Look at a map of southern Wyoming, and you may notice a pattern there --the bigger towns are spaced evenly apart.
It's not coincidence. It's history.
"In 1868, when Union Pacific came through Wyoming, they established a community every 100 miles," said Jim Davis, of Evanston. "About every 100 miles, they needed a place to service the locomotives."
Evanston was the railroad's last stop in Wyoming.
"They were looking to establish a community at Wahsatch," Davis said, speaking of a site in Utah west of present-day Evanston. "I think they quickly discovered there was no real good access to water, so they came back. That's how Evanston was located where it's at."
The town is proud of its history -- and it's preserving it in a big way.
"What I love about the whole atmosphere of Evanston is the fact that they're so restoration crazy," said Kay Rossiter, executive director of the Uinta County Museum in Evanston.
Most of that zeal is directed at the city's historic railyards.
"For anybody who is a rail fan, the city has done a fantastic job of restoring -- and it's ongoing -- the old railroad buildings such as the roundhouse and the machine shop," said Lee Witten, a rail fan from South Ogden.
The city hasn't done much to advertise, but people drop in almost daily to look around. The railyard and building exteriors can be explored during daylight hours. The recently dedicated Visitor Center isn't staffed yet, so the best time to visit is between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays, when you can call or stop by City Hall.
"Within reason, we'll drop everything and come down and accommodate people," said Davis, Evanston's director of administrative services. "We've got a wonderful staff, and most of them have taken great pride in this project, and they're all learning about the history and how to give tours."
The roundhouse
Evanston claims the only completely intact roundhouse left on the UPRR line between Omaha and Sacramento.
Built between 1912 and 1914, the roundhouse is a semi-circular building with 28 huge doors facing a central turntable. Locomotives pulled onto the turntable from the tracks surrounding it like spokes on a wheel. The turntable allowed locomotives to change direction, or pull into the roundhouse for service.
"This whole complex area will be 100 years old next year, so we're going to have some big birthday celebrations," Davis said.
There almost wasn't anything to celebrate. Newer locomotives didn't need to stop as often, so UP decided to close several roundhouses. Evanston's was first, in 1926.
"The local leaders got on the train and went back to Omaha, Union Pacific's headquarters, and said, 'If you close this down we're going to die,' " said Davis, explaining that local economy depended on railroad employment. "They listened and, lo and behold, they opened this back up in 1927 -- but not as a roundhouse facility."
Until 1971, the complex served as a reclamation plant where workers refurbished rail equipment. In 1973, Union Pacific donated the property to the city, which leased it to private rail car companies. The city had no money for maintenance, so broken windows weren't replaced, and leaky roofs weren't repaired.
Restoration began in 1998, and the site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
"The plan is to turn it into City Hall," Davis said. "Our goal is to try and do something down here on a yearly basis, and just keep it going."
The first four bays have been turned into a conference center, at a cost of about $5 million. When more money is available, through grants and fundraisers, the next section will become the City Council Chambers.
"You can't spend millions of dollars to have them sit there, and we're not a big enough community for it to be solely a museum," said Davis.
In the restored section, visitors can admire the original beams -- wood, Davis said, because the steam from engines was too corrosive for metal.
Usable rails still run into the roundhouse.
"Someday, we're going to rehabilitate a dining car, and bring it in and let people eat in there," said Davis.
Meeting rooms are named after passenger trains that rolled through Evanston, and the Portland Rose room features the original train drumhead.
If you can get someone to unlock the doors to the unfinished sections, you can see the large, empty service bays.
Turntable
The old turntable still works.
"It's slow," said Witten. "Remember, it used to turn great, big steam engines and hundreds of tons sat on top of it as it turned around."
Witten is secretary for the Hostlers Model Railroad Club, based in Ogden, which hosts Evanston's Roundhouse Festival Train Show each year.
"When we were there the first week of August, they had a fellow there operating it (the turntable), and you could get on and ride it," said Witten.
Rides are offered only during special events, and right now the turntable is being repainted and safety rails are being added. The work should be finished by Nov. 1. Moving or not, the turntable is worth seeing.
"It's just the thrill of being on a piece of equipment that has seen so much history," said Witten.
The plaza
The city has improved the railyards with sidewalks, a plaza and parking lots.
"Everything is curved, based on the radius of the turntable," said Davis.
Rails are set in cement, and pavers are in the pattern of rails and ties. Metal fences look like tracks, and custom-made benches carry on the theme.
Several buildings around the plaza have also been restored.
The machine shop floor used to be covered with water. Now it has a new roof to keep out rain, incorporating the original wooden roof deck. Window glass was replaced, but metal frames are original.
The interior brick is yellow, but that wasn't always obvious.
"It was filthy from soot, and dirt," said Davis.
Now it's a beautiful site for weddings, with a catering kitchen.
"We open it up for reservations in September, and they call to find out when it's available -- then they set the wedding date," he said.
As at the roundhouse, there are working rails in the floor of the building. The rail theme even continues in the women's restroom, where rail decorates the counters.
The superintendent's office and wash house (for workers to shower off the soot before going home) were targeted for demolition a little over a year ago, but both buildings are being turned into meeting rooms for conventions.
The J.T. & Phyllis Patterson Visitor Center used to be a storage building. Exhibits aren't finished yet, but guides can show a video about Evanston's railyards and restoration efforts. In the future, the building will feature a model train layout donated by a Utah resident; volunteers are needed for that project.
Also in the future, the water tower from Wahsatch will be moved to the Evanston railyards.
Evanston's only about 75 miles from Ogden -- a shorter distance than one old steam engine service stop to the next. Davis says it's worth the drive.
"If you come and see it, you will definitely be pleased with what we've done," he said. "Everyone walks in and says 'Wow!' There's a big wow factor, and I don't get tired of hearing that."
IF YOU GO
DRIVE TIME: One hour and 15 minutes from Ogden
HOW TO GET THERE: Take Interstate 84 east through Weber Canyon, merge onto Interstate 80 east at Echo. At Evanston, take Exit 3 onto Harrison Drive. Turn left at Main Street. The Historic Railyards and Roundhouse are at 1440 Main St.
HOURS: Building facades, and the turntable, can be seen during daylight hours. If buildings are unlocked, visitors are welcome. To request tours of locked buildings, stop by the Evanston City Hall, 1200 Main St., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Staff at the Uinta County Museum, 1020 Front St., can open the Historic Train Depot and Chinese Joss House Museum, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays.
ADMISSION: Free.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO:
* Explore the railyards and turntable, and tour historic buildings, including the partially restored roundhouse.
* Check out Historic Depot Square, with the Uinta County Museum, Chinese Joss House Museum and Union Pacific Depot.
WHERE TO EAT: Evanston has plenty of fast-food and sit-down restaurants.
ACCESSIBILITY: All buildings are in compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act; the turntable is not currently wheelchair-accessible, but will be in the future.
SPECIAL EVENTS: Renewal Ball, a fundraiser for restoration projects, the first Saturday in June; Brewfest, in the historic downtown area, the weekend of July 24; Annual Roundhouse Festival, with model trains, traditionally held the first weekend in August. Watch for details on the Roundhouse & Railyards 100th-anniversary celebration.
INFORMATION: City offices, 307-783-6320; Uinta County Museum, 307-789-8248.
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