Wyoming

What was the Jay Em bank, Farmers State Bank.

A minature town created next to the general store in Jay Em.

Jay Em, Wyoming, a very small village in eastern Wyoming. Per Wikipedia (link at end), this was the center of the village and the tall building on the left was a restaurant - feed store - general store - post office. The town was a service center for local ranchers from 1915 through the 1930's, but with the advent of the automobile and easy travel to larger towns (Lusk), the town went into decline. I saw no explanation for why the main street was so wide or if it was ever paved. The dog was the only sign of life that I saw and was, fortunately, friendly.

Yet another streamline moderne design building, with porcelain brick fronting. It appears to originally have had a very open front with large windows, with those removed and replaced with paneling at some later date.

Another streamline moderne design building, with porcelain brick fronting. The sun was wrong for catching the shine from the porcelain brick, but you can see some of it in the reflection of the awning on the left side of the building.

Though you can't tell from this picture, the front of this building is also porcelain brick. I'm not sure what the building's design would be considered, but do find the font used for the building name to be interesting.

Lusk had a surprising number of building with porcelain brick fronts and in streamline moderne style. Not what I'd expect for a small, rural, Wyoming town. This public works building, with large curved windows, must have been a showroom (maybe a car dealership?) at some point in time.

"The Lusk Light and Power Plant", built in 1919. I had planned just to stop in Lusk for a snack, but I saw this when coming in and pulled off to find it. Unfortunately, I couldn't get close enough for a good shot, but did discover a surprising number of interesting buildings while exploring.

BNSF (with former ATSF colors) and Union Pacific diesels in the rail yard behind the Cheyenne Depot.

BNSF engine in the colors of the former Burlington Northern railroad, in the rail yard behind Cheyenne Depot.

Former Cheyenne Union Pacific Depot, finished in 1887. The building is now the site of the Cheyenne Depot Museum.

Detail of the Cheyenne area in the floor map of the Union Pacific portion of the transcontinental railroad.

The interior of the Cheyenne Union station was altered significantly in 1929 and then recently refurbished. In the floor of the museum is a map of the Union Pacific portion of the construction of the 1860's transcontinental railroad.

Former Cheyenne Union Pacific Depot, finished in 1887. The building is now the site of the Cheyenne Depot Museum.

Poster describing Big Boy 4004, one of the 25 Big Boy locomotives built for the Union Pacific in the early 40's. The locomotives are the world's largest steam engines, measuring 132 feet long. The locomotive was taken out of service in 1958 and subsequently donated to the City of Cheyenne, Wy.

Taken on my first cross country trip, in 1967. I was traveling with another serviceman who was taking his car ('61 VW) from Newark, NJ to Monterey where we would be starting Air Force language school. From Chicago to Reno we took the road that was eventually replaced by I-80, but only small portions of I-80 were built at that time. This was clearly taken through the windshield of the car -- I suspect the shoulder was too narrow to get out. I had thought this was Wyoming, but considering the terrain I think it was eastern Utah. Using Google maps and other sources, it appears this was near Mountain Dell Reservoir, Utah. Any suggestions otherwise are appreciated.

Big Boy 4004, one of the remaining versions of the worlds largest steam locomotives, in Holliday Park, Cheyenne, WY.

Close up from the fuel tender of the Big Boy 4004, one of the remaining versions of the worlds largest steam locomotives. To get a sense of the size here, note that the photo was taken by holding the camera at arms length over my head, which is about 6 feet.