As I understand it "station" is originally a British term for stops along the canal systems there that predated the railways, and was adopted for railway use. It could be considered the standard term for such a thing in Canada.
"Depot" is French in origin and is in fact a technically more accurate name for the thing under discusssion. Depot seems to me to be the more common American term, although I am looking at the subject from Canada
AgentKid
So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.
"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere" CP Rail Public Timetable
"O. S. Irricana"
. . . __ . ______
Nothing, only semantics.
There is a difference between a "station" and a depot when you get technical. A station is a place, a depot is a building. The minimum requirements for a "station" is a sign with the station name on it. Just a post and a sign (and listed in the timetable) and you have a station.
Dave H.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
Ahem!
"Down at the control point, early in the morning..."
Seriously, I think Dave has it right, and his distinction should be accepted by most writers. Spoken colloquialisms, old habits, local lore, etc., may cause differences.
Carl
Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)
CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)
....As in Pennsylvania Station {the "former" fabulous one in NYC}....or Union Station of Chicago....Both rather sizeable.
Quentin
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Modelcar wrote: ....As in Pennsylvania Station {the "former" fabulous one in NYC}....or Union Station of Chicago....Both rather sizeable.
Also consider St. Paul Union Depot and Fort Street Union Depot (Detroit). Neither was exactly a hole in the wall.
She who has no signature! cinscocom-tmw
I thought that the Station is where the passengers got on and off and the Depot is where they loaded and unloaded the small "less than boxcar" shipments of freight back in the old days before trucking got big.
That was the setup in Huron, South Dakota. The station was on the south side of the tracks west of Dakota Avenue and the depot was directly across on the east side.
Reality TV is to reality, what Professional Wrestling is to Professional Brain Surgery.
The way I'd learned it, was a station handled either all passenger or freight and not both. A depot handled both.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/4309
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