On Saturday, July 12th , about a dozen BHS members trekked to downtown Danville to visit the Museum of San Ramon Valley. The trip was both a fact-finding mission and fun outing, as the Danville Depot could be a model for the Benicia Depot freight room and our Caboose Project. Our gracious host Ross, a long-time museum volunteer and project manager for the Depot’s restoration, told us about the history of their project, which began back in 1939. The dilapidated Depot was finally moved 800 ft north to the current site in 1996, when a complete restoration began. The project received a grant from the National Transportation Agency. The caboose came from Sacramento in 1998 and also needed a complete makeover to install public restrooms. The latter were partly funded by the East Bay Regional Parks District at the request of the Museum group because the Depot is located on what is now the Iron Horse Trail. Ross mentioned several fundraising efforts including engraved bricks and holding parties, and stressed the importance of recognizing donations.

The Danville Depot is the heart of the downtown and usually has 100-150 visitors each weekday and 250 on weekend days. They have modest admission fees. Our visit was during the very popular farmers market taking place in the adjacent parking lot, and many families were visiting the Depot/Museum as well. The Depot’s freight room had been converted into exhibit and event space, with the current offering being their annual model train exhibit. A large Lionel train model filled the room with color, sound, action, and very happy children and parents. A permanent, chronological local history exhibit was located on the perimeter. Most of the historic features of the room have been preserved, including the exposed trusses, windows, barn-style doors, freight scale, and flooring. Outward opening glass doors had been added for public safety reasons.

The restored Southern Pacific caboose was located on a section of track next to a wooden platform adjacent to one of the freight room doorways. A handicap ramp leads from the parking lot up to the platform. The interior of the caboose included the restrooms and a glassed-in room with a train engineer dummy/mannequin. There was a line for the restrooms, which are closed each evening at 7:00.