Bakersfield (Southern Pacific station)
Encyclopedia
The Bakersfield Southern Pacific Station in Bakersfield
, California
, was the train station used by the Southern Pacific Railroad. The station opened in June 27, 1889 in the town of Sumner
(which was later annexed by Bakersfield). The station was a mixture of: Richardsonian Romanesque
, Spanish Colonial Revival, and Moderne
styles. It was closed in 1971, after the formation of Amtrak
.
The station served Southern Pacific passenger trains that ran on the San Joaquin Valley
Route. They included: San Joaquin Daylight
, Sacramento Daylight
, Owl, and West Coast
. It is currently used as an office building and crew change center by Union Pacific
. On extremely rare occasions, it is used as a stop for the Coast Starlight
when Union Pacific's Coast Route is closed.
. Bakersfield was the logical stop for the railroad, but a land dispute had developed between the town and Southern Pacific. It resulted in the railroad building its tracks about 2 miles east of the town. The town of Sumner was laid out by the railroad. It also constructed a small depot. In 1888 the Bakersfield and Sumner Railroad (which later became the Bakersfield and Kern Electric Railway
) was constructed to the station. It provided a connection between the station and the Courthouse in Bakersfield.
In 1889, the current railroad station was constructed. The station was originally built in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. It contained both a train station and a hotel. One of the stations most defining features was the long arcade, that stretched along the entire north side, connecting the station and the hotel. That same year, the Bakersfield and Kern Electric Railway moved its main line (called the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific Line
) to the Santa Fe Bakersfield Station
.
In the late 1930's, Southern Pacific was considering demolishing the station in favor of a new design. However, it instead decided to remodel the station. Most of the ornamental features were removed in an effort to provide a more streamlined appearance. The result was a transformation to the Spanish Colonial Revival style. It did retain the steeply pitch roof, which was apart of the original style.
At some point, the hotel closed and was converted to office space. In addition, half of the portico (on the hotel side) was enclosed. In 1971, Amtrak was formed. That would end the remaining Southern Pacific passenger trains through the station. The station was subsequently closed. The office portion would continue to be used by Southern Pacific, and later by Union Pacific
.
, near the station. Kern County
has been studying for a future regional commuter rail system. Part of the system would use existing Union Pacific tracks. In addition, Bakersfield has also been studying for a future light rail system. Both system have a start date beyond 2025.
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, was the train station used by the Southern Pacific Railroad. The station opened in June 27, 1889 in the town of Sumner
East Bakersfield
East Bakersfield is a region in Bakersfield, California directly east of downtown. The region was the former town of Sumner, which was later incorporated and renamed Kern City. It is primarily a mixture of residential and commercial developments...
(which was later annexed by Bakersfield). The station was a mixture of: Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque is a style of Romanesque Revival architecture named after architect Henry Hobson Richardson, whose masterpiece is Trinity Church, Boston , designated a National Historic Landmark...
, Spanish Colonial Revival, and Moderne
Moderne architecture
Moderne architecture, also sometimes referred to as "Style Moderne" or simply "Moderne", a general United States landmarks term for styles of architecture that were popular from 1925 through the 1940s. It has expression in styles traditionally classified as Art Deco, Streamline Moderne, and WPA...
styles. It was closed in 1971, after the formation of Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
.
The station served Southern Pacific passenger trains that ran on the San Joaquin Valley
San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta in Stockton...
Route. They included: San Joaquin Daylight
San Joaquin Daylight
The San Joaquin Daylight was a Southern Pacific passenger train inaugurated between Los Angeles and Oakland Pier by way of the San Joaquin Valley and Tehachapi Pass on July 4, 1941. It operated until the advent of Amtrak in 1971.-Passenger cars:Pullman-Standard built coaches were assigned to the...
, Sacramento Daylight
Sacramento Daylight
The Sacramento Daylight was a named passenger train operated by the Southern Pacific Railroad, part of the family of "Daylights" which included the San Joaquin Daylight, Shasta Daylight, Coast Daylight, and Sunbeam...
