Texas Train Depots

ALPINE TRAIN STATION I realize this isn't one of those quaint old structures, but it's still a Texas train depot, and very much in use today.

BERTRAM TRAIN DEPOT Now, is this a beautiful little train station, or what? I can only hope the one in Lometa meets with a similar fate, although it most likely will never sit by the tracks again.

BERTRAM TRAIN DEPOT SIGN Hmm . . . I wonder if New Orleans and Llano are the only two places you can go?

LUGGAGE CARRIER What a nice touch having this antique luggage carrier standing nearby.

BRADY TRAIN DEPOT It's now used as a sort of community center and conference center, available for rental for whatever event you may have in mind. What a nice place to throw a shindig.

CUT OFF FROM ITS HISTORY The sad thing about the depot is that there is no access to its rail lines for it -- or to the loading platform. How sad. At least the structure has been preserved.

BRADY TRAIN DEPOT HISTORICAL MARKER Ever the lover of trains and train depots, I just had to stop in Brady on my way through to document this gorgeous -- and historical -- train depot.

DUBLIN TRAIN DEPOT

LOMETA TRAIN DEPOT - 1970s This is what the depot looked like in its heyday. You can see the bay window there by the pole for the signaling device. I took this during my black-and-white period on one of my trips to visit my grandfather.

WELCOME TO LOMETA I remember how sad I was the first time I came through Lometa and noticed the old train depot was gone, replaced by a tin building, the symbol of our modern culture. Then I read about Lometa on the Texas Escapes Online Magazine and it said that the depot had been moved to the north end of town and was awaiting restoration. That was written in 2000. Well, this time through I finally located the old building and it is still awaiting restoration. I do wish they'd get on with it before the place falls apart.

LOMETA TRAIN DEPOT As you can see, it's still in fairly good shape overall. I was able to crawl in through that open window and have a look around and it seemed solid enough. I wonder what they plan to do with it when they're done -- visitor center, train museum, dance hall? We'll just have to wait and see, I guess. I understand, though, that due to its age, historical value, and dried-out condition, it was moved away from the tracks to keep sparks from passing trains from setting it alight. That was good thinking!

BAY WINDOW CLOSEUP This was a clever idea, putting in a bay window so you could see down the track even in the rain and not get wet.

TRAIN DEPOT INTERIOR I can't believe that in all my years of visiting my grandparents during the summers, I never once popped in and had a look around when it was in operation. What a shame!

MENARDVILLE TRAIN DEPOT Although the town is now known as just plain Menard, they kept the original name on the depot, especially since this is no longer a used railway or depot.

MENARDVILLE DEPOT SIGN Just a shot to give the sign -- and the old town -- its just due.

ROCHELLE TRAIN DEPOT Always on the lookout for another train depot to add to my collection, I ran across this one in the little town of Rochelle, moved far away from it's place on the tracks, I'm afraid to say. That happens a lot to depots. It's now the Memorial Community Center and Rochelle Study Club.

ROCHELLE DEPOT HISTORICAL MARKER It's got its own historical marker, too.

SNYDER TRAIN DEPOT (SANTA FE) I didn't take this photo, but according to an online article, I may never have a chance to, as it's scheduled for demolition. I felt I had to include it here for posterity's sake. [NOTE: Demolition is underway, as of 11/10/17. This is just so sad!]