Does anyone know where I can find photographs and/or drawings of the Northern Pacific freight house at Staples, Minnesota? My interenet search skills are pretty good, but so far I've come up empty handed. At this point I'd be happy with anything, but photos from the 1950's to 1970's would be perfect. Thanks.
The historical society doesn't have a very comprehensive presence on the internet. This building, without ID, is on their website. A phone call to the historical society or the local library may be helpful.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I used Google Earth to view the NP station in Staples MN. It shows just one large two story structure withe two equivalent one story extensions at each end, located along the rail line.
It seems this is (or was) an Amtrak stop, so the station is in good shape. Based on the photo overhead image, I don't see where a separate freight structure would have existed, so perhaps one of the existing structures wings, at either end, serves as a freight space.
You can see a very good footprint of the existing station with Google Earth, and can perhaps manipulate it to see an elevation (ground level eye's view). I didn't go that far.
There are other views on Wikipedia if you Google (Northern Pacific station Staples Minnesota).
Also, perhaps on the NP and GN combined railroad historical website (GN goat???), there may be another image.
You could also try to contact the local Staples MN historical society to see if other images are available.
Looks like a great project idea!!!
Hope this helps.
Cedarwoodron
I was hoping someone would come up with a pic. The passenger depot changed considerably between 1910 and 1929 according to the pics on this page.
http://www.lakesnwoods.com/StaplesGallery.htm
There are also a collection of post cards on that page labeled birds eye view that shows a couple 2 or 3 story buildings on one side of the rail yard and a single story building on the other, but it is too small to be useful.
Descriptions I saw on the Internet talked about the roundhouse, the passenger depot and the freight house. Given the size of the passenger station, the freight house must have been of decent size.
Thanks for the replies. The information I have indicates the freight house was 800 feet to the west of the station. I believe you can see it in these aerial photos:
(search 'Staples', click on the yellow dot in the middle - 1939 photo)
I've checked the NP/GN historical society site; searching the site can be challenging, but I gave it my best shot and didn't come up with anything. This is for a club layout and another member just found photos of the Staples rail facilities as they appeared in the 1950s. Not sure if the freight house is included in those photos (haven't seen them yet), but I'll be sure to let everyone know. If I can post a scanned photo here I will.