CHOO CHOO DEPOT

LONG SHOT OF THE ATSF DEPOT AND SMALL WARE HOUSE


THE BAY WINDOW WAS THE AREA WHERE THE STATION MASTER SAT TO RECEIVE AND SENT TELEGRAMS AND TO VIEW UP AND DOWN THE RAILROAD. SAM ZIMMERLY WAS THE STATION AGENT, HIS BROTHER CHARLIE ZIMMERLY WAS THE SWING AGENT AND WADE FUNK BROUGHT UP THE GRAVE.
THESE WERE THE CHIEF PEOPLE ON DEC 7 1941 AND WOULD REMAIN SO FOR MANY YEARS. OUT OF THIS TELEGRAPH OFFICE DAVE ANDERSON WAS ONE OF THE BAD NEWS BOYS AS THEY WERE CALLED TO DELIVER TELEGRAMS TO THE LOCALS. WHEN SAM COULD NOT DELIVER THE DEATH OR POW NOTICE IT WOULD FALL TO THE TELEGRAM BOY. FORTUNATELY FOR DAVE AND SADNESS FOR SAM AS HE DELIVERED TO HIS MOTHER AND FATHER THE DEATH OF HIS BROTHER IN GERMANY. BLESS THIS AND ALL THAT LOST SONS IN THAT FRIGHTFUL WAR.



THIS IS THE NORTH END OF THE DEPOT. IT WAS THE WAITING AREA AND WAS ALWAYS KEPT WARM.
THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL AND THE EL PASO POST BOTH CAME BY TRAIN AND THE PAPER BOYS
WOULD USE THE WAITING AREA TO WRAP OR FOLD THE PAPERS FOR THROWING. THE TWO BOYS I KNOW OF COVERED THE JOURNAL DELIVERY FOR OVER 5 YEARS, BILL CALDWELL AND DAVE ANDERSON.



North, and east side, door to lobby for passengers to wait, later converted to work area for agents, and telegraphers, complete with potbelly stove, most welcome to paperboys at 3:00 am while preparing newspapers for delivery, the agents were really kind to paperboys.

East side, main rail line came by this side, all aboard" El Paso, or Albuquerque, etc. Bump-out was originally where agent sat, where he could watch the oncoming trains from the windows, and keep in contact with the trains. The larger doors to the south were for express, and the push cars for baggage were kept inside at night unless the trains were near, and there was express, or luggage on them, they were rolled to the appropriate rail can and loaded aboard, or unloaded from the train car to the cart. These carts were small hand pulled wagons with iron wheels, and used around every train depot. Sep07_4


THE PARKING AREA AS IT IS NOW. AT ONE TIME IT WAS A BRICKED PARKING AREA LIKE MOST DEPOTS OF THE TIME.



View of AT&SF depot south end looking north, the 4 foot high loading dock on the s w side has been removed. Lots of heavy articles were unloaded on this dock, scooted or rolled over portable steel plates between rail cars, and the dock, ie machinery, automobiles, and trucks, etc. " lets see a little more steam, easy don't want to back the flat car past the dock, ok, just right, now brakes, & unhitch, come back later for the empty car."