Depot Museum

Decatur Depot Museum and Railfanning

701 Railroad Street, Decatur AL
Tours: Friday and Saturday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Cost: Free

    The historic Decatur union passenger depot was built by the Southern Railway in 1905. It is a symbol of the city’s rich railroad heritage which extends back to the 1830s when the first railroad west of the Allegheny Mountains, the Tuscumbia, Courtland, and Decatur was built. Later it became a union depot as the result of the joint use of the depot by two railroads, the Southern and the Louisville & Nashville railroads.
    The depot was restored in March 2016 as part of the works of the Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority. Museum displays reflect the rich 180-year railroad history of Decatur starting with the Tuscumbia, Courtland And Decatur Railroad, and continuing with the CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads. It railroad artifacts, an operating HO layout as well as model railroads of all scales from Z to G scale.
    Built by members of the Mid South Division the HO model railroad has been constructed in the old ticket office of the depot. The layout depicts modern day Decatur in the area of the Depot. Because the Tennessse River lift bridge is shared by both railroads, the layout features CSX and the Norfolk Southern railroads. The Tennessee River lift bridge is featured as well as the trackage in the area of the depot, including the switching yard adjacent to the depot.
    A fenced train watching platform parallels the tracks at the rear of the building so that up to 45 trains a day may be seen in safety. Picnic tables are provided for those who wish to have a lunch while watching trains.