Union Passenger Depot

Duane's take

Here's what the official marker has to say, and I'll tell it to you the way it deserves to be told. Now, Brady, Texas didn't get one railroad; it got two. The Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railway was first through the door, layin' down the first rail line into Brady back in 1903.

Eight years go by, and then the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad comes rollin' in with a second line into town. Two railroads, one town. And that raised a question somebody had to answer: where do all these passengers go?

The answer was this depot, built in 1911, designed from the ground up to serve both railways under one roof. One building, two railroads. Brady wasn't messin' around.

Now, this wasn't just a shed with a bench and a ticket window. Whoever drew up the plans had an eye for things that last. The corbeled brickwork.

Segmented arches. A red tile roof. And a parapet standing watch over the observation bay (that's the kind of detail that says we built this to mean something).

For decades, passengers passed through those arched doorways, catching trains headed in two different directions on two different lines. Then 1946 comes along, and the depot takes on a new role alongside the old one; freight service added to the mix, the building adapting to whatever the age required. Two railroads, two purposes, one building that's been holdin' its ground in Brady ever since.

That red tile roof has seen it all.

What the marker says

The Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railway built the first rail line into Brady in 1903. Eight years later the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railroad constructed a second line into town. This depot, built in 1911, was designed for passenger use for both railways. After 1946, it also was used for freight service. Prominent features of the depot include the corbeled brickwork, segmented arches, the red tile roof, and a parapet over the observation bay. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1984