 Historic postcard: Cotton Belt Depot, Tyler, Texas |
The Cotton Belt railroad depot in Tyler, Texas, opened on June 2, 1905 in downtown just west of the Cotton Belt rail yard.
The last passenger train in Tyler was in April, 1956, and afterwards the depot was used for railway offices and storage until it was abandoned in 1977.
On November 6, 1988 the Southern Pacific Railroad deeded the depot to the City of Tyler. The City used federal transportation grants, half-cent sales tax funds, and a grant from the Vaughn Foundation to restore the depot, reopening it in the summer of 2003.
 The Cotton Belt Depot Museum
210 East Oakwood Street, Tyler, Texas (photograph by the author) |
Today, the depot is the home of the Cotton Belt Depot Museum, and the Tyler Transit System offices.
Included in the museum's collection are four large model train layouts, photographs, uniforms, hats, etc. that have been donated by former employees of the railroad, rail fans, and friends of the depot.
 Tyler Transit System, offices in the old Cotton Belt Depot, Tyler, Texas
(photograph by the author) |
The museum has received visitors from all 50 states and 38 foreign counties, and is staffed by volunteers from the Cotton Belt Rail Historical Society.
 Restored Cotton Belt Engine #819 visits Tyler, Texas in 1988. More than 1,000 Tyler residents greeted the historic steam engine. The arrival of this special nine-car train in Tyler coincided with ceremonies donating the depot to the City of Tyler. For the first time in more than 33 years, the 4-8-4 Northern-style oil burner made the trip from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, to Tyler, the two traditional capitals of the St. Louis Southwestern Railway. The round-trip spanned 560 miles. |
 Passenger train at Tyler, Texas Cotton Belt depot being pulled by steam engine #107 |
 Construction at the Cotton Belt shops in Tyler, Texas, about 1898, showing horse-drawn plows and graders |
 Flag raising ceremonies at the opening of the new
Cotton Belt shops in Tyler, Texas, in 1898 |
The Cotton Belt rail yards remain in Tyler, but have changed even since 1995
 The Cotton Belt yards, Tyler, Texas, aerial view, 1995 (Google Maps) |
 The Cotton Belt Depot Museum
(photograph by the author) |
 The Cotton Belt Depot Museum
(photograph by the author) |
 The Cotton Belt Depot Museum
(photograph by the author) |
 The Cotton Belt Depot Museum
(photograph by the author) |
 The Cotton Belt Depot Museum
(photograph by the author) |
 Train Bulletin at the Cotton Belt Depot Museum
(photograph by the author) |
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