Old Rock Island Depot Sees New Life

[Anonymous]

This thread is not meant to be a political bashing thread and please do not turn it into one.


The old Rock Island Depot in Little Rock, Arkansas, is now seeing new life. The depot is on the site where the new Clinton Presidential Library has been built and is being used as part of the library complex. The building could have been torn down but instead it is being used. A piece of Rock Island history has been saved. Putting politics aside this should be viewed by all as an important historical event.

Former Presidents Clinton and Bush will both be included in the Library's opening ceremonies on Thursday. I am including a few links so you can check out more about it.


http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200411162025247993.jpg

http://www.clintonpresidentialcenter.org/

Note: The structure in the right hand edge of the photo is the Rock Island RailRoad Bridge. There are plans to use the bridge in a future library project.

[railman]

I say that anytime a RR depot is saved, a toast is in order. Like the silver water towers that once were in every small town across the nation, the depots are becoming few and far between. Good to hear one is put to a use, especially one from a railroad that met an end so tragic.

[Anonymous]

I am very glad that there are still some people out there that want to save some Rock Island depots. I was trying to find one that I know used to be in Falcon, Colorado yesterday, lo and behold, it looks like it was torn down and now it is just a vacant lot with some moble trailers on it, very sad. What makes this even more sad is that Falcon is the trailhead for the "Rails to Trails" trail that goes from Falcon to Calhan (I think) along the old Rock ROW and I believe they are planning to build a brand spanking new information station there at the trailhead. Oh well, you win some and you loose some.

[Mookie]

Jim: Our old Rock Island depot here in Lincoln is now a bank. Has an old caboose right next to it and makes a nice static display. It has been there since not too long after the Rock Island stopped going through the middle of town!

Mookie

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

Jim: Our old Rock Island depot here in Lincoln is now a bank. Has an old caboose right next to it and makes a nice static display. It has been there since not too long after the Rock Island stopped going through the middle of town!

Mookie

Mookie any photos? I like Old Depot!! Gives me a sense of history. Who used it? Where did they go?

[Mookie]

Tom - come to Lincoln!

[Anonymous]

I was checking out driving distances yesterday from WI. My wife and I are planning on seeing more of the west side of the country!! Soon!!

[Mookie]

I will do some checking and e-mail you. Let me know when you land and have your e-mail up. I can tell you Bemidji to Lincoln is a hard 9 -10 hours. Mudchicken could probably do it in about 7.37926. But he has feathers, too!

[cherokee woman]

Jim, glad they are using the Depot. Wish all the depots that are left could
be refurbished, and put to a good, positive use for something.

[Mookie]

Ok - research over. Tom and others - go to www.trainweb.org/screamingeagle/gallery/crip.htm

You will see the old depot, what it looks like pretty much today and scroll down and see a picture of the switcher for the OL&B that exists just a few blocks from where I work.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mookie

Ok - research over. Tom and others - go to www.trainweb.org/screamingeagle/gallery/crip.htm

You will see the old depot, what it looks like pretty much today and scroll down and see a picture of the switcher for the OL&B that exists just a few blocks from where I work.

OH!!![:(]

404 Error: Page Not Found!

[Mookie]

I hate when that happens. Go to Google - I put in Rock Island Depot Lincoln NE and got what I wanted! Try that!

[railman]

Depots are our friends!

[Anonymous]

Found It! Beautiful!!

Here's a few shots of the current Amtrak Station in Wilmington, DE. Former PRR NEC Station.

http://www.hebners.net/amtrak/amtStationW/WilmingtonDEc.jpg

http://www.hebners.net/amtrak/amtStationW/WilmingtonDEb.jpg

[SALfan]

Nice picture - thanks for posting it. I'm glad they are using the building instead of knocking it down. Didn't the Rock own a very historic house in Little Rock? They were using it for some other purpose, but seems like there was a newspaper article or two hoping that it would be preserved.

[Mookie]

Wow - you easterners have big depots!

[Modelcar]

...Success....Jen, I went to Google and took a look at your depot...Very elaborate structure....Wonderful, it being used as a branch bank. And retaining it's historical appearance.

[Modelcar]

...Beautiful night photo of the grand old structure in Wilmington, Del...and better yet to find it still in use. Wow, next pic. shows a mamoth train shed attached. But with an interest in amateur photography....I really like that night shot. Clear as a bell in detail.

[Mookie]

I wi***hey would show the old caboose. Maybe I can get down there and get a shot of it and ......well not sure what I would do with it, since I can't scan it on. Maybe if it turns out real well, I can send it to Tree or Ed and have them scan it in for me! Just remember, I am the only person left in the US that uses a camera that you still have to go to the corner store and turn in a roll of film and wait a couple of days and go back and.....

[Modelcar]

...The photo {through the fence}, reveals the RI Depot in Little Rock, Arkinsas to be very similar in structure to the old passenger depot in Cumberland, Md of the former Western Maryland RR. It is still there and...being used by the Western Maryland Scenic RR.

[CShaveRR]

No, Sis, your big brother lets his wife take the pictures on a camera like that, too.

I remember the RI depot in Lincoln, but not the caboose.

[adrianspeeder]

OK, i wont bash bubba, trying..... hard.....

Ahhh, better leave before i slip.

Adrianspeeder

[Mookie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR

No, Sis, your big brother lets his wife take the pictures on a camera like that, too.

I remember the RI depot in Lincoln, but not the caboose.

I better get down there this weekend and make sure they didn't move it to .....the UP yards! [;)]

[william6]

If I remember right, the Rock Island depot in Des Moines, Iowa is available for rent or purchase....at least it was a couple of months ago. If I needed a building in DSM of that nature, I'd sure give it a look...but I don't have any need for it.[:(] I wonder if the city would approve it as a single family housing unit?...just a thought...might be a fun place to live..the trains still go past it, I think (UP). William6

[Mookie]

William6, maybe you could make it into a bank like Lincoln did and have the biggest ATM machine in Des Moines?

[Anonymous]

Well I posted a few more photos of the depot. So if you have time go check them out. [;)]

This link will get you to a shot taken over a year ago when the construction was getting underway. Let me tell you the site is awesome. It looks very nice now. I drive by it every day on the way to and from work.


http://naphotos.nerail.org/showpic/?200411181855315612.jpg


Enjoy and don't forget to look at all the pics I have there. [;)]

[Anonymous]

There is a Rock Island depot in Newton Iowa still in use(on the Iowa Interstate railroad). I am not sure what businesses are in there, but it is in pretty good shape. It also has a semaphore signal on the building(not working but interesting nonetheless).

[Mookie]

I went down by the old depot here in Lincoln and yep! There is a bright red caboose right close to the street! Unless you are really looking for it, it does kind of blend in with the surroundings. But it is there!

[kwboehm]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Michael27

There is a Rock Island depot in Newton Iowa still in use(on the Iowa Interstate railroad). I am not sure what businesses are in there, but it is in pretty good shape. It also has a semaphore signal on the building(not working but interesting nonetheless).

The Rock Island depots in Council Bluffs and Atlantic, IA are both still standing. Council Bluffs houses the Historical Society and the Railswest Model Railroad. I'm not sure what the Atlantic depot is being used for. I think thy're still trying to restore it. When I was down there I met a nice lady involved in saving the depot, but I forget the organization she was with or how they were going to use the depot. Both the train order signals have been removed, if I remember correctly.

[Anonymous]

If you have a copy of the Streamliner Pioneers look on page 41. This shows the Little Rock, Rock Island Depot (from the rear) with a McKeen gas-electric car.

History, I love it. [;)] [:)]

Railroad History, even better. [;)] [:D]