Fairfax Depot Train Museum
Everybody loves trains! The City of Valley has converted the Fairfax Depot into a train
museum. Built in 1917, the Fairfax Depot is one of only two remaining CVRR
Depots. The museum houses Chattahoochee Valley RailRoad memorabilia and features a train that
travels around the inside of the Depot above the windows. A mural,
depicting historic landmarks from the Langdale, Shawmut Mill, Fairfax
and Riverview mill villages during the time the CVRR was operating, has
been painted and is located behind the train as it travels around the
tracks.
The CVRR was in operation from 1892 until 1992 and serviced the four textile mills of the area. The railroad carried passengers, cotton, cloth, and supplies between Langdale, Riverview, Shawmut, and Fairfax. Today, the track is a 7 mile walking/biking trail (Rails-To-Trails) that ties together all these four mill villages that are the City of Valley.
This project honors our southern, textile heritage by depicting Valley back when the CVRR was operating carrying passengers, cotton, cloth and supplies between Shawmut, Langdale, Fairfax and Riverdale Mills, back before Valley was a city.
A
grant from the Alabama State Council On the Arts in 2007 helped pay for
the project. Russell Everett, who holds a Master of Fine Art and who has
taught at Auburn University and Troy University was contracted to paint
the background murals for the train. Schools in the area scheduled
field trips to watch and learn from Mr. Everett as he painted the
various scenes from Valley's past. The first public viewing of the
finished project was an open house held during the City's Christmas
Lighting and Trail Walk.
