I checked into the Pullman Suite then the manager, Maria Snodgrass, gave me the keys to the van and I drove south down US Highway 63 to Columbia where I would try to find the COLT Railroad and two train stations.
The former Wabash Railroad station built in 1910 and now used as part of the local transit station. Six blocks away on Broadway Street, I found the old Katy station.
Missouri, Kanasas and Texas Columbia station built in 1909, which is now a restaurant. From here I drove back to US Highway 63 to Missouri Highway 124 which follows the Columbia Terminal (COLT) Railroad.
The COLT Railroad at Hallsville. I followed it into Centralia where I turned east on Missouri Highway 22 to my next destination of Mexico, Missouri.
The Mexico Wabash Railroad station built in 1858.
The former Gulf Mobile & Ohio station, now used by Kansas City Southern. From here, I returned west on Missouri 22 and headed to Moberly in search of a train.
Wabash caboose 2722 built by the railroad in 1942.
The Wabash baggage room is now a museum.
A Norfolk Southern train here.
Norfolk Southern SD60 6625 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1986.
Norfolk Southern GP38-2 5129 built by Electro-Motive Division in 1974.
I drove back north up US 63 to La Plata, returning to the Pullman Suite and relaxed before taking pictures to show you why you should come to La Plata and stay at the Depot Inn & Suites.
Out in the lobby is a pool table.
A continental breakfast is served at these tables.
They have a heated indoor pool.
A horn sounds then a burst of water floods down into the pool from above.
A steam train is in the wall between the lobby and pool.
Sofa, fireplace and big screen television in the lobby.
The pool table and library.
Pictures on the hallway leading to the Suites.
More pictures in the hallway.
The main hallway with display cases of railroading.
Two more display cases.
This one for Axy Dent.
Two more display cases.
An open air display case.
The Depot Inn & Suites has excellent wireless as there are six routers in the hotel.
One more display case.
More railroad pictures on the wall leading to the Suites. I will now show you the four suites and two types of standard rooms.
The Pullman Suite.
The Western Suite.
The Sportsman Suite.
The Victorian Suite.
Room A with a king-size bed.
Room B with double beds. Now let us look at the features of a suite, and in this case, the Pullman Suite where I stay when I come here.
Each suite has a couch that can be made out into a folding bed for an extra person you might be travelling with.
Vanity area with bathroom with shower behind the wall.
Suana tub to enjoy after railfanning.
In wall big screen television with fireplace below. The room also has a heater/air conditioning unit.
The king-size bed.
The desk I use as my work station when I stay in this room. I write my stories from either here or a table out in the Chris Guenzler Million Mile Lookout Point.
The ticket office where you can find Manager Maria Snodgrass who will always help you if you need it.
Later I met Bob and Amy Cox at the Silver Rails Gallery to see how the work is coming for the March 13, 2010 Grand Opening. I will be at Winterail 2010 that weekend in Stockton, California and the evening before, I will be presenting a show about the Depot Inn & Suites. I returned to the Pullman Suite for the night.
