Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company Depot and Locomotive No. 5000
Also known as: Santa Fe Depot; the Madame Queen
Why it's listed
Amarillo's Santa Fe Depot, completed in 1910 at 307 South Grant, served the Panhandle and Santa Fe Railway, part of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe system. Designed by railway architect E.A. Harrison, it has stuccoed pebble-dash walls, red tile roofs, arched loggias and Spanish mission-inspired details. It was built in linear form beside the tracks and included waiting rooms, baggage space, offices, and a Harvey House with dormitory rooms for Harvey Girls. Additions were made between 1912 and 1931, and later changes ended meal service in the late 1940s. The depot reflects Amarillo's growth as a rail and shipping center. Nearby stands locomotive No. 5000, nicknamed Madame Queen, a 2-10-4 steam engine built in 1930 by Baldwin for fast freight service in New Mexico and used on the Santa Fe system. At the time of nomination the depot was vacant, sold to a builder planning a restaurant, and the locomotive remained in original condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the depot is an outstanding example of Spanish Colonial Revival railway architecture and a reminder of the Santa Fe Railway's importance to Amarillo's economy. It also housed a Harvey House. Locomotive No. 5000 is cited as an outstanding representation of modern steam-locomotive design in transportation.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 86002189, listed September 18, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 307 S. Grant, Amarillo |
|---|---|
| County | Potter County |
| Listed | September 18, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002189 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company/E.A. Harrison; Baldwin Locomotive Works/H.H. Lanning |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Economics, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The depot is vacant and unoccupied; it was sold in 1984 and plans called for conversion into a restaurant. The locomotive is described as remaining in original condition. |
| Acreage | 12 |
| Coordinates | 35.20857, -101.82720 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 86002189.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q109999529
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.