city. If the old bridge fell onto the BNSF railroad tracks, the railroad could bill … Continue reading First Avenue Bridge in Barstow scheduled to be torn down