-
January 12, 1887 -
First Santa Fe passenger train arrived in Gainesville.
-
1887, the Gulf,
Colorado, & Santa Fe line (later the Atchison, Topeka, and
Santa Fe) completed laying its rails from Galveston to
Gainesville and was linked with one of the largest railroad
systems of the United States.
-
1902 - Brick Santa Fe
depot was constructed in Gainesville and contained the
Harvey House Restaurant
-
1920s-30s - Rail
traffic through Cooke County was at its peak.
-
1944 - Gainesville
ranked 8th in passenger ticket sales of all Santa Fe cities
due to the coming of WWII. Families often came to be
with the men sent to Camp Howze, as the men were often sent
overseas following their stay at the camp.
-
Late 60s - Only 2
passenger trains passed daily through Gainesville on the
Lone Star route from Chicago to Houston.
-
1979 - Final Amtrak
route through Cooke County discontinued and the Santa Fe
depot in Gainesville was abandoned.
-
December 5, 1979 - An
era closed in Gainesville with the death of the Lone Star
passenger train serving the city.
-
October 19, 1981 -
Santa Fe deeds Gainesville depot to the city.
-
June 15, 1999 -
Passenger rail travel resumes in the city with the advent of
the Amtrack Heartland Flyer scheduled from Oklahoma City to
Ft Worth with a stop in Gainesville.
-
October 6, 2001 - The
renovation of the Santa Fe Depot is completed by the city.
