?Other uses for a Depot?

[Modelcar]

wjstix

My grandfather was a volunteer air raid warden during WW2, I believe I still have his pith helmet with a logo on it from that service. Most cities had that, with the volunteers keeping vigil especially at night from tall buildings

 

Yes.....That was serious stuff during the deep part of the war as it was a threat of the unknown possibilities.  Communication was no where near then, what it is presently.  No comparison.  So manned visual sighting was important.

[tatans]

In Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan the very large depot was tuned into a Government liquor store, - - -ahh, socialism at it's finest eh?

[Kootenay Central]

.

[K4sPRR]

Former NYC, North Olmstead OH, model railroad club.

Former NYC, Berea OH, restaurant (now closed due to lack of business)

Former PRR, Portage PA, museum and railroad layout in upper floor.  One of two remaining PRR stations on the mountain between Johnstown and Altoona (Johnstown the other, used by Amtrak).

Former NYC, Sandusky OH, private business.

Former NYC, Elyria OH, under restoration for a transportation hub; bus, taxi and Amtrak.

Former PRR, Youngstown OH, fireworks store.

[Lyon_Wonder]

inch53

 

No depots left in this county, but here's few we've found.

Nelson Crossing, part of the Monticello Railway Museum.

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/20516/ppuser/4309

Also part of the railway museum.

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/20503/ppuser/4309

Grayville IC is being restored for a museum [Grayville IL]

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/90581/ppuser/4309

Flatrock's NYC depot is part of a grain and fertilize plant.

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/90580/ppuser/4309

C&EI depot in Westville IL, RR museum

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/41132/ppuser/4309

IC depot in Bethany IL, was used as a restaurant 4 yr ago, don't know bout now.

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/32441/ppuser/4309

NKP depot Charleston IL, beauty parlor

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/32447/ppuser/4309

IC depot Toledo Il, Kiawanis club

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/75929/ppuser/4309

TH,I&E interuban station, Paris IL, insurance agency.

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/70281/ppuser/4309

IC & PRR depot Effingham IL, IC side [left] Amtrak, PRR side, had a print company in it I think.

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/41114/ppuser/4309

IC [one time PRR] depot, Greenup IL, Cumberland Co historical museum

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/42172/ppuser/4309

GM&O depot, Chatum IL, RR museum

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/41190/ppuser/4309

IC depot, Mattoon IL, Amtrak downstairs, the upstairs is being restored now.

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/19907/ppuser/4309

NYC depot, Robinson IL, used as a war museum run by the VFW.

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/37489/ppuser/4309

CCC&StL [I think] depot, Pana IL, unused and in need of some repair.

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/70284/ppuser/4309

 

inch

 

The Alton/GM&O depot in Jacksonville, IL was converted into a restaurant called Lonzerotti's.

http://www.lonzerottis.biz/

[spokyone]

Aledo IL. The CB&Q/ RIS is now rented out for bridal showers & parties. The kids can climb all over the loco & restored caboose on the property.

[Rockfan 71]

 The former Rock Island depot here has been a doctor's office for many years, and a restaurant for a short time before that. It's currently for sale.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago,_Rock_Island_and_Pacific_Railroad_Depot_(Marseilles,_Illinois)

[videomaker]

This is the old Texas & Pacific depot in Ft Worth,Tx..It is now the T&P Lofts,it houses a small coffee shop/grill for the TRE commuters and the main lobby has been restored to its original granduer..The Lofts start at about 200K...

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showphoto.php/photo/86061

[bubbajustin]

Lumber Store: Attica Indiana

I would personally use it as a place to put a model railroad.

[BNSFwatcher]

The U. S. Army, for years, issued a 'Training Aid':  a deck of playing cards, with aircraft shilouettes on them.  Great for aircraft recognition.  Better for poker and blackjack, not just 'cause they were free!  My mother was an "Air Raid Warden" in Eastchester, NY, during WWII.  She got a full-brimmed, white steel helmet, with the triangular "CD" (Civil Defense) decal on it, and armband (same), and a wooden rotary ratchet-clacker.  We, too, escaped the perils of the Luftwaffe!  I think one of our Boston terriers ate the 'clacker' in 1946.

[BNSFwatcher]

I wondered what happened to the Chaumont, NY depot.  I have relatives that live there, but never asked.

The first "conversion" that I can remember is the Quaker Ridge station of the New York, Westchester & Boston, in 1949.  An artist lady converted it into a residence and studio.  I don't know anyone who was ever invited to visit.  It must be a 'bear' to heat!  Just up the line, the Heathcote station was a radio repair shop.  Other NYW&B stations, that originally included retail space, continued on.  Some of them are in New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, and the Bronx.  "Sam's" restaurant, at Gedney Way, White Plains, comes to mind.  Super chow!  Port Chester Terminal became a car dealership, and later, a church, or was it the other way around?

