Arizona Eastern Depot

Arizona Eastern Depot-1916 

The Depot was built in 1916 of fired red brick with concrete embellishments, elaborate cornices and multi-paned windows. This is one of ten buildings in Globe designed by the architectural firm of Trost & Trost, the focal point of the main floor was the ticket office with a waiting room, telegraph office and baggage area handy to accommodate the public.

The second floor was occupied by the district engineer and superintendent’s office

 

The first train which pulled into Globe in 1898 was the Gila Valley Globe and Northern which became Arizona Eastern Railroad.

 

By 1910 the Az Eastern which operated both a freight and passenger service had grown to be a significant force in southwestern transportation. Owned by E.H. Harriman, this site would eventually add a freight office and restaurant.

The addition of the Apache Trail Tours which began in 1915, expanded passenger service even further and Globe, Arizona became a destination for this successful marketing campaign by Az Eastern.  However by the early ’50s with the advent of automobiles, buses and airlines – railroad passenger service and greatly decreased and passenger rail operations ceased in 1954. 

The facility was used as a Greyhound Bus Station, Red Cross office and later as an laundromat for nearly 20 years before the ownership was again up for consideration and the Globe Main Street Program, under the leadership of Kip Culver, was able to secure an agreement with the railroad to restore the facility in exchange for it’s use. 

 

An idea was hatched between Culver and the owner of the Iowa Pacific who had purchased AE to start an excursion rail in Globe. 

IP provided a Brill Car from the owners inventory and Culver and a passionate group of volunteers spent the summer restoring the old freight office to use as a ticket office.

 

Two years later they would tackle the larger Depot which successfully served the growing crowds who flocked to Globe to ride the Copper Spike Excursion train (see more on the copper spike by clicking the link.) 

 

 

Nearly 14 tons of debris was hauled out of the ‘laundromat’ before the real work of restoring could begin!