, Owl, and West Coast
West Coast (passenger train)
The West Coast was a named train of the Southern Pacific Railroad from Los Angeles to Portland via the San Joaquin Valley. It had through car service to Seattle via the Great Northern Railway...
. It is currently used as an office building and crew change center by Union Pacific
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
. On extremely rare occasions, it is used as a stop for the Coast Starlight
Coast Starlight
The Coast Starlight is a passenger train operated by Amtrak on the West Coast of the United States. It runs from King Street Station in Seattle, Washington, to Union Station in Los Angeles, California. The train's name was formed as a merging of two of Southern Pacific's train names, the Coast...
when Union Pacific's Coast Route is closed.
History
In 1874, construction of the Southern Pacific Railroad line had reached the Southern San Joaquin ValleySan Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta in Stockton...
. Bakersfield was the logical stop for the railroad, but a land dispute had developed between the town and Southern Pacific. It resulted in the railroad building its tracks about 2 miles east of the town. The town of Sumner was laid out by the railroad. It also constructed a small depot. In 1888 the Bakersfield and Sumner Railroad (which later became the Bakersfield and Kern Electric Railway
Bakersfield and Kern Electric Railway
The Bakersfield and Kern Electric Railway was a streetcar company which operated between Bakersfield and Sumner , in California. Later, after Kern City was annexed by Bakersfield, the streetcar company operated completely in Bakersfield. The company was originally formed in 1887, under the name...
) was constructed to the station. It provided a connection between the station and the Courthouse in Bakersfield.
In 1889, the current railroad station was constructed. The station was originally built in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. It contained both a train station and a hotel. One of the stations most defining features was the long arcade, that stretched along the entire north side, connecting the station and the hotel. That same year, the Bakersfield and Kern Electric Railway moved its main line (called the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific Line
Santa Fe and Southern Pacific Line (Bakersfield and Kern Electric)
The Santa Fe and Southern Pacific Line was the main line of the Bakersfield and Kern Electric Railway. It operated between the Santa Fe Bakersfield Station and the Southern Pacific Bakersfield Station . It was the first line in the system, constructed in 1888...
) to the Santa Fe Bakersfield Station
Bakersfield (Amtrak station)
The Bakersfield Amtrak Station is a train station in Bakersfield, California. It is the southern terminus of Amtrak's San Joaquin route operated by Amtrak California, with Thruway Motorcoach service continuing to Amtrak stations and bus stops throughout Southern California and Nevada...
.
In the late 1930's, Southern Pacific was considering demolishing the station in favor of a new design. However, it instead decided to remodel the station. Most of the ornamental features were removed in an effort to provide a more streamlined appearance. The result was a transformation to the Spanish Colonial Revival style. It did retain the steeply pitch roof, which was apart of the original style.
At some point, the hotel closed and was converted to office space. In addition, half of the portico (on the hotel side) was enclosed. In 1971, Amtrak was formed. That would end the remaining Southern Pacific passenger trains through the station. The station was subsequently closed. The office portion would continue to be used by Southern Pacific, and later by Union Pacific
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
.
Future
Plans for two new rail systems have been proposed, both consider a future stop in East BakersfieldEast Bakersfield
East Bakersfield is a region in Bakersfield, California directly east of downtown. The region was the former town of Sumner, which was later incorporated and renamed Kern City. It is primarily a mixture of residential and commercial developments...
, near the station. Kern County
Kern County, California
Spreading across the southern end of the California Central Valley, Kern County is the fifth-largest county by population in California. Its economy is heavily linked to agriculture and to petroleum extraction, and there is a strong aviation and space presence. Politically, it has generally...
has been studying for a future regional commuter rail system. Part of the system would use existing Union Pacific tracks. In addition, Bakersfield has also been studying for a future light rail system. Both system have a start date beyond 2025.