Embden Depot and Norther Pacific Train

The grain harvested on bonanza farms would then be taken to flour mills like those in Minneapolis, or as the postcard above shows—Kindred, ND. The most efficient form of transport to do so was by train, like the Northern Pacific locomotive out front. For this reason many elevators were near the railroad depot or tracks, just as the Trangsrud Elevator is in Bonanzaville.

This Northern Pacific Railroad depot came from Embden, ND and operated from its construction in 1900 until the late 1960s. Besides the office, waiting room, and freight dock, it also housed the agent who ran the depot in living quarters featuring a small kitchen, bedroom, and private bathroom.

In addition to the grain, trains were the main form of transport at this time, so passenger cars often accompanied the transport cars used for grain and other goods. If you visit the train shed next door, you can go on a passenger car from a later era of travel. This passenger car dates to the 1930s and could board up to 80 passengers.