The railroad depot was once a vital part of local communities as well as essential to railroad operations. And particularly in the West, depots were often landmark structures. Southern Pacific and its predecessor railroads constructed and maintained depots throughout their territory. Between 1877 and 1894 a series of 26 numbered standard plans for depots was developed, and each plan was successively in use for a few years. By the beginning of the 20th century, there were more than 600 SP depots and telegraph offices. By then, many older depots, as well as most new ones at that time, had been or would be built to these standards. This book describes those depots.
Well-known depot historian Henry Bender has extensively researched this subject, and presents here an authoritative account of hundreds of SP standard depots, illustrated with a fine collection of photographs. The jacket painting is by noted railroad artist John R. Signor.
Enthusiasts of the Southern Pacific Railroad will find this detailed account of particular value, but fans of other railroads, and local historians throughout the territory of the Southern Pacific, will also find much of interest.