My son Eric has pushed through a rehab of the old San Antonio ACL depot and, if I must say so myself, has done a great job. The depot is perhaps a one-of-a-kind. It has no bay-window and is once again painted, as it was originally, in ACL purple and gray. Is there a way to find out if it is a unique depot. We have a copy of the hand-drawn plans for the building which was constructed to replace the previous one that had been destroyed in a fire on May 23, 1948. A recent addition to the Restored San Antonio Depot physical plant is a caboose. Eric wants to find out if someone may have photos of the caboose in its past. It is M5-0899. Any photos or info about this piece of rolling stock would be appreciated. We also need a semaphore. Does anyone know where we could get one?

Thanks, Eddie

-- Eddie Herrmann (ejherrmann@tecoenergy.com), June 19, 1998

Answers

Hi Eddie, I believe we spoke at the Jax'ville show after my slide presentation, where you told me the depot had been renovated. I got up to San Antonio over Memorial Day and took some new photos of it. I'd be interested in knowing the construction date for this station, the town's third. Your son Eric has indeed done a great job on it, and I ecourage all of our members to swing by to see it when in the area. The design of the depot may very well be a one-of-a-kind, as I've yet to run across a similar existing ACL depot built in that particular style, nor can I remember seeing any vintage photos. Maybe other members can shed more light on this.

-- bob venditti (bobvend@bellsouth.net), June 21, 1998.