On the NYC "Harlem Division", Valhalla became a restaurant; Chappaqua - restaurant;  Katonah - liquor store, all still serving as M-NR stations.  On the NYC "Putnam" division, Briarcliff Manor became the library; Millwood became a flower shop.  There must be others, in Westchester.  

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

In Lambertville, NJ, the station on the PRR's former Belvidere-Delaware 'Bel-Del' Branch line along the eastern bank of the Delaware River has been a restaurant and an inn since around 1983, even though the tracks have been gone for many years.  See: http://www.lambertvillestation.com/default.aspx?pg=history&rp=home  

Notably, it's directly across from the quaint touristy town of New Hope, Bucks County, PA, which has its own tourist railroad, the New Hope and Ivyland -  http://www.newhoperailroad.com/.

About 60 miles further north, however, unfortunately, the former Delaware Lackawanna & Western RR's station in East Stroudsburg, Monroe County, PA - not far from I-80 and the Delaware River border with New Jersey - which had been turned into the 'Dansbury Depot' restaurant for the past many years - http://www.thedansburydepot.com/history.html - was ''largely destroyed'' in a fire this morning. See ''Fire hits historic Monroe County building / Dansbury Depot restaurant gutted'' at :

http://www.mcall.com/news/all-eastburgfire-102609,0,2452355.story 

- Paul NortH.

 

[Modelcar]

Too bad to loose a landmark of RR vintage....Looks like the lights are still on  in the left side windows at the time the photo was taken.

[BNSFwatcher]

When I was TDY at Fort Meade, MD in 1960 (USASA, OJT at NSA), we often went to "Henkel's Restaurant".  It was in an old B&O depot, nearby, somewhere between Laurel and Jessup, MD, methinks.  World's best ham sandwiches, by far!  I wonder if it is still there, the depot &/or the restaurant.

Was "Alice's Restaurant", on song fame, in an old depot, or an adjacent structure on the old NH (now HRRC) line between Danbury, CT and Pittsfield, MA?  I've been by, but never stopped.

Sorry to hear about Dansbury.  On a much larger scale, the Jacksonville (FL) Union Terminal is a convention center.  If the East Coast Amtraker is ever instituted, it will be capable of becoming a railroad station again.  The FEC runs right by.  It is capable of handling all the Florida trains, without many extra switching moves, is downtown, and adjacent to the silly "Skyway".  Only politics will interfere, and, probably, prevail.  Jacksonville's "Clifford Lane" station is out in the boonies, only recently getting bus service!  You don't want to know what the taxi fare is from downtown or JIAP (JAX)!  This old soldier did that once!

 

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

Here are some more, with my memory having been 'jogged' by some of the above:

In central Pennsylvania, at the confluence of the West and North Branches of the Susquehanna River, at Northumberland, PA - mainly famous for the roundhouse having stored the PRR's collection of steam locomotives that were saved for preservation - the former PRR station has been the Front Street Station restaurant since 1983.  See: http://www.frontstreetstation.com/history.shtml

In Kutztown, Berks County, PA, the former Reading Depot was an Agway store in the late 1900s.  I believe the Borough may now own it and use it for storage - but don't quote me on that.

Nearby from Kutztown in Topton, 3 years or so ago there was a cafe in the fomer Reading station alongside the westbound track.  But I'd be surprised if it is still in operation.

- Paul North.

[penncentral2002]

Here are some I know of

 Chesapeake & Western station and office in Harrisonburg, VA became a lighting/lamp store - after being damaged in a fire several years ago, it sat vacant and is now being used (the depot portion, believe the office portion is still vacant) as a warehouse for a building supply store.  They have been talking about turning it into a museum for 15 years (at least).

Bridgewater VA's CHW station was moved to a park and now sits in a public park.  

Richmond, VA has two former stations which are now museums - everyone knows Broad Street Station now the Virginia Science Center - less well known is the former Southern station in Manchester now used as the Old Dominion Railroad Museum.

 The old Southern Station in downtown Richmond now houses restraunts.

An old Seaboard Station in Manchester section of Richmond is now called the Sod Station and is some sort of sod store.

Obviously, Main Street Station is still a train station - the train shed once hosted some sort of shopping mall, but it went bankrupt quickly.  State offices were also in there prior to the fire (the station happily was restored.

