Susanville’s Southern Pacific Railroad Depot on Richmond is unique in many ways. By the time the railroad reached Susanville in 1913, the company had already adopted a set of standard depot building plans.
In 1913, the residents wondered what kind of depot they would have. As far as the Southern Pacific were concerned it would be a modest structure, since in their opinion, Susanville was a small community that had no industry. A wooden 26 foot by 62 foot depot was built, being part passenger depot and part frieght shed. It opened to the public on September 14, 1913 with C.B. Morton’s the first depot agent.
Times quickly changed and by 1921 Susanville boasted two large lumber mills—Fruit Growers Supply Company and Lassen Lumber & Box Company. The original depot was no longer able to meet the needs. In 1927, the Southern Pacific constructed a 75-foot addition and unlike other depots its exterior was stuccoed.
Times were rapidly changing, especially with the State of California’s ambitious highway construction plan. As automobile travel became the preferred mode of transportation, travel by train declined. In 1933, rail passenger service at Susanville was eliminated. In 1979, Southern Pacific closed the depot.