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The Depot
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Panoramic view, Clark's Las Vegas Townsite, Las Vegas, Nev.
The San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad Passenger Depot was finished soon after the creation of the town of Las Vegas in 1905. In the photograph above it seems to have the duty of watching over this fledgling development. Positioned at the end of the main business street, the depot was the bridge between the railroad and the town site.
The first public train into Las Vegas from Los Angeles, May 15, 1905 ; S.P., L.A. and S.L. Depot, Las Vegas, 1905 The first public train into Las Vegas from Los Angeles, May 15, 1905 The first public train into Las Vegas from Los Angeles, May 15, 1905 S.P., L.A. and S.L. Depot, Las Vegas, 1905
"Clark's Las Vegas Townsite" officially opened May 15th, 1905 with the auctioning of town lots. At the time a single passenger car served as the train station for the big event.
Salt Lake Depot, Las Vegas, 1905
The Depot, Clark's Las Vegas Townsite ; S.P., L.A. & S.L. R.R. plan of Las Vegas Passenger Station, San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad The Las Vegas Land and Water Company was created by the Railroad to direct all of its business dealings for "Clark's Las Vegas Townsite." Las Vegas in its early years was very much a company town with a majority of its inhabitants having a direct connection to the railroad. S.P., L.A. & S.L. R.R. plan of Las Vegas Passenger Station, San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad
S.P., L.A. & S.L. R.R. plan of Las Vegas Passenger Station, San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad
S.P., L.A. & S.L. R.R. plan of Las Vegas Passenger Station; San Pedro, Los Angeles & Salt Lake Railroad
Las Vegas, Nevada, Aug. 1905 from the Salt Lake Depot then under construction
The depot was positioned at the western end of Fremont Street. Fremont was the main street of "Clark's Las Vegas Townsite" and became the major business district.
Fremont Street, Las Vegas, Nevada, 1906-1908
1st train arrival in Las Vegas from Salt Lake City, 1905S.P., L.V. & S.L. locomotive no. 3649 at Las Vegas
The presence of the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad gave the new town legitimacy and the railroad's investment guaranteed long-term committment, justifying the early investment in the town site.
The San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad was committed to creating first-class facilities to support their new town site. With an eye on future expansion, the railroad followed initial construction of an icehouse and various employee facilities with a state-of-the-art rail yard including a roundhouse and machine shop.
Railroad yards, San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad, Las Vegas
Interior of the S.P., L.A. & S.L. Railroad machine shop, Las Vegas, NV
The depot, Las Vegas, Nevada
The first depot was torn down in 1940, replaced by a more modern facility. The station remained the center of the downtown area until 1971 when Union Pacific ceased passenger service to Las Vegas. The Union Plaza Hotel now stands on the site of the depot.
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