Caliente station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Caliente, NV
inter-city rail station
The former Caliente station.
Location	100 Depot Avenue Caliente, Nevada USA
History
Closed	1993
Rebuilt	1923
Former services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station Las Vegas toward Los Angeles Desert Wind Milford toward Chicago Preceding station Union Pacific Railroad Following station Etna toward Los Angeles Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad Eccles toward Salt Lake City Panaca toward Pioche Pioche – Caliente Terminus
Caliente Railroad Depot
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location in Nevada Show map of Nevada Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	100 Depot Avenue Caliente, Nevada
Built	1923
Architect	John and Donald Parkinson
Architectural style	Mission Revival
NRHP reference No.	74001146
Added to NRHP	March 5, 1974

The Caliente station is a cool old building in Caliente, Nevada. It used to be a busy train station. This building is special because it's built in the Mission Revival style. This means it looks like old Spanish missions.

The station is so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are worth saving. It's also a Nevada Historical Marker, number 249. This marker tells people about its history.

History of the Caliente Station

Building the Station

The Caliente station was built a long time ago in 1923. The Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad built it. This railroad later became part of the Union Pacific Railroad. The station was a very important stop on the main train line. This line connected Los Angeles in California to Salt Lake City in Utah.

The building itself is made of wood and covered in stucco. It has two floors. The first floor was for passengers. It had a waiting room and offices for the train staff. The second floor was actually a hotel! People traveling by train could stay there.

A Busy Railroad Hub

Caliente was a "division point" for the railroad. This means it was a place where trains would stop for important work. It had a maintenance facility. This is where trains were fixed and kept in good shape.

It was also a base for "helper locomotives." These were extra engines that helped push or pull heavy trains. They were especially useful on steep parts of the track.

Changes Over Time

In the 1950s, things started to change. Newer diesel locomotives began to replace older steam engines. Diesel engines didn't need as much maintenance as steam engines. Because of this, the railroad didn't need the Caliente site as much. The train maintenance work moved to Las Vegas in 1948.

Even after these changes, the station still saw some train service. Amtrak's Desert Wind train used to stop there. But this service ended in 1993.

The Caliente Station Today

A New Purpose

In 1970, the city of Caliente took over the building. They wanted to save this historic station. So, they decided to use it for city services.

Today, the old train station is still a busy place. It's now the Caliente city hall. This means it's where the city's government works. It also has the city's library. Plus, there's an art gallery inside. It's a great example of how old buildings can find new life!