In 1971, the bustling activity that surrounded the Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N) Depot in Foley came to a sudden halt.

That year, the L&N Railroad shut down its operations at the Foley Depot, ending 66 years of shipping thousands of railcars full of produce grown by the hardworking farmers from the region.

During its existence, the depot became the center of a thriving community, just as it was the focal point of the area’s economic mainstay — farming.

After the depot closed its doors, it was sold to John Snook, who transported the structure to Magnolia Springs, where it became a warehouse for the Gulf Telephone Company.

Originally, the depot was built in 1905 as John B. Foley encouraged the railroad to locate in Foley as a transportation center. Unfortunately, the original building burned; however, it was quickly replaced by a new structure in 1980.

In 1995, the depot came home to Foley, where it was placed in its original location. Since that time, full-time staff and volunteers have worked untold hours to improve the facility and to add content to the museum that reflects the importance of the depot to the early history of Foley.

Devoted people like Fran Hall worked to make the museum a reality, and Bonnie Donaldson, who has been involved with the museum for the past 13 years, remains dedicated to promoting the museum and guiding tours on a daily basis.

In 2004, the Foley Railroad Museum expanded its facility to encompass the gift of an “O” gauge model railroad that was provided by Montgomery resident Alan Goldman.

The annex to the L&N Depot Museum was completed in 2005. Soon thereafter, the Caboose Club, a local railroad enthusiasts group, began the construction of the 24-by-60-foot exhibit. After completion, the massive layout reveals the evolution of railroading as witnessed in the 1950s.

The display contains representations of a fire station, church, bus station and a city park. There are also depictions of a farm, sawmill, coal company and oil refinery. Additionally, aspects of railroad maintenance are included to underscore the realism depicted by the exhibit.

The Model Railroad Museum was opened in February 2007 and is currently open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. with no admission charge.

Since the museum opened, it has been an integral part of events in Foley that have featured the area’s culture and history.

The volunteers have been on hand for events such as Heritage Harbor Days and Christmas in the Park, to name only two. The painstaking effort to keep the museum in top form is evident when you walk in, and that feeling remains as you tour the artifacts.

The depot was and is a part of Foley’s history and heritage, and thanks to numerous volunteers and the full-time staff involved, it should remain a viable representation of that culture for many years.