Southern Arizona Transportation Museum
Credit: Arizona Historical Society
Southern Arizona Transportation Museum
The museum is located in the former Southern Pacific’s (also affectionately remembered as the “Espee”) beautiful two-story station originally built in 1907 designed by the SP's architect, Daniel J. Patterson.
The depot located on Toole Avenue downtown was remodeled in 1941 in a Spanish Colonial style, popular at the time. The City of Tucson purchased the former depot in 1998. Restoration of the main depot building and the three adjacent buildings to their 1941 architectural style was completed in 2004.
Prior to restoration, the City, in conjunction with a Citizen’s Intermodal Task Force, created a Master Plan to guide their efforts. That plan called for devoting the former Records Building on the depot site to a transportation museum. The first of the three outlying buildings on the depot site, the Records building was built in three stages (1907, 1910, 1922), the latest stage completing the building as we see it today.
The museum is now a division of Old Pueblo Trolley, Inc which was founded in 1983. On March 20th, 2005, the 125th Anniversary of the Arrival of the Railroad in Tucson, the museum was dedicated with the help of Mayor Bob Walkup.
Credit: Jill Torrance / Arizona Daily Star
Steam Locomotive: Southern Pacific #1673
Southern Pacific Locomotive #1673 began its life as a coal burner in November 1900. Produced by Schenectady Locomotive Works in New York, the engine was originally numbered Schenectady 5683. She was categorized as a mogul of the M-4 class and weighed 146,000 pounds.
During operation on the Southern Pacific it logged over one million miles, primarily in freight service in the Southern Arizona region. In 1954, the engine was used in the filming of the movie Oklahoma.
Locomotive #1673 was retired from service in 1955 and donated to the City of Tucson.
In December of 2000, the old engine and tender were brought home to the historic Southern Pacific depot in downtown Tucson.
The locomotive is historically significant to Tucson, the State of Arizona, and nationally. Engine #1673 is one of only a few moguls of its class still in existence.
Credit: Southern Arizona Transportation Museum
Railroad Historical Display
There are six historical panels done in co-ordination with the Union Pacific Centennial Train visit led by steam engine 844 in November, 2011. They outline in text and picture the arrival and evolution of the railroads and how they aided the development of agriculture-ranching, mining and industry, and tourism in Tucson and Arizona as we know it today.
History of Arizona Railroads
Logistics
ADDRESS: 414 N Toole Ave, Tucson, AZ 85701
PHONE: (520) 623-2223
MUSEUM HOURS:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 11am – 3pm
Friday, Saturday: 10am – 4pm
Sunday: 11am -3pm
* Engine open with cab visits during open hours
PARKING: There is limited FREE parking in front of the Depot. There are Parking Lot Meters Northwest of the Museum and in front of the depot. Parking meters in the lot and on the street run 8:00-5:00 M-F. The lot is free after 6:00 PM, holidays, and weekends.
SHADED PARKING GARAGE: The 750-space Pennington Street Garage, 110 E Pennington, is secure and shaded. Access the garage on North Scott Avenue, just North of Congress Street. The parking garage is the multi-story building painted bright green.
Restaurants:
Maynards Market and Café – Located in the historic depot main building
Cup Café: Located in historic Congress Hotel
Sources:
Southern Arizona Transportation Museum
http://tucsonhistoricdepot.org/
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