Oldest station

[DowneasterPassenger]

What's the oldest station building still in use in the Amtrak system? A lot of stations are on the same property as older buildings, but what Amtrak stations still look basically the same as they did 100 years ago?

 

[Big Iron]

What's the oldest station building still in use in the Amtrak system? A lot of stations are on the same property as older buildings, but what Amtrak stations still look basically the same as they did 100 years ago?

Just a guess, being an East Coaster, Martinsburg, WV on the CL Route.

 

[the_traveler]

I'm not exactly sure of it's age, but the station at KIN (see the photo under my name) is over well over 100 years old, and is still in use. It even has 2 waiting room (from the days when there was a men's waiting room and a ladies/family waiting room. (The other is now used as a museum, but still has the 2nd ticket window.) The only part of the original station that is not there is the freight office (on the side) - that was destroyed by a fire years and years ago.

BTW - When they electrified the NEC from NHV to BOS in the 1990's, they determined that KIN was too close to the tracks. So what did they do? :huh:

They moved the ENTIRE station IN ONE PIECE back I think like 25-50 feet! That was some sight!

 

[stntylr]

The station in Sanderson, TX was built in 1882.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Not really sure, perhaps Bill H or Tom or one of the other members that have good collections of old timey railroad stuff have the answer? My guess would be that it would be in the East/Northeast since railroads started there and went West as the country grew!I see that Rhode Island can do some things right, anywhere else they'd probably just tear it down and build an Amshak or a parking lot! :lol:

If it comes to a large city versus rural stations I'd think that King Street Station in Seattle would be in the running if not the number one big city station!Good question! :unsure:

The Sanderson station is old even if it is a joke now! Good job Stan!And technically the infamous Beaumont Station (!!!) may be the winner since it reverted to what it was before a station was built there , NOTHING! :lol: )

 

[DivMiler]

The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania station (HAR) was built between 1885 and 1887, according to the National Register of Historic Places.

 

[Green Maned Lion]

A lot of the stations not built within the Amtrak era were either built in the 1950-60s- as the big buildings were demolished- or built around the turn of the century. Poughkeepsie is pretty old. Amtrak serves GCT sometimes, which is also pretty old. Lancaster is pretty old, too. They're all pretty old. Most of the stations built much before 1900 were built of wood, and became victim to the hazards thereof- they either rotted away due to lack of maintenance of uncaring owners, or were burnt down.

 

[the_traveler]

Upon further review - KIN was built in 1875 by the New York, Providence and Boston Railroad and has been continuous use since June 1875! (And if I have to say so myself - looks great! )

 

[savoirfaire]

The Lewistown, PA station was built in 1849. That may be the winner.

-Sav

 

[Zevzec]

The authors of http://www.travelwv.com/index.php?pr=History think that Martinsburg, built in 1849, is the oldest.

 

[Dovecote]

The authors of http://www.travelwv.com/index.php?pr=History think that Martinsburg, built in 1849, is the oldest.

The Amtrak Capitol Limited Route Guide also credits MRB as the oldest working train station in the U.S. One discrepancy in the Route Guide mentions that it is was built in 1847. It is a National Historic Landmark and is the only structure in Martinsburg that survived the destruction of the "War Between The States". Nice station that I use sometimes for picking up tickets at the Quick Trak machine.

 

[AlanB]

It should be noted however that the Quik-Trak machine in Martinsburg isn't the oldest one around. :lol: :lol:

 

[Dan O]

Not the oldest but when I went by Lamy NM I thought I was in the 1800s. Expected to see someone on horseback trying to rob the train.

Dan

 

[Dovecote]

It should be noted however that the Quik-Trak machine in Martinsburg isn't the oldest one around. :lol: :lol:

That is for sure! Actually it might be the newest Quik-Trak machine installed by Amtrak. Installed in the spring of 2009 if my memory is correct. A welcomed addition I might add !

