History in the Neigborhood: Reno's Fourth Street and Train Depot

Trains played a big part in Northern Nevada history, transporting copper, silver and goods across the desert.

One of those trains, the Nevada and California Railway, had a narrow gauge track that was going to link Northern Nevada to California and Oregon, connecting ranches with supplies. From its start in 1880, to their 1893 name change to Nevada-California-Oregon (NCO), the railway was plagued with mismanagement and corruption, often being called NCO - Narrow, Crooked & Ornery. Instead of the tracks going from Reno to the Columbia River in Oregon, they made it only as far as Lakeviw, Oregon.

NCO built classic brick train depots in Reno, Alturas and Lakeview, all of which still exist. All are listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places along with the locomotive house and machine shop in Reno.

Their train depot on Fourth Street, a long-closed Reno landmark, has now been converted into a brewery and restaurant, aptly named "The Depot."

The three story brick building which houses all of The Depot Craft Brewery and Distillery’s operations was built in 1910 to serve as the headquarters for the Nevada-California-Oregon Railway.

Today, The Depot is packed with personality and great food, from roasted Brussels sprouts to Cioppino. The day we stopped we started off with the Brussels sprouts. For our three lunches we had gourmet vegie tacos, apple chicken sausage with apple chutney and portobello cheese steak sandwich. It is located at 325 East Fourth Street.

The lunch and dinner menus are compeletely different, so you'll have to try them both!

East Fourth Street was part of the Lincoln Highway, which connected the East coast with the West coast in 1913 (it also came through South Lake Tahoe). It was later named U.S. 40 in the 1920s. After Interstate 80 was built in 1974, prostitution and run down motels took over the old Lincoln Highway in "The Biggest Little City." A resurgence of the nearby Freight District started with the addition of the Reno Aces Ballpark and that renaissance is continuing over to Fourth Street.

A handy website and smartphone app provide historical walking tours throughout Reno, including Fourth Street. It provides details on the street's highlights: Louis' Basque Restaurant, the NCO Train Depot and Locomotive Machine Shop, Zellerbach Paper Company, Pinky's Market, two irons works, Reno Brewing Company Bottling Plant and more.