Saugus Train Depot (Santa Clarita, California)

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The Saugus Depot opened on 21 June 1888, as reported in the Los Angeles Daily Herald of 22 June l888 (where Terry Lumber is now, southeast of theSaugus Café)
The Stationmaster lived on top of the station. Cowboys shot guns to let people know that the train was here. In April 1891, President Benjamin Harrison visited the Saugus train Station and in 1903 President Teddy Roosevelt also visited the station. The last passenger train came through in April 1971 and the last freight train came through in 1979. The Saugus Train Depot was closed on 15 November 1978.
The Saugus Train Depot was moved two miles south to Heritage Park, next to William S. Hart Park on 24 June 1980.
The Steam Engine #1629 was built in New York in 1900. In 1957 the engine was sold to Gene Autry at Melody Ranch for movies. At Melody Ranch (on Placerita Canyon Road) the engine caught on fire. In 1981 Gene Autry donated the train to the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society. In 1887 the Saugus Café was opened for business and it is not known what the original name was. In July 1892, J.H. Tolfree took it over and it was called Tolefree's Eating House. Martin and Richard Wood bought it in 1898 and changed the name to Saugus Café. In 1905 they moved to where they are now across from the train station. They moved because the train station needed more room. Saugus Cafe is on the west side of San Fernando Road and south of Magic Mountain Parkway.