How to make use of old train depots

[ChiefEagles]

Angeir NC [small town] took an abandoned train depot and made it into a decent community building and the office part is the Town's Chamber of Commerce office. It was the old Durham Southern line.


backside loading dock.


end of building, right was track side and car unloading/loading and left was customer loading/inloading.


backside where customers loaded/unloaded.


toward the freight office, notice the old Durham Southern sign.


the other view from the office door.


Where the tracks use to be is now shrub line.


front door to freight office from where tracks use to be.


old freight office waiting room is now kitchen.

[dougdagrump]

Great photos Chief.
We came close to buying an old depot outside of Nashville once. Wanted to convert it into a home but before it got down to the nitty gritty we decided not to do it. Too far from the year-round sunshine of Ca. [:D]

[Blueberryhill RR]

Chief....... I like those pictures.
Here is a webpage of a place near us. Terrific old depot.

http://www.dennisondepot.org/

It's a railroad museum.

Chuck

[Dr. John]

Here in Prattville, AL, the old GM&O depot was used as a dance studio for a time. It is currently unoccupied but in pretty good shape. You can still make out the advertising for the Montgomery ballet on the sign.

[cnw1995]

Dr John, are those tracks 'active'?
The best use for an old depot is as a new depot - the downtown depot is getting rehabbed to continue to serve Metra commuters - originally built in 1914

[Dr. John]

Doug,

Yes, the tracks are still active. They used to run through to Tuscaloosa but now connect with CSX tracks about 25 miles away. It's a joint CSX / NS line now. There are probably two trains a day through here plus a good bit of local switching at various industries.