We start our tour in Tomasita’s parking lot at 500 S. Guadalupe St, Santa Fe, NM 87501 (point a).
Note: Due to the railrunner, packing can be a problem in this area. Most areas are charge or prohibited parking. Sanbusco has a four hour limited to shoppers.
The restaurant is the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad depot. Originally built as a Union depot for both the D&RGW and the New Mexico Central, it was completed in 1903. We hope to be returning to this restaurant for dinner.
Now approaching Guadalupe St., note the building on the south east corner this was the old West Academy building (point c). Moving south along Guadalupe St, to the west you will see the Gross Kelly & Company building that was served by both the Standard and Narrow Gauge (point d). The building was constructed in 1913 in the Spanish-Pueblo Revival style which would become dominant in Santa Fe and would become known as the “Santa Fe Style” in architecture. Gross Kelly & Company was a wholesaler and retailer in groceries. It also purchased pelts and hides, wool, and livestock which was locally produced and then shipped backed east.
Continuing South on Guadalupe St., we come to the Community Bank on the east side of the road at 549 S. Guadalupe St (point e). In the parking lot note the bricks in the pavement. Also, the circular design of the walls of the bank building. The bricks outline the site where the New Mexico Central had its turntable. The turntable was a four rail affair that could handle both Standard and Narrow Gauge. The turntable pit was uncovered when the bank was being built. The bank included the pit as part of the building design, thus the circular design for parts of the building. Go toward the entry of the bank, note to the right that there are some windows and railings, the railings being made of railroad rails. Go to the railings and look down. You can now see part of the original stone work that made up the turntable pit.
We now return to Tomasita’s and proceed to the Santa Fe Southern Railway depot (point b). This was the original the Santa Fe railroad depot. You can get tickets there for a train ride on the Santa Fe Southern that can take you to Lamy and back. There is a gift shop here as well.
We now head north to Montezuma St. turn left or west and you will be at Sanbusco (point f). This mainly severed by the Santa Fe Railroad and was a large lumber and building supplier. The name Sanbusco is a nickname and shorten version from its full name of Santa Fe Builders Supply Company. The building has been made into a mall. Please take the time to enter it and look along its walls. You will find pictures of the area in a before and after with many of the before showing the narrow gauge.
Leaving Sanbusco we head north on Montezuma until we come to Agua Fria St. where we find the Church to our Lady of Guadalupe (turn 12). This is the newer church. By turning east we find ourselves at Guadalupe St. and the older church El Santuario de Guadalupe (point g). The Santuario was built around 1777. Here the narrow gauge ran in front of the Santuario the north would be the bridge that crossed the Santa Fe River.
Heading back south along Guadalupe St. we cross over. The adobe building here is the old Guadalupe School (point h). The narrow gauge ran down Guadalupe St.
As we pass along the west side of Guadalupe St. near the Zia Dinner you will find a brass plaque noting the spot where the Capital Coal Company was (point j).
We now should be back to a point where you can return to your transportation (point a).