Santa Susana Depot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Santa Susana Depot |
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View from the southwest
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Stick/Eastlake |
| Location | 6503 Katherine Road, Simi Valley, California |
| Coordinates | 34°15′39″N 118°39′40″W / 34.2607°N 118.6611°W |
| Completed | 1903 |
| Owner | Rancho Simi Parks and Recreation Department |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Southern Pacific Railroad |
The Santa Susana Depot is an old train station building. You can find it near the Santa Susana Pass in Simi Valley, California. This station first opened in 1903. It was originally located on Los Angeles Avenue at Tapo Street.
The station got its name from the Santa Susana Mountains. These mountains are at the east end of the Simi Valley. Interestingly, the railroad used two different spellings for "Susana" on the depot signs! One sign said "Susanna" and the other said "Susana".
A year after the depot opened, the Santa Susana Tunnel was completed. This tunnel made train travel shorter and faster. It connected places like Montalvo and Burbank. This was part of the important Coast Route between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The building itself was designed by the Southern Pacific Railroad. It followed their standard design called "Two Story Combination Depot No. 22". The depot was very busy! It served the community of Rancho Simi in many ways. It was a place for passengers to catch trains. It was also a telegraph office for sending messages. Farmers used it as a freight depot. They could send their crops from here and pick up new farming tools.
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Why Did the Depot Close?
In the early 1970s, fewer people were riding trains. Also, the way goods were shipped changed. Because of this, the Southern Pacific Railroad closed the Santa Susana Depot. The building was left empty and was almost torn down.
But then, the County of Ventura stepped in! They bought the depot from the railroad for just $1.06. In May 1975, the building was carefully cut into three pieces. Trucks then moved it about two miles east to county land. In January 1976, the County of Ventura made the building a special Landmark #29.
Today, the main Simi Valley station for trains like Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink's Ventura County Line is about one mile east of where the old depot used to be.
What is the Depot Like Today?
The Santa Susana Depot is now located right next to the same railroad tracks it once served. After it was moved, the building was empty for some years. It sadly suffered from vandalism and even fire damage from arson.
But people wanted to save it! A nonprofit group was formed to help. Their goal was to fix up the building. They wanted to get it ready for the public to use. They worked with the Rancho Simi Parks and Recreation Department.
The Santa Susana Railroad Museum
The museum officially opened to the public in the year 2000. The old depot building now has a fun railroad museum inside. It also features a huge HO scale model railroad layout. There's even a room for public meetings.
The museum teaches visitors about the history of railroads in the area. You can see many old items and historic photos on display. Besides trains, the museum also has things related to the nearby Corriganville Movie Ranch.
The model railroad layout is amazing! It shows the train route between Los Angeles, California, and Portland, Oregon. The scenery on the model is designed to look like the early 1950s. The Santa Susana Railroad Historical Society creates, takes care of, and runs this detailed layout.
You can visit both the museum and the model railroad layout. They are open on Saturdays and Sundays. The hours are from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., except on holidays.
See also
- Santa Susana, California
- Saticoy Southern Pacific Railroad Depot - a similar historic building in Ventura County
- Ventura County Historic Landmarks & Points of Interest
