Depot Park
Depot Park
4
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
12 reviews
Excellent
3
Very good
5
Average
4
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Michael P
Tagaytay, Philippines1,291 contributions
Aug 2014 • Friends
On our way to see Bowman Lake via Polebridge Mercantile, we stopped at the Depot Park in Columbia Falls, MT at coordinates N 48° 22.776 W 114° 10.895 on SR 486 (Railroad St) to see the 1904 Shay Locomotive that use to pull its short train of flatcars loaded with logs to a sawmill in the Swan Valley and north of Half Moon at an average speed of 12 mph. On loan to the city of Columbia Falls by Stoltze Land and Lumber Company, this Tom Thumb locomotive was restored as a 1964 Montana Territorial Project of the Jaycees, with help from many local volunteers for the Columbia Falls 1964 Centennial, celebrating the I00th year of Montana Territory, May 26, 1864, and coincidentally, The Diamond Jubilee of Montana Statehood, November 8, 1889.
The smaller Shay Locomotive differs from the larger steam engines because it has vertical pistons and cylinders and is gear driven whereas regular railroad engines were driven by horizontal pistons and is driven by push rods. Peter Cooper’s first American made locomotive he named “Tom Thumb” because he considered it so insignificant to simply prove that the little locomotive would actually work.
We were able to walk up and touch this historical locomotive instead of looking at it from the distance through a fence. A true example of the history that made the United States of America a great country of opportunity. Stop by and touch history before popularity requires it to be fenced in for its safety.
The smaller Shay Locomotive differs from the larger steam engines because it has vertical pistons and cylinders and is gear driven whereas regular railroad engines were driven by horizontal pistons and is driven by push rods. Peter Cooper’s first American made locomotive he named “Tom Thumb” because he considered it so insignificant to simply prove that the little locomotive would actually work.
We were able to walk up and touch this historical locomotive instead of looking at it from the distance through a fence. A true example of the history that made the United States of America a great country of opportunity. Stop by and touch history before popularity requires it to be fenced in for its safety.
Written July 6, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JD D
San Antonio, TX99 contributions
Aug 2015 • Family
There is not much to see at Depot Park. However, the one train available allows for a hands experience. Climb aboard the train and ring the bell and really see yourself as a train conductor. Most often our experience is from afar, but now a hands on experience is available.
Written August 2, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JAWinBp
Budapest, Hungary23 contributions
Jul 2016 • Family
The kids loved playing on the train while visiting town after camping for a while. It's at the end of Nucleus street, which you can walk end to end for a good feeling of the whole town.
Written September 8, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JohnBakerTN
Johnson City, Tennessee, United States82 contributions
Sep 2019
Although there is only one exhibit here, it is an example of a very unique steam locomotive. I work with some train buffs so I had to stop by and get some pictures for them.
Written September 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kodeylee
Libby, MT12 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
Cool old train, very small park, not a whole lot of area to explore, the trains do run by about 40 yards or so away
Written July 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mcpine
Columbia Falls, MT3 contributions
Jun 2018 • Friends
This old engine has a great history in the early logging of the area. Unusual gear drive system was perfect for mountain terrain. Nice place to train spot BNSF line too
Written August 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa B
falls church, va37 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
You can climb up onto the train and ring the bell! Great for families, and a good place to meet. It would be nice if there was more of an explanation of the history of the train, but its cool for what it is.
Written August 21, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wercozee
Columbia Falls, MT17 contributions
Jun 2018 • Solo
A very small park where your kiddies might enjoy climbing around on the antique train engine. It is at the edge of town.
Written June 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James K
Peoria, AZ69 contributions
Sep 2017 • Solo
Old train buffs will find this interesting. Not the normal workhorse you'd expect but this machine hauled many, many tons of logs during its day.
A picnic table & toilet make for a hour or two outing in this historic community.
A picnic table & toilet make for a hour or two outing in this historic community.
Written September 6, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cashester
Frisco, TX93 contributions
Aug 2016 • Family
My 1-yr-old and 4-yr-old thoroughly enjoyed seeing and climbing on this old engine. Being Thomas the Train fans, they were interested in all the valves, levers, and other parts of the engine, which their grandfather explained to them. They had fun climbing on the train -- with assistance from us grandparents, and their favorite part was ringing the giant brass bell (my apologies to nearby businesses!). The setting made for a great photo op too.
Written August 5, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
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