ATSF Belen Depot

: Belen, NM. Sep. 9, 2015

This former Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway depot is found at the eastern end of Becker St, Belen, NM.

Belen, founded in 1740, is a city in Valencia County, New Mexico with a population of 4823 according to the 1970 Census, 7269 according to the 2010 Census. It was originally named Nuestra Senora de Belen, which means Our Lady of Bethlehem. ATSF San Francisco Chief and southern section of Grand Canyon Limited once served the city.

According to Marci L. Riskin, the Spanish Mission style depot made of brick, covered in stucco was built in 1909[1]. The structure is still used by the railroad today, maybe as the yard office. In front of the depot is the yard switched by locomotives with ATSF “Freightbonnet” scheme. The Harvey House built in 1910 stands next to the depot. It houses the Belen Harvey House Museum[2]. ATSF doodlebug M-190 preserved by the museum is a block from the depot.

[1] The book The Train Stops Here preview page;
[2] Belen Harvey House Museum;

: Belen, NM. Sep. 9, 2015
: postcard maybe printed in the 20's


Belenはニューメキシコ州にある人口7000人余りの町である。BNSFのTransconルートとEl Pasoを経由してメキシコへ至るルートの分岐点にあたる鉄道の要衝である。乗務員交代・給油を行う列車の長さに合わせて停車場長さを延長していった結果、停車場南端の線形は極端なS字になってしまった。町はAlbuquerqueとその近郊を結ぶNew Mexico Railrunner Express線の南の終点でもある。

町には1909年建築の駅舎や、その翌年建築のHarvey Houseが遺っている。駅の近くにはATSFのM-190という連節式気動車も保存されている。駅前に広がる町の中心部は再開発されているが、寂れた感は否めない。