The Lion Roars - Lionel Collectors Club of America

The depot addressed nine tracks. Two were stubheaded and catered to warehouse freight traffic. Twotracks were for short trains and mail cars. Two werefor the longer passenger trains which included the RockIsland Twin Star Rocket and the Santa Fe Texas Chief.Both of these trains usually had 19 cars and four powerunits. Track 7 held extra baggage and express cars,Track 8 held extra coaches, and Track 9 held extrasleepers and set out sleepers. The station employedabout 80 people — baggage handlers, mail handlers,ticket clerks, station masters, and others. The depotoperated as the Fort Worth Union Station until 1962when Santa Fe bought it outright. At that point, itbecame the Santa Fe station.The Texas and Pacific TerminalThe other major passenger rail facility in FortWorth was the Texas and Pacific (T&P) station locatedon the southern edge of the city’s central businessdistrict. In 1929, the Texas & Pacific Railroadcommitted $13 million to build a new terminal andfreight warehouse. The city pledged $3 million to theproject. It was completed in 1933. When it opened, itserved four railroads — Texas & Pacific, Fort Worthand Denver City, International Great Northern, and theMissouri, Kansas, Texas (Katy).The architecture is a prime example of the ZigzagModerne design. The building is constructed of bricktrimmed with limestone, terra cotta, and marble. It istwelve stories tall. Waiting rooms, ticket offices,restrooms, restaurants, and concourse are on the firstfloor.The large main waiting room measures 90 x 60feet with a 34-foot high cast plaster ceiling finished ingold leaf, silver leaf and enamel with fluted pilasters,marble floor and wainscot. It is also enhanced byeleven frosted glass chandeliers, aluminum windowframes with etched designs, and metal grilles. Theroom is fantastic, and it’s a great place to visit if youhave some extra time at the convention.During World War II, the T&P terminal handledthousands of passengers each day. The United StatesArmy Air Force Flying Training Command occupiedfloors nine through twelve, while the Army’s FinanceOffice leased the fifth floor of the terminal. Othergovernment offices followed after the war.The T&P terminal operated until March 22, 1967.On that day, the last Texas Eagle came in from El Paso.The Texas and Pacific Terminal10The Lion Roars August, 1999