Klamath Heritage: Waiting for a train [VIDEO]
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Klamath County Museum’s Photo of the Week for March 17, 2019, shows passengers waiting for a train at the Southern Pacific passenger depot in Klamath Falls. No date was recorded for this photo. The automobiles seen here suggest a date around 1920.
The depot was constructed soon after the SP arrived in Klamath Falls in 1909. For many years – particularly before many people had automobiles – it was the primary point of arrival or departure for anyone traveling to or from Klamath Falls.
Although the railroad had arrived in Klamath Falls in 1909, there was no mainline passenger service north of town, because the rail line ended at Kirk, near Chiloquin. As a result, locals had to travel to Weed to transfer to mainline passenger trains. When the SP completed the “Natron Cutoff” between Kirk and Eugene, passengers could ride directly from Klamath Falls to Eugene and points north.
Amtrak took over the old Southern Pacific depot when it was established as the nationwide passenger train carrier in 1971.
Photo of the Week, Video
This week the Klamath County Museum is experimenting with a YouTube video to provide more information about “Waiting for a Train”.
Information provided from the Klamath County Museum.