Atkinson celebrated its Diamond Anniversary in August 1940, and in the weeks leading up to it local clubs organized activities to promote the event. In the June 14 edition of The Atkinson Graphic, the publisher promoted a 90-minute, $2 round-trip excursion on a special train to Neligh for that community's Forestry Field Day on June 16, urging Atkinson residents to wear old-time attire to advertise their own celebration two months later. More than 250 citizens rode the train to Neligh in early 20th century outfits, and the June 21 edition reported that the costumed Atkinson delegation, led by 125 band members, marched from the Neligh depot to Riverside Park and was greeted with applause by 12,000 people in the grandstands. Since then, Atkinson has continued to celebrate its founding each year with Hay Days. The Atkinson Depot was built in Emmet, eight miles east, in 1879-1880 and moved to Atkinson when the rails reached the new town in 1881. The Fremont, Elkhorn, and Missouri Valley Railroad was purchased by Chicago and Northwestern Railroad in 1903, passenger service ended in 1958, and after citizens opposed plans to raze the depot, the State Fire Marshall condemned the building in January 1968 and ordered that it be repaired or torn down. John and Gene Hansen moved the rear freight house of the depot to the Ralph Beck farm three miles southeast of Atkinson for storage. Train service ended in 1992. Though the depot and tracks disappeared, the railroad era in Nebraska left strong memories and enduring towns. The station agent was the man in charge of the railroad station and also served as ticket agent, baggage handler, and telegraph operator; those who held the position included William Bryant, Leonard C. Sweet, S.M. Gibson, Olive Collins, L.K. Baldwin, George C. Funk, A.A. Jasmer, Joseph F. Sherman, Carlo M. Anderson, Charles A. Bartlett, Nelson S. Rippey, Boyd W. Planck, Henry Zeig, William N. Spence, Albert B. Neuenswander, Bob Mains, R.H. Williams, Robert Cunningham, Frank Timblim, Don Uher, Joe J. Krska, and John B. Beck.