In the early twentieth century, the Southern Pacific Railroad was completing their Coast Line between Oxnard and Burbank in southern California. The line would run across the Simi and San Fernando Valleys via three tunnels through the Santa Susana Mountains. A depot would be needed at the western approach to the tunnels to control train movements, to enable passenger travel, and to facilitate produce shipments from the Simi Valley’s growing agriculture industry.

Santa Susana looking north circa 1915. The Depot is in the foreground. Across Los Angeles Avenue is the two-story Crinklaw Building. The large building to the west of the Depot is the Southern Pacific warehouse built in 1905 to store produce awaiting shipment. Tapo Street runs north toward the hills, crossing Cochran and Alamo Streets.

The Santa Susana Depot, an iconic Plan 22 combination freight and passenger depot, was built at milepost 437.5 in 1903. The Depot brought quite a change to Santa Susana. Telegraph and long-distance transportation became immediately available to the community. Passengers could now travel in relative comfort. Citrus and walnut growers could transport huge shipments without depending on the horse and unpredictable weather.

The Depot’s west end provided a passenger waiting room and agent’s living quarters upstairs.

The east end accommodated freight shipments.

After seventy-one years of advancing technology and changing business conditions, the railroad no longer needed the Depot. In 1974, it was abandoned and slated for demolition. The community, recognizing the important role the Depot played in Simi Valley’s early development, wanted to preserve it. Donald Hunt of the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District led the rescue effort. The District eventually purchased the Depot for $1 plus 6 cents tax and, in May of 1975, moved the building to its present location alongside the mainline in Santa Susana Park.

The Depot crossing the tracks at Los Angeles Avenue’s S-curve.

After the move, the depot rests in its present location awaiting restoration.

In January of 1976, the Ventura County Cultural Heritage Board designated the Santa Susana Depot as County Historical Landmark 29.