There is a train station (Danville & Western, I believe) in Martinsville, VA which is now a bank - because the tracks have long been removed, the main clue that it is an old train station is that it is on "Depot Street" - plus it looks like a train station.

Another museum is nearby in Danville, VA - still a train station, also a branch of the Science Museum of Virginia.

Washington, NC has the old ACL station and freight station as a civil/arts center.

Jacksonville, NC has a station as a visitor's center

New Bern and Goldsboro, NC both are vacant (Goldsboro is actively being restored).

Libraries have appeared in ACL stations in Carson, VA and Bethel, NC (Pitt County) and Weldon Union Station (ACL/SAL).

A station in Henderson, NC became some sort of fraternal lodge.  Another station became an art center and another hosts some sort of store (freight depot).

At Burlington, NC the former passenger station is a visitor's center and the passenger station is in the old NCRR Shops building.

Restraunts have appeared in Staunton, VA, Fredericksburg, VA, Elizabeth City, NC, and just south of Roxboro, NC on Route 501 (fantastic food at that one, btw). 

Spring Hope, NC may well be another library but I can't remember

Pinetops, NC is now a police station

Visitor's Centers are popular and include Spartanburg, SC, Statesville, NC, Ashland, VA (also Amtrak station), Culpepper, VA, Orange, VA, Front Royal, VA, and many others.

Another art center at Mooresville, NC

An old PRR Freight Station became a small playhouse in Winchester, VA

Chamber of Commerce at the Emporia Train Depot

Community Center and Voting location - Petersburg, VA (another station at Petersburg, VA on the SAL sits vacant)

Shopping Center and major train station - Union Station, Washington, DC

More visitor's center/train stations - Manassas, VA (should note that Culpepper is also a train station still as is the restraunt at Staunton) - also Williamsburg, VA which is also a bus station - the bus station at Rocky Mount, NC is also former railroad - a freight or express station.  Obviously, Rocky Mount's main train station is still mainly a train station but also holds offices.  Southern Pines, NC is also in the visitor's center/train station category - so is Selma, NC Union Station.

Central, South Carolina is becoming a museum

Those are the ones I can think of.

[SALfan]

Dupont, GA (ex-ACL between Waycross & Valdosta) station has been moved and is now a junk store.  Waycross station and REA Building are now some kind of public space - meeting center or something, it hasn't been open/occupied when I've passed by.  Two or three stations along that line are sitting empty.

 Vienna, VA's former Washington & Old Dominion station now houses the local RR club's model train layout.

 Cumberland, MD's former Western Maryland is embarkation point/gift store for the Western Maryland Scenic RR, plus offices for the National Park Service (can't think of the name of the canal between Cumberland and Washington, DC), plus other uses, or it was the last time I was there.

Douglas, GA's former station is the Chamber of Commerce or a visitor's center, don't know which.

The former MoPac station in Hot Springs, AR housed a restaurant when I was last there (1987 or thereabouts).

[Modelcar]

SALfan

(can't think of the name of the canal between Cumberland and Washington, DC), plus other uses, or it was the last time I was there.

 

.......Believe that would be the C&O canal.

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

Yep, that's it.  From the National Park Service website for it at:

 http://www.nps.gov/choh/index.htm  

184 1/2 Miles of Adventure

Preserving America’s colorful Canal era and transportation history, the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park is 184.5 miles of adventure. Originally, the C&O Canal was a lifeline for communities and businesses along the Potomac River as coal, lumber, grain and other agricultural products floated down the canal to market. Today millions of visitors hike or bike the C&O Canal each year to enjoy the natural, cultural and recreational opportunities available. 

And here's a link to a photo of and paragraph about the station:

 http://www.nps.gov/choh/planyourvisit/cumberlandvisitorcenter.htm 

Cumberland Visitor Center

 

NPS Photo

Cumberland Visitor Center is full of informative and interactive exhibits.

.textWrappedAroundImage { margin-bottom:15px; } .floatingImage { width:150px; float:right; text-align:left; margin-left:15px; margin-bottom:8px; } .floatingImage p { padding:0; margin: 0; } .floatingImage p.credit { color: #aaa; font-size: 9px; text-transform: uppercase; } .floatingImage p.caption { color: #668033; } .clearfix:after { content: "."; display: block; height: 0; clear: both; visibility: hidden; } .clearfix {display: inline-block;} /* Hides from IE-mac \*/ .clearfix {display: block;} * html .clearfix {height: 1%;} /* end hide from IE-mac */ Located on the first floor of the historic 1913 Western Maryland Railway Station (301-722-8226), the Cumberland Visitor Center is open year round, seven days per week from 9 AM to 5 PM. (Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Days) Call ahead to confirm hours of operation. The visitor center features a spacious exhibit area full of interactive and educational displays about the history of the C&O Canal and Cumberland. Pass throuh a model of the Paw Paw Tunnel and step back into the hey day of the canal. Awaiting you is a life size section of a canal boat. View exhibits on the canal's construction, cargo, mules, locks, and crew. Directions: From the East: Take exit 43C off 1-68.  At bottom of ramp make a left onto Harrison St. and follow Harrison to the Visitor Center in the Western Maryland Railway Museum. From the West: Take exit 43C off 1-68.  Make a left at Queen City Drive at bottom of ramp.  At traffic light make another left onto Harrison St.  Follow Harrison to the visitor center in the Western Maryland Railway Museum.

