TP’s Mini Storage on E. California Street – just steps away from Marceline’s Main Street USA in Walt Disney’s boyhood hometown – is playing their part to help beautify the town square and pay tribute to our railroad heritage by hosting a “roundhouse” once again in our small town. While it’s not the kind that once housed the fire breathing steam engines that helped build Marceline, it is a nice tribute to our rich railroading past and the enduring spirit of our citizens.
Just a few blocks from where the original Santa Fe Railroad roundhouse once stood on the east side of the historic Marceline rail yard, this modern version has turned storage unit garage doors into a celebration of our railroad legacy. Each of the doors that face Ripley Square is adorned with a large, beautifully printed banner featuring locomotives sponsored by local families or businesses. These colorful displays don’t just add charm to Main Street USA, they also honor the individuals and groups who brought them to life. Each banner includes a “builder plate” in the lower-right corner recognizing its sponsor.
The “roundhouse” sits very nearby three real-life railroad artifacts in and near Ripley Square: Santa Fe caboose #999471, steam locomotive #2546, and BNSF Diesel engine #5008, creating a trifecta of rail history that’s free and open to the public. #2546 was donated to the City of Marceline in 1955. The caboose later found its new home in Ripley Square, and Marceline became #5008’s home in Locomotive in 2017.
Now, meet the fleet of engines found at the Main Street “Roundhouse”:
“Bay” #1 – The Chicago & North Western Diesel #411 (https://www.irm.org/player/cnw411/), a 1949 F7A EMD (Electro-Motive Diesel) painted in bright yellow was sponsored by Carrie & Andrew Welsh of Marceline Pizza Company, as they are train fans and hail from the Chicago area.
“Bay” #2 – The iconic Santa Fe “Warbonnet” passenger Diesel #347C is the streamlined red, yellow, and silver engine that was made famous by Lionel Model Trains when they included a scale model version in their post-World War II catalog. The only surviving one of these locomotives today resides at the California State Railroad Museum. This ‘engine’ was sponsored by the Kenneth & Nan VanWye family, including Betty, Deanna, Janey, Patty, and Kenny.
“Bay” #3 – (In progress)
“Bay” #4 – Southern Pacific “Daylight” #4449 is the only surviving example of Southern Pacific Railroad’s GS-4 class of steam locomotives. The GS-4s were streamlined 4-8-4 (Northern) type steam locomotives and ran in the “Golden State” of California and were known for their high-speed passenger service. #4449 was built by Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for SP Railroad in May 1941. This bay is sponsored by Levi Kelly of Kelly Lawn Care.
“Bay” #5 – This is one of the six Santa Fe 4-6-4 “Blue Goose” locomotives built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works. Originally built as coal burners with duplex stokers they were eventually converted to oil burners in 1932. This was the first banner to be created for Marceline’s Main Street “Roundhouse” and was sponsored by NARVE (National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees) Unit #154.
“Bay” #6 – AT&SF #3751 was the 13th 4-8-4 steam engine (out of 892) constructed between 1926 and 1950. Santa Fe paid Baldwin Locomotive Works $99,712.77 for this engine. In 1986, the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society (SBRHS) (https://www.sbrhs.org/) fully restored the rusting 874,000 pound steam locomotive and still operates it today all across the United States. This engine banner was sponsored by The Paper Station on Main Street USA (which also features a steam engine in their company logo!)
“Bay” #7 – Amtrak #245 was an F40PH engine built by General Motors’ Electro-Motive Division, and pulled a chartered train during the 2000 National Railway Historical Society Convention. Amtrak served Marceline until its last stop here on May 11, 1997 after passenger service was rerouted. In 2024 Marceline officially filed paperwork with Amtrak requesting an unstaffed stop to service the fans visiting Walt Disney’s boyhood hometown, and the Walt Disney Hometown Museum. Marceline would also be the only point where Amtrak would stop along Highway 36, which has an incredible number of famous people and historic sites. The Wayne Heins Family sponsored this banner.
The Main Street “Roundhouse” isn’t just about trains… It’s about community pride, memory, and momentum. By blending history with art and local sponsorship, Marceline once again demonstrates that small towns can create big magic.