Nostalgia & History > Depot Friday: D&RGW Farmington, NM

Ward Kimball recorded this view of the depot at the end of the Rio Grande narrow gauge line to Farmington, NM in 1947.  This depot doesn't survive today, but the one up the line at Aztec, NM does.  Photo courtesy the Southern California Railway Museum.

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think a fire got it in the 60's

Beautiful historic photo.
Bob

Very Nice look back!

Larry

dan Wrote:
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> think a fire got it in the 60's

I am curious if anyone remembers the year.

ts1457 Wrote:
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> dan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > think a fire got it in the 60's
>
> I am curious if anyone remembers the year.

I think it was early 1963.  Actually the depot blew up from a natural gas leak.

My first wife worked for the Gas Co. of New Mexico in Chama.  Her boss was called to the railroad depot in Farmington because of a report of leaking gas.  As he drove up toward the building, it exploded.

Earlk Wrote:
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> I think it was early 1963.  Actually the depot
> blew up from a natural gas leak.
>
> My first wife worked for the Gas Co. of New Mexico
> in Chama.  Her boss was called to the railroad
> depot in Farmington because of a report of leaking
> gas.  As he drove up toward the building, it
> exploded.

Appreciate the info. I was there in June 1966 and didn't recall seeing a depot.

Looks like your ex-wife's boss sure had a close call!

Super shot.Thanks for the post.Bill Webb

Reefers for potatoes?

What!!???  Where's the "reefers" and where's the "potatoes"????  I thought the ex-AMTRAK reefers were on the San Luis Central and used for shipment of potatoes out of Monte Vista, CO.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/01/24 20:08 by rrman6.

ts1457 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Earlk Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I think it was early 1963.  Actually the depot
> > blew up from a natural gas leak.
> >
> > My first wife worked for the Gas Co. of New
> Mexico
> > in Chama.  Her boss was called to the railroad
> > depot in Farmington because of a report of
> leaking
> > gas.  As he drove up toward the building, it
> > exploded.
>
> Appreciate the info. I was there in June 1966 and
> didn't recall seeing a depot.
>
> Looks like your ex-wife's boss sure had a close
> call!

I recall the railroads having "Boomers" working as employees, but never such as with this "explosive incident".  Hopefully, no persons were closely nearby when the explosion occurred.