OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Ray Lueb shipped out of Oklahoma City's downtown Santa Fe railroad station in January 1944, a 19-year-old Marine recruit on his way to the war in the Pacific.

On Dec. 7, he was back for the dedication of the restored Art Deco-era landmark — and pronounced it "altogether different" than it was in the war years, when both were younger.

City leaders were marking a milestone in the depot's transformation to serve passenger rail, the MAPS 3 streetcar and, down the road, commuter and light-rail.

As if on cue, a BNSF Railway freight rumbled past as Mayor Mick Cornett praised the...