[Bob-Fryml]

Barrington, Ill.:  The pre-WW2 C.& N.W. brick depot was moved about a quarter of a mile west of its original site and has been reincarnated more than once as a bar/restaurant operation.

Skokie, Ill.:  The C.N.S.& M. Dempster St. station was moved a little ways east and now houses some commercial ventures.

Wilmette, Ill.:  The C.T.A. (nee Chicago Rapid Transit Company) Linden Ave. station is now a bank branch.

Villa Park, Ill.:  The C.A.& E. station now houses a museum.

East Dundee, Ill.:  The building housing some kind of visitor's center located near the north edge of the downtown business district purports to be an old railroad station.  Well it ain't no kinda C.& N.W. railroad station that I ever knew.  It looks more "Disneyland" than authentic railroad!

Des Moines, IA:  Union Station, downtown, now houses offices.

Sleepy Eye, Minn.:  The C.& N.W. station building now houses a seasonal museum.

Denison, Tex.:  The M-K-T downtown depot has a small museum and a couple of commercial offices inside as well.

Deadwood, S.D.:  The C.& N.W. brick station is now a downtown museum.

Aberdeen, S.D.:  I'm pretty sure the long-abandoned C.& N.W. and M.& St.L.(?) depots can be found and identified. 

Brighton, Colo.:  The U.P. depot may still be a restaurant.

Greeley, Colo.:  The U.P. depot is now the Chamber of Commerce.

Julesburg, Colo:  The U.P. depot is now a seasonal museum.

Sterling, Colo.:  The downtown U.P. depot was moved a short ways north of the Julesburg Subdivision.  It may be used as a small museum or community center today.

Steamboat Springs, Colo.:  The D.& R.G.W. passenger station has been recycled into a community arts center.

Omaha, Nebr.:  Omaha Union Station is now the Durham Western History Museum.

Lincoln, Nebr.:  The beautifully restored Rock Island depot located just east of downtown is now a bank building.

Cozad, Nebr.:  The U.P. depot is now a community center.  When it was moved a short ways north of The Overland Route mainline, the contractor spun the building 180-degrees.  The telegrapher's bay window now faces U.S. 30 instead of the tracks.

Chappell, Nebr.:  The depot has been moved south of the mainline and looks like it's being used to support some kind of campground operation.

Douglas, Wyo.:  The Q's standard brick-and-stucco passenger station was being used as a tavern at one time.

Cheyenne, Wyo.:  The C.& S. passenger station, built post-WW2, is now offices.  The U.P. depot has some private offices, a musuem, a community hall, and restaurant.  The Denver Pacific passenger station is now a residence. 

Laramie, Wyo.:  The U.P. depot is a small museum.

Centennial, Wyo.:  The U.P. depot was moved a short ways from its original site and may house a museum now.  Other than some water tank pedestals, I'm pretty certain this is the last structure to be found along the now abandoned Coalmont Branch.  

Rawlins, Wyo.:  The U.P. depot has been refurbished and is now a community center.

Evanston, Wyo.:  The U.P. depot was moved off site and is now being used for some kind of community center purpose.

Ogden, Utah:  Ogden Union Station is now a museum.

Salt Lake City:  Both the Rio Grande and Union Pacific depots still stand, but are used for other purposes.

Boise, Ida.:  The U.P. passenger station at one time was recycled into office space, but it may be sitting idle now. 

Harlowton, MT:  The Milwaukee Road wood frame depot still may be standing.  When I last saw it, this structure was being converted to a Museum.

Butte, MT:  The original Milwaukee Road passenger station now supports a television broadcaster.  The newer "mainline" depot was being used by some service club.  The last time I passed through Butte the Northern Pacific passenger station was being rehabilitated for another purpose. 

Missoula, MT:  The Milwaukee Road's very substantial brick structure may still be used as offices.  I seem to recall too that the former Northern Pacific passenger station now houses offices and maybe a restaurant.

