Arizona would not be what it is today without transportation, specifically the Southern Pacific Railroad.

The railroad left towns in its wake and brought different cultures and loads of people to the Southwest.

There is a small museum (admission free) near the historic Tucson Station, now a stop on the AMTRAK Sunset Limit route.

The big draw for me was a 2-6-0 Mongel Southern Pacific locomotive No. 1673. The locomotive was built at the Schenectady Locomotive Works in 1900.

The locomotive was in service in Southern Arizona but was later relegated to switching duty towards the end of steam. It was featured in the 1955 film Oklahoma. This appearance may be the reason she was saved from the scrapyard.

There is also a bit of Wild West history here at the Tucson Depot.

It was at the Depot that Wyatt Earp shot Frank Stilwell. And there is a statue of Earp and Doc near the museum.

I did two sketched at the museum on one spread. One of locomotive No. 1673 and another of the statues (featured sketch).