Montevideo station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Montevideo
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| Former Milwaukee Road passenger rail station | |||||||||||
The Montevideo Milwaukee Road Depot from the southwest
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| Location | 301 State Road, Montevideo, Minnesota 56265 | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Closed | 1969 | ||||||||||
| Rebuilt | 1901 | ||||||||||
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Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Depot
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | S. First St. at Park Ave., Montevideo, Minnesota | ||||||||||
| Area | less than one acre | ||||||||||
| Built | 1901 | ||||||||||
| Architect | Chicago, Milwaukee, & St. Paul RR; J. U. Nettenstrom | ||||||||||
| NRHP reference No. | 88002079 | ||||||||||
| Added to NRHP | October 27, 1988 | ||||||||||
The Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad Depot in Montevideo, Minnesota, was once a busy train station. It belonged to a big railroad company called the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad, also known as the Milwaukee Road. This historic building is now recognized as a special place and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The station was built way back in 1901. It's the only building left in Montevideo that was originally constructed by the railroad company. Passenger trains stopped coming to Montevideo in 1969. Today, this old depot has a new life as the Milwaukee Road Heritage Center. It's a railroad museum where you can learn all about the Milwaukee Road and how it shaped Montevideo from the late 1800s to the 1980s.
Contents
The Montevideo Train Station: A Look Back
The Montevideo Depot played an important role in connecting people and goods. It was a vital part of the Milwaukee Road's network. This network helped towns like Montevideo grow and thrive.
What Was the Milwaukee Road?
The Milwaukee Road was a major railroad company in the United States. It operated many train lines across the country. These trains carried both people and freight. The company helped transport everything from passengers traveling for fun or work to goods like crops and manufactured items.
Building a Hub for Travel
The depot was built in 1901. It served as a central point for train travel in Montevideo. Imagine people arriving and departing, carrying their luggage, and saying goodbyes. The station was a bustling place, full of activity and the sounds of trains. It was a gateway for the community to the rest of the country.
From Station to Museum: The Heritage Center
After passenger trains stopped running in 1969, the depot could have been forgotten. Instead, it was given a new purpose. It became the Milwaukee Road Heritage Center. This museum keeps the history of the railroad alive. It shows how trains influenced the town of Montevideo for many years.
What Can You See at the Museum?
The Milwaukee Road Heritage Center is a fun place to explore. You can see many cool things related to trains and railroads.
- Giant Crane: There's a huge 200-ton crane. This type of crane was used to lift heavy objects, perhaps even derailed train cars.
- Passenger and Baggage Cars: You can see actual cars where people traveled and where their luggage was stored.
- Freight Cars: These cars carried goods across the country.
- Switching Locomotives: The museum has a 44-ton switching locomotive. This smaller engine was used to move train cars around the rail yard.
- Diesel Engine: There's also a powerful 600-horsepower diesel switcher. It was built in 1939 by Electro-Motive Division.
- Turntable and Roundhouse: The museum has even restored a turntable. This is a rotating platform that helps turn locomotives around. It leads to a 26-stall roundhouse, which is a building where trains were stored and repaired.
More to Explore
If you're interested in learning more about trains and their history, check out these topics:
- List of United States railroads
- List of Minnesota railroads
- List of heritage railroads in the United States
- List of railway museums