Livingston, MT:  The Northern Pacific's Division Office building is now a museum.

Great Falls, MT:  The Milwaukee Road's large brick station is now offices and the imposing clock tower still lords over the city.

Oakland, Calif.:  The W.P. passenger station is now used for another commercial purpose. 

Los Angeles, Calif.:  The Pacific Electric Building and downtown passenger terminal at 6th & Main Sts. is being converted into residential units.  Meanwhile, across the street, the Santa Fe Building - formerly the headquarters of the Railway's Coast Lines Operation - has been converted into apartments.

Rialto, Calif.:  The Pacific Electric downtown depot is now a restaurant serving Mexican cuisine.

San Bernardino, Calif.:  The Santa Fe passenger station stands at the foot of the Southern California Regional Railroad Authority commuter rail operations, but it was actually being used by either the city or the county as offices. 

Barstow, Calif.:  The Fred Harvey "Casa del Desierto(?)" still stood in 2001, but wasn't being used by the Santa Fe anymore.

Winslow, Ariz.:  The Harvey House, hard by the BNSF mainline, may still be operating as a hotel and restaurant, but under a different name now.     

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

Bob-Fryml

  Winslow, Ariz.:  The Harvey House, hard by the BNSF mainline, may still be operating as a hotel and restaurant, but under a different name now.    

It's now "La Posada".  From:  http://www.laposada.org/ 

Discover Arizona’s Grandest Estate ~ A National Historic Landmark

La Posada Hotel, the “last great railroad hotel,” offers a unique cultural experience for Southwest travelers. Built in 1929 for the Santa Fe Railway, La Posada is truly one of America’s treasures.

La Posada’s story weaves together two extraordinary visions. It begins with Mary Elizabeth Jane Colter and Fred Harvey, who hired Colter to design the hotel. It embodied her vision, from its architecture down to its finely crafted details. But La Posada closed in 1957; for the next 40 years, its future remained tenuous. Enter Allan Affeldt and his wife Tina Mion. Affeldt heard about the hotel and purchased it in 1997 after much negotiation, bringing with him a strong vision and commitment for returning La Posada to Colter’s original concept. Restoration started immediately and continues today, thanks to Affeldt’s efforts and the support of local preservationists, hotel guests, and a talented team of artisans and craftsmen.

- PDN.

[Modelcar]

Paul_D_North_Jr

La Posada Hotel, the “last great railroad hotel,” offers a unique cultural experience for Southwest travelers. Built in 1929 for the Santa Fe Railway, La Posada is truly one of America’s treasures.

The La Posada name in Arizona seems to be used extensively.....

Back some years ago while on a project {for several years}, out of Kingman, Az.....we stayed right next to a brand new {just being finished up}, restaurant with that name.  Our motel there then was the Ramada Inn, but I believe later changed to a Quality Inn.  That was on the eastern edge of Kingman on old rt. 66....The east / west Santa Fe line to Chicago was just several hundred feet back of our location.  That was before the interstate was finished all the way around the north and west side of Kingman.

[morseman]

EPHRETA, PA.     Beautiful train station turned into a tourist bureau.

Right off the main street in the centre of town (near Lancaster, Pa.)  No sign of rails nearby. Can anyone say what Railroad went through this quaint town?

 

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

Has to be the former Reading Railroad, from that location.  I don't recall that the PRR ever went there, or any other major or minor railroad.

The photo of it at this website - http://www.ephrata-area.org/ - sure looks like a classic RDG station and paint scheme, too.

I'm pretty sure a couple of the former rail lines in that area are now rail-trails - not very long, but they're there.  I'll see if I can find more info on them. 

- Paul North.

[Trainsorbust]

Train museums, storage, and in a small town its even connected in with a police station!

[larsend]

The depot in Arco Idaho was moved when the tracks were taken up, 55 miles to Blackfoot, Idaho (I can't figure out how they got past I - 15!)

It was sold to a private party and has been a dance hall, a restaurant and now is being used by a drywall contractor for storage.

The contractor's wife is a historian and is fully aware of the building's significance.  Inasmuch as much of the waiting romm/office are still intact she indicated that they may do something significant with the building in the future.

[larsend]

The U.P. Depot that was in Mackay, Idaho, the end of the line, was bought by the then Agent for the railroad, a man named Waters, and moved 80 miles to Rockford, Idaho (near Blackfoot)

It is now owned by his son and daughter-in-law and is a Western Wear store

[THE.RR]

The local depot (Tehachapi) was turned into a pile of ASH just before its rebuild into a museum was complete.  The replacement was turned over to the City last week by the contractor, and the museum should be open next spring.

Phil