Douglas station (Wyoming) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad Passenger Depot
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
The Douglas Interpretive Center in 2010
Location in Wyoming Show map of Wyoming Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	121 Brownfield Rd., Douglas, Wyoming
Area	less than one acre
Built	1887 (1887)
Built by	Chicago & Northwestern Railroad
Architectural style	Late Victorian, Standardized railroad plans
NRHP reference No.	94000741
Added to NRHP	August 3, 1994

Imagine a time when trains were the main way to travel and move goods across the country! The Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad Passenger Depot in Douglas, Wyoming is a cool old building that tells the story of those days. It's also known as the Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center today.

This train station was built way back in 1886. It was meant to be the end of the line for the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad. Douglas was a brand new town then, and the railroad wasn't sure if it would grow big.

Right after the depot was built, Douglas faced some tough times. There was a sickness called typhoid fever and a very cold winter. Because of this, the railroad decided to extend its tracks to Casper instead. The town of Douglas got smaller for a while.

But Douglas didn't give up! By 1910, it had grown a lot, partly because it hosted the Wyoming State Fair. The fair brought many people and goods by train. Oil was also discovered in the area, which meant more train traffic.

Later, in the 1950s, coal mining started nearby. The railroad needed bigger facilities to handle all the new trains. So, the original depot closed, and a larger one was built. In 1990, the city of Douglas bought the old depot. They turned it into a museum where you can learn all about trains!

What the Old Train Station Looks Like

This old train station is a simple, rectangular building. It's about 80 feet long and 26 feet wide. It was built using a common design that many small train stations had back then.

One special feature is a part that sticks out on the side facing the tracks. This was called a "bay." It allowed the stationmaster to look far down the tracks in both directions. Inside, the building had five main areas:

• A waiting room for passengers.
• An office for the stationmaster.
• Bathrooms.
• A space for handling freight (goods).
• A storage area for freight.

The original wooden details inside the building are still there today.

In 1994, this historic depot was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important building that should be protected. The city of Douglas opened it as the Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center in 1995. Here, you can see real locomotives, train cars, and other railroad equipment.

Cool Trains and Cars You Can See

The Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center has several amazing old train cars on display. Each one has its own story!

Rolling Stock Exhibits

Train Type	Number	Built	Retired	Fun Facts
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) Steam Locomotive	# 5633	1940	1962	This huge engine weighs 317 tons! It was one of the last steam locomotives built for the Burlington railroad. It pulled fast freight and heavy passenger trains. You can't go inside this one.
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) Dining Car	# 196	1947	1972	This car is half kitchen and half dining room. It could seat 48 people! It was called the "Silver Salver" and was used on famous trains like the Zephyr.
Union Pacific Railroad Double Deck Stock Car	# 48330D	1914	1964	This car moved animals like pigs and sheep. It has two floors inside! It started as a boxcar for dry goods and was changed into a stock car in 1936.
Great Northern Railway (GN) Sleeping Car	# 1182	1950	1972	This sleeping car had 20 compartments for passengers. It was named the "Augassiz Glacier" and traveled on the "Western Star" train from Chicago to Seattle.
Union Pacific Railroad Baggage Car	# 1897	1911	1961	This car was used to carry mail, baggage, and even fresh produce. It was built for the Oregon Short Line Railroad, which was part of Union Pacific.
Chicago & Northwestern Railway (C&NW) Day Coach	# 1886	1884	1961	This coach could seat 72 people! It was originally made of wood. In 1915, it was updated with steel sides and electric lights. It was used on many famous routes.
Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) Wooden Caboose	# 14140	1884	1958	This is the oldest train car at the museum! It was built for freight trains and served as an office and sleeping area for the train crew.
Fairmont Motor Car	# 217980		1960?	This small, single-seater car was used to inspect the tracks. Railroad workers also used motor cars to travel along the rails. They were slow, going about 30 miles per hour.