Please see the following links for trackside views of the Roaring Springs, TX depot. http://www.flickr.com/photos/wreeves/265327273/sizes/l/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/shugyou/414791553/sizes/l/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/shugyou/414788633/sizes/l/ http://farm1.static.flickr.com/167/414788633_fe9ae29a95.jpg http://www.flickr.com/photos/old-curmudgeon/1121634389/sizes/o/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/patgroves/414357523/sizes/l/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/99491151@N00/2204889759/sizes/l/ (depot historical marker) http://www.flickr.com/photos/shugyou/544291489/sizes/l/ (note train order board bracket at operator's bay and train order stand that once stood at trackside) Street side views include: http://www.flickr.com/photos/99491151@N00/2204889755/sizes/l/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/massenar/3961220166/sizes/l/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/shugyou/544188392/sizes/l/ The depot's agent / operators bay faces southeast. Railroad west is to the left in the trackside views. This is a former Quanah, Acme and Pacific Railroad (QA&P) depot. The depot was constructed in 1913. The city acquired it from the Frisco in 1972. The depot is currently vacant. Local residents are attempting to raise $250,000 in funds to qualify for a matching federal grant to restore the depot for use as a community center. The depot address is 400 1st Street. The depot is located just south of the intersections of 1st Street and Broadway (a/k/a Farm to Market Road 684 or FM 684). Hope this helps. Thanks! Mark
Thanks Mark for posting these photos. It has been many years since I have seen that territory. The old building looks to still be in pretty good shape. Or at least its not falling down yet. They built things to last in those days didn't they? I have seen pictures of the original railroad buildings in Roaring Springs. They had quite a little business there "back in the day". I do remember the local spotting cars of Roaring Springs water at the little bottling plant in Paducah. If you ever get a chance to look at old coke bottles, turn them over, look at the bottom and it might say Paducah TX on it. It was always interesting to me that that was such good water there when the water pumped out of the ground where I grew up in Swearingen was so bad you didn't even want to bath in it. Tom Grand Junction
My wife and I moved to Rule, TX, about four months ago. We have been busy working on the property, but today took the afternoon after church to drive around west central TX and see some of the ranch and railroad history. We stopped in Roaring Springs and spent a few minutes walking around the QA&P depot. Photographs have been posted on this site in the past, but I do not remember how recently. The depot appears to be in fairly good condition. From looking in some of the windows, there does not seem to be much in the way of railroad history inside. Mostly photographs of high school graduating classes, etc., from the local area. At least that is what the photographs looked like from outside of the building. The property is being maintained, the grass had just been mown, the building was clean, etc. There were two historical plaques on the west side, so photographs of those are uploaded. The photographs of what appears to be a gravel road are shots of the old right of way. Paul Moore
Nice station, Paul. Neat historical plaques. It's nice to see things that are taken care of by the locals. OAN - been wondering when we would hear from you? Glad to hear that things are progressing.
Hi Sherrel, Great to hear from you. We bought an older home on three acres and we have quite a bit of work to do. The property has about 40 pecan trees, so that will require some effort, as well. Fortunately, my wife loves the orchard and has sort of adopted it! At some point in time I hope to have a layout, but that is pretty far down the priority list. That is okay. We are having fun, working pretty hard, but pacing ourselves and doing some fun things, too. History is a big deal to me, so I hope to delve into the railroad and ranching history of this area. The QA&P ran just north of where we live and we will make several "field trips" to the Paducah depot museum and the one at Quanah. The Orient Line ran right through the town we live in, so I will also do some research on that. Talk to you guys later, Paul
