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November 13, 2009

Vintage rail cars in Norman for Depot centennial

By Meghan McCormick

A centennial celebration for the Santa Fe Depot would not be complete without trains.

Three vintage rail cars arrived at the Norman Depot Thursday morning just in time for centennial week planned Saturday through Nov. 21 at the Santa Fe Depot, 200 S. Jones Ave.

Debra Levy Martinelli, executive director of the Performing Arts Studio, said rail cars will be on display Saturday, Sunday and through next week.

"The whole idea was to illustrate the history of the depot over the last 100 years," she said. "These cars represent the early years of passenger services."

Two passenger rail cars and one dining car are included in the display.

Greg Hall, City of Norman streets superintendent, serves on the Santa Fe Depot's centennial committee and said he has always been interested in trains. He was waiting for the train cars to arrive Thursday morning.

"The cars are coming out of Moore and coming to the Depot," he said.

Hall said the vehicles are part of a display housed at the Oklahoma Railway Museum in Oklahoma City. Bringing the rail cars to Norman is no easy process.

"It's an incredibly big process," Hall said. "The museum staff has to make sure it all meets railroad regulations and do repair work on the cars."

The display opens Saturday to the public.

"They are vintage Santa Fe cars built in the late '30s and it's worth noting Burlington North Santa Fe and Union Pacific donated moving the cars for free," he said.

He said a freight charge normally applies to trains.

The dining car, which is centered between the two other train cars, was rebuilt in the 1940s, Hall said. It once was stationed in Norman.

"This car will be at home for the first time in many, many years," he said.

Meghan McCormick 366-3539 mmccormick@normantranscript.com

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