Once upon a time, rats wreaked havoc on sugar-laden trees. This happened during the Santa Susana Depot’s decade-long restoration. The Santa Susana Depot is more than just a building. It’s a portal to a bygone era. It whispers tales of bustling platforms and the rhythmic chug of trains.
The Santa Susana Depot was completed in 1903. It stood proudly on Los Angeles Avenue east of Tapo Street. The Southern Pacific Railroad built it. This depot was vital for controlling train movements. It enabled passenger travel. It also facilitated produce shipments. The Simi Valley’s agriculture industry depended on it.
Imagine farmers delivering walnuts and citrus. Picture them picking up essential farming equipment. The Santa Susana Depot was the heart of the community. It served as a passenger station, a telegraph office, and a freight depot.
The depot followed Southern Pacific Railroad’s standard design. It was a Two Story Combination Depot No. 22. The Santa Susana Tunnel opened the next year. This reduced travel time between Montalvo and Burbank. It connected Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Inside the Santa Susana Depot, the west end housed a passenger waiting room. The agent’s living quarters were upstairs. The east end accommodated freight shipments.
But times changed. Passenger traffic lessened. Freight shipment methods evolved. In the early 1970s, Southern Pacific closed the Santa Susana Depot. It was destined for demolition.
The community recognized the depot’s significance. Donald Hunt led a rescue effort. The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District purchased it for $1.06. In May 1975, they moved the building to its current location. It now resides near Santa Susana Park.
The Ventura County Cultural Heritage Board recognized its value. In January 1976, they designated the Santa Susana Depot as County Historical Landmark 29.
For ten years, train enthusiasts meticulously restored the Santa Susana Depot. The Santa Susana Model Railroad Club played a crucial role. They give tours of the depot. A model railroad is its centerpiece. It represents the line from Los Angeles through the Santa Susana Mountains. It extends west to Santa Paula, Oxnard, and Port Hueneme.
The model railroad snakes through two rooms. Six trains can operate simultaneously. Miniature towns mirror their early 1900s namesakes. Oxnard’s sugar-beet plant is there. Simi Valley’s walnut packing plant is also present.
The landscape replicates the rugged Santa Susana Mountains. Trains traverse tunnels and bridges. Some depots, including Santa Susana, are built to scale. Members used original depot plans from the railroad.
The Santa Susana Depot hummed with activity until 1964. Then, Southern Pacific shut it down. In 1975, the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District bought it for $1.06. They moved it to its present location.
Today, the restored Santa Susana Depot stands as a testament to perseverance. It’s a place where railroad history comes alive. The Santa Susana Depot is a reminder of a time when trains connected communities. It is a place where the past is cherished.