Susanville Railroad Depot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Susanville Railroad Depot
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the depot in February 2013
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 Location in California
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| Location | 461 Richmond Rd., Susanville, California |
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| Area | 1.4 acres (0.57 ha) |
| Built | 1927 |
| NRHP reference No. | 01000332 |
| Added to NRHP | April 5, 2001 |
The Susanville Railroad Depot is a historic building in Susanville, California. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important place in history.
This building was first built in 1927 for the Fernley and Lassen Railway, which was part of the Southern Pacific Railroad. It replaced an older train station. The depot closed in 1979. In 1987, it was almost burned down by the fire department for a training exercise! But local people protested and saved it.
The Lassen Land and Trails Trust bought the depot. They now use it as their office and also have a small museum inside.
Contents
About the Depot Building
The station building sits on a property that is about 1.3 acres big. The building itself is about 72.5 feet long and 20 feet wide. It has a special bay window that sticks out from the side facing where the train tracks used to be.
The depot is a single-story building. It has a stucco outside, which is a type of plaster. It sits on a strong concrete base. The roof is a hipped roof, meaning it slopes down on all sides. The outside of the building looks much like it did when it was new. It has double-hung windows and wooden doors. The original gutters are no longer there.
Inside the Depot
When it was first built, the inside of the depot had three main areas. At the west end was the waiting room, where passengers could sit. This room also had restrooms and a phone booth.
In the middle was the ticket office. A counter separated it from the waiting area. At the east end was the express office, which handled packages and freight. This office had its own sliding doors for both the train tracks and the street.
The original floor was covered with linoleum. The walls had pine wood panels called wainscotting with fancy designs. Other furniture was also made of pine wood with brass parts.
Changes Over Time
In the 1950s, some changes were made inside. The counter on the passenger side of the ticket office was removed. Part of the express room was made smaller, and its ceiling was lowered.
Later, the building was renovated. Many of the 1950s changes were undone. Damaged parts were fixed, and a new furnace and security system were put in. The old linoleum floor was replaced with a painted design. Outside, a redwood deck was added at the west end. The parking lot was paved, and the area was planted with local plants. A small piece of the original train track is still there on the south side of the station.
History of the Susanville Depot
The Fernley and Lassen Railway was built between 1912 and 1914. It helped transport lumber from companies in Lassen County, especially around Westwood, California. The railway started in Fernley, Nevada, and passed through Susanville.
A train station first opened in Susanville in April 1913, inside a boxcar! By September of that year, a bigger building was used for both passengers and freight. But by 1927, this building was too small. So, the current station building was built right next to the old one. The new building was for passengers, while the older one was used only for freight and baggage.
End of Train Service
Passenger train service at the depot stopped in 1933. This was because of the Great Depression, a time when many people had little money. Freight service continued until 1956. That year, the train line was damaged by a flood west of town. It was too expensive to fix, so train service on the line ended.
The station building was then used for offices and storage until October 1979, when the entire train line was officially closed. The station sat empty and was damaged by vandals.
Saving the Depot
In 1987, the empty station was offered to the fire department to be burned for a training exercise. But many local people did not want this to happen. They formed a nonprofit group to buy and take care of the building.
Renovations started in 1993, and the depot reopened in 1994. Sadly, the original 1913 station building burned down in 1989. This left the 1927 building as the only one standing.
The United States Forest Service helped with money for the renovations. They gave two grants totaling $88,584 to fix up the inside and outside of the building.
The Depot Today
Today, the Susanville Railroad Depot is home to the Lassen Land and Trails Trust offices. It also has a museum where you can learn about its history. The Bizz Johnson Trail, a popular path for walking and biking, starts right at the station and follows the old train tracks. The Trust also holds fun events at the station, like an annual "Rails to Trails" festival in the fall.
