Custom Bolt Wrench made in Cleburne Railroad Shops

Railroads transformed the way people and products moved across Texas. For one Texas town, the railroad was much more than just a means of transportation.

Transportation in Texas has long been a challenge. Early settlers struggled to travel and move goods across the state’s rugged landscape. The construction and proliferation of railroads in the late 1800s opened more of the state and connected Texas with the rest of the country. The creation of a rail line changed the fortunes of the communities located along its route.

One of the largest railroads in the Southwest, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad (Santa Fe) reached Texas in 1881 with a connection in El Paso. Later, the company bought and connected with an existing Texas rail line that stretched its reach to Galveston on the Gulf coast. The railroad linked Texas to the Midwest and across the continent to the Pacific, hauling freight and passengers.

In 1898, the Santa Fe opened a complex of maintenance shops in Cleburne where locomotives and railcars were built and repaired. The facility included a coach, carpentry, blacksmith, flue, and machine shop. The property also included a powerhouse, turntable, and yard office. The Cleburne shops were the largest Santa Fe maintenance facility in the Southwest and transformed the Texas town. The centralized operation was a major part of Santa Fe's system and was the heart of the local economy.

Workers needed specialized skills to work in the varied jobs at the shops. Each shop required different skills like metalworking or carpentry. Workers made their own oversized tools that were then used to build and maintain railroad equipment. Work in the shops could be dirty and dangerous and worker safety was a priority. Protective gear and dedicated training was developed for each shop. Despite the difficult conditions and long hours, workers showed their camaraderie and commitment to the work. The Santa Fe shops became a source of pride for the community and were Cleburne's largest employer until the shops closed in 1989.