Steins

Last train robbery holdout - Route 66-era decline

State: New Mexico County: Hidalgo County Founded: 1880 Abandoned: 1944

Steins was a railroad town on the Southern Pacific that had everything: a hotel, saloons, and train robbers. It survived until 1944 when the railroad consolidated operations. Private owners now run tours of 12+ preserved buildings in New Mexico's remote Bootheel region.

Quick Facts

  • Last train robbery in area was 1916
  • Diesel locomotives killed steam service stops
  • Right off Interstate 10
  • Privately preserved with tours available

Location

Address: Hidalgo County, New Mexico (I-10 Exit 3)

Coordinates: 32.2189, -109.0297