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Union Station (Montgomery)
Encyclopedia
Union Station, also known as Montgomery Union Station or Montgomery Union Station and Trainshed, in Montgomery, Alabama
was built by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
and opened in 1898. Erected of brick and limestone on a high bluff along the Alabama River
, the station also served passenger trains of Atlantic Coast Line
, Western Railway of Alabama
, Seaboard Air Line, Central of Georgia, and Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad
. The station had six tracks under a 600 foot shed, with a coach yard on the south end of the station as well as a Railway Express Agency
facility. The station's design segregated
passengers by race and incorporated Romanesque Revival elements.
The number of passenger trains using Union Station declined during the 1950s and 1960s. When Amtrak
came into existence in 1971, it continued passenger service through Montgomery with a single train (the South Wind
, later renamed the Floridian
), operating between Chicago
and Miami. However, this train was terminated in 1979 and Union Station was closed.
After a period of disuse, Union Station was renovated for commercial tenants. The train shed still stands, although tracks under it have been replaced by asphalt parking.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1976.
Amtrak returned to Montgomery in 1989 with an extension of the Crescent
called the Gulf Breeze from Birmingham
to Mobile
; but Union Station was not used. Instead, Amtrak contracted with a travel agent who occupied a former grain silo
near Union Station. This Amtrak service was terminated in 1995, and Montgomery has had no passenger rail service since.
Among other tenants, Union Station currently hosts the Montgomery Area Visitor Center.
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
was built by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
Louisville and Nashville Railroad
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad was a Class I railroad that operated freight and passenger services in the southeast United States.Chartered by the state of Kentucky in 1850, the L&N, as it was generally known, grew into one of the great success stories of American business...
and opened in 1898. Erected of brick and limestone on a high bluff along the Alabama River
Alabama River
The Alabama River, in the U.S. state of Alabama, is formed by the Tallapoosa and Coosa rivers, which unite about north of Montgomery.The river flows west to Selma, then southwest until, about from Mobile, it unites with the Tombigbee, forming the Mobile and Tensaw rivers, which discharge into...
, the station also served passenger trains of Atlantic Coast Line
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was an American railroad that existed between 1900 and 1967, when it merged with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, its long-time rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad...
, Western Railway of Alabama
Western Railway of Alabama
The Western Railway of Alabama was created as the Western Railroad of Alabama by the owners of the Montgomery and West Point Railroad in 1860. It was built to further the M&WP's development West from Montgomery, Alabama to Selma, Alabama. When the line was finally constructed in 1870, the M&WP...
, Seaboard Air Line, Central of Georgia, and Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad
Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad
The Gulf, Mobile and Ohio was a Class I railroad in the central United States whose primary routes extended from Mobile, Alabama, and New Orleans, Louisiana, to St...
. The station had six tracks under a 600 foot shed, with a coach yard on the south end of the station as well as a Railway Express Agency
Railway Express Agency
The Railway Express Agency was a the national monopoly set up by the Untied States federal government in 1917. Rail express services provided small package and parcel transportation using the extant railroad infrastructure much as UPS functions today using the road system...
facility. The station's design segregated
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
passengers by race and incorporated Romanesque Revival elements.
The number of passenger trains using Union Station declined during the 1950s and 1960s. When 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...
came into existence in 1971, it continued passenger service through Montgomery with a single train (the South Wind
South Wind (passenger train)
The South Wind was a named passenger train equipped and operated jointly by the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad , and the Florida East Coast Railway. The South Wind began operations in December 1940, providing streamliner service...
, later renamed the Floridian
Floridian (Amtrak)
The Floridian was an Amtrak route that ran from Chicago to Miami and St. Petersburg, Florida. Its route mainly followed that of several former Louisville and Nashville Railroad passenger trains, including the Humming Bird...
), operating between Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and Miami. However, this train was terminated in 1979 and Union Station was closed.
After a period of disuse, Union Station was renovated for commercial tenants. The train shed still stands, although tracks under it have been replaced by asphalt parking.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1976.
Crescent (Amtrak)
The Crescent is a passenger train operated by Amtrak in the eastern part of the United States. It runs daily from Pennsylvania Station in New York City to New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans, Louisiana as train 19 and returns, on the same route, as train 20. Most of the route of...
called the Gulf Breeze from Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
to Mobile
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
; but Union Station was not used. Instead, Amtrak contracted with a travel agent who occupied a former grain silo
Storage silo
A silo is a structure for storing bulk materials. Silos are used in agriculture to store grain or fermented feed known as silage. Silos are more commonly used for bulk storage of grain, coal, cement, carbon black, woodchips, food products and sawdust. Three types of silos are in widespread use...
near Union Station. This Amtrak service was terminated in 1995, and Montgomery has had no passenger rail service since.
Among other tenants, Union Station currently hosts the Montgomery Area Visitor Center.
External links
- http://www.visitingmontgomery.com
- http://www.oldalabamarails.org