 

[TampAGS]

The Great American Stations website maintains a listing of Amtrak stations which are listed with the Department of the Interior's National Register of Historic Places. The list is available in pdf format here:

http://www.greatamericanstations.com/stati...ons-on-NRHP.pdf

 

The oldest station to have been bestowed a NRHP listing is the one in Tallahassee, FL, which dates back to 1858. This would have to put it among the oldest non-ruined structures in the state outside St. Augustine. Unfortunately, the station has been dormant since the suspension of the Sunset Limited east of NOL.

 

The oldest non-dormant station on the NRHP list is in Davis, CA. It opened in 1868.

 

Inclusion on the list doesn't necessarily equate "oldest", but usually does note a lack of significant modifications or alterations to the structure's historic integrity.

 

The pdf list at the Great American Stations site is well-maintained. I had only Monday written to them after noticing they mistakenly included the 1918 DeLand, FL station on the list (it had been awarded by the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, but not the National Registry). On Tuesday, they promptly applied the correction.

 

[DowneasterPassenger]

http://www.greatamericanstations.com/stati...ons-on-NRHP.pdf
The oldest non-dormant station on the NRHP list is in Davis, CA. It opened in 1868.

[/font]

Very cool, thanks for the info. That is one "oldest" station I can visit easily.

 

[Ispolkom]

The Great American Stations website maintains a listing of Amtrak stations which are listed with the Department of the Interior's National Register of Historic Places. The list is available in pdf format here:http://www.greatamericanstations.com/stati...ons-on-NRHP.pdf

 

The oldest station to have been bestowed a NRHP listing is the one in Tallahassee, FL, which dates back to 1858. This would have to put it among the oldest non-ruined structures in the state outside St. Augustine. Unfortunately, the station has been dormant since the suspension of the Sunset Limited east of NOL.

 

The oldest non-dormant station on the NRHP list is in Davis, CA. It opened in 1868.

 

Inclusion on the list doesn't necessarily equate "oldest", but usually does note a lack of significant modifications or alterations to the structure's historic integrity.

 

The pdf list at the Great American Stations site is well-maintained. I had only Monday written to them after noticing they mistakenly included the 1918 DeLand, FL station on the list (it had been awarded by the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation, but not the National Registry). On Tuesday, they promptly applied the correction.

Though the present-day Davis station only dates from 1913:

In May 1913, SP, apparently at the request of the Dean of the University of California—who thought the old depot not sufficiently dignified for the growing University—began construction of a new concrete and stucco depot and tower at the Davis Junction. The new station building was designed by the Southern Pacific Architectural Bureau, which adopted the Mission Revival style for the depot and control tower, following a precedent set by the Santa Fe Railway. It is now an historic landmark. (from the Great American Stations Web site)

 

[DET63]

I have mixed feelings about old railroad stations. On the one hand, they are often a vital link to a community's history, and can help young people to get a feel for what life must have been like "in the good ol' days." On the other hand, they may also help to reinforce the notion that railroads, especially passenger railroads, are relics of the past that have little or no role in a modern transportation system.

 

[Bob Dylan]

I have mixed feelings about old railroad stations. On the one hand, they are often a vital link to a community's history, and can help young people to get a feel for what life must have been like "in the good ol' days." On the other hand, they may also help to reinforce the notion that railroads, especially passenger railroads, are relics of the past that have little or no role in a modern transportation system.

I would agree to the extint that the oldies are in good repair and actually used for train stations an d are not resturants/botiques/bars/chamber of commerce offices etc. Classic example would be KCY Union Station, Amtrak has a small waiting room and counter off the beaten path with very inconvient

ramp/elevator to the trains and the rest of this jewel is nice but sort of ghost like @ night! My closest to home example is the old Sunset Station in SAS which is in great shape but is closed most times when there is no entertainment or banquet/meeting scheduled while right next door is a small,poorly maintained Amshak, but @ least the agents are friendly!

 

[Pastor Dave]

What a great question! While I love old train stations, I never gave much thought to the oldest active one. Thanks for all the information. I've been to Harrisburg and Lancaster and knew they were old - but was surprised to learn that they are among the oldest.