HISTORY OF CLOVIS DEPOT

At the turn of the century, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway was looking for a new route over the mountains of New Mexico. It built a bypass from Belen to Texico, and used existing lines to rejoin its mainline in Kansas. The AT&SF built the Depot in 1907 and also established the township of Clovis. The Depot served as the division point offices, the passenger station and as a boarding facility for train crews between work assignments. As rail traffic increased, the Harvey House and administration buildings were built to compliment the major yard and engine service facilities. The Clovis Subdivision was the last on the Santa Fe to use steam, and the selection of the 50's period for restoration highlights the transition from steam to diesel on the Santa Fe.

Today, the Belen Cutoff is one of the BNSF's busiest lines and some 75 to 100 trains pass through Clovis each day.

 

MUSEUM FEATURES

The Depot has been restored to its condition in the 1950-1960 era and has displays of historic documents and pictures covering its use since it was built. A special feature is an operating telegraph station. Artifacts of railroad significance are constantly being added to our collection. In May 1996 the Depot was included on the National Register of Historic Places.

The development of toy trains is reflected in four layouts: a Standard Gauge layout presenting Ives, American Flyer, and Lionel electric trains and accessories from circa 1920 to 1940; two O Scale layouts showing early 20th Century clockwork tin-plate trains of Great Britain, and Lionel and Marx electric trains of the 1930 to 1970 era; and finally, an S Scale layout of American Flyer trains from the 1940-1960 era.

The history of the railroad in Great Britain is shown by the 00 Scale Caledonian Railway Preservation Society Model Railroad. The engines and rolling stock on this layout tell the history of the steam locomotive from the "ROCKET", built in 1829 to the "EVENING STAR", the last steam engine commissioned by British Rail; and of the diesel and electric locomotives through the "EUROSTAR” high-speed train passing under the English Channel in the channel tunnel or “chunnel.”

The role of the railroad in the development of the Central Australian outback is presented in the HO Scale Ghan Preservation Society Model Railroad. This layout is set in the town of Alice Springs and shows trains from the early narrow gauge to the modern standard gauge era including several versions of the famous "GHAN" Passenger Train.

The history of the railroad in Clovis is presented in an HO Scale layout that depicts the Clovis yard and adjacent city area in the 1950-1960 time frame. When completed, this layout will have models of the many historic buildings in the yard and nearby city and already operates vintage trains representing railroad operations from 1907 to the modern trains of today.  A special feature of this layout is a locomotive with a television camera so you can view on a TV monitor what the engineer would see.

Real train operations can be viewed from the platform and from the Dispatcher's position in the Depot. The railroad's communications can be heard over our P. A. system.

Our smallest layout is N Scale, with “Thomas the Tank Engine” and friends.  We feature O Scale narrow gauge operations (0N30) with a winter scene layout, which we decorate for the Christmas season.  Futuristic railroad operations are modeled with our “air-train” which emulates a magnetic levitation type train and finally our largest scale layout is a G Scale train circling the gift shop near the ceiling.

A reference library on the Santa Fe Railway, especially Clovis and the Belen Cutoff, is being stocked with books, pictures and videos. The library also includes material about British and Australian trains, railroading in general, model railroading, and toy trains.

Finally, our Gift Shop provides you with model railroad hobby supplies, train related gifts and books, as well as New Mexico souvenirs.

 

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

• History of Railroad in Clovis and Belen Cutoff
• Eleven Operating Layouts Representing Most Scales
• Great Views of BNSF Railroad Operations
• Self-Guided Tour Allowing for Running of Nine Layouts by Visitors
• Gift Shop with Model Railroad Hobby Supplies, RR Associated Gifts, and NM Souvenirs

 

We look forward to your visit!