Whitefish station

Last updated

Whitefish, MT
Whitefish Depot.jpg
General information
Location500 Depot Street
Whitefish, Montana
United States
Coordinates 48°24′49″N114°20′08″W / 48.41361°N 114.33556°W / 48.41361; -114.33556
Owned byStumptown Historical Society
Line(s) BNSF Hi Line Subdivision
Platforms1 side platform
Tracks2
ConnectionsAiga bus trans.svg Greyhound Lines
Construction
Parking20 short term, 40 long term spaces
AccessibleYes
Other information
Station code Amtrak: WFH
History
OpenedJune 22, 1928
Passengers
FY 202237,597 [1] (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station BSicon LOGO Amtrak2.svg Amtrak Following station
Libby
toward Seattle or Portland
Empire Builder West Glacier
toward Chicago
Former services
Preceding station Great Northern Railway Following station
Vista
toward Seattle
Main Line Half Moon
toward St. Paul
Great Northern Railway Passenger and Freight Depot and Division Office
Location Whitefish, Montana
Area2.2 acres (0.89 ha)
ArchitectThomas D'Arcy McMahon
Architectural style Tudor Revival
NRHP reference No. 02000766
Added to NRHPJuly 11, 2002

Whitefish station is a stop on Amtrak's Empire Builder in Whitefish, Montana. In addition to the Empire Builder, a once-daily Greyhound Lines bus service also links the station to Kalispell and Missoula. A car rental agency operates a window within the station. The station and parking lot are owned by the Stumptown Historical Society. BNSF Railway leases office space on the upper floors of the station and owns the platform and track. [2] [3]

Contents

The Tudor Revival station building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 and is known therein as the Great Northern Railway Passenger and Freight Depot and Division Office or as the Whitefish Depot. [4]

Of the 12 Montana stations served by Amtrak, Whitefish is by far the busiest, boarding or detraining an average of about 170 passengers daily. Whitefish typically handles more than four times as many passengers as the next-busiest Montana station, which varies from year to year between East Glacier Park, Havre, and Shelby. It is the busiest station stop between the Pacific Ocean and St. Paul Union Depot on the Empire Builder route. [5] [6] [7] [8]

As of 2012, the Empire Builder stops at the station for 20 minutes. Whitefish marks the western end of the BNSF's Hi Line Subdivision and the eastern end of the Kootenai River Subdivision.

History

A trackside view of the depot. Whitefish train station.jpg
A trackside view of the depot.

The Great Northern Railway built the present Whitefish depot between September 10, 1927 and June 22, 1928. [9] [10] Architect Thomas D'Arcy McMahon designed the structure in a Tudor Revival style reminiscent of the Alpine resort hotels built by the railroad in nearby Glacier National Park and Waterton Lakes National Park during that same era, some of which were also designed by McMahon. The upper floors of the depot housed the railway's division offices. [2] [4]

By the 1980s the structure was deteriorating and the Burlington Northern Railroad (successor to the Great Northern) decided to vacate station in favor of a new building. After hearing the plan, Stumptown Historical Society approached the railroad and asked that the station be transferred for restoration. The transfer was completed in 1990 and Burlington Northern also donated money it had allocated for a new building to help fund the depot’s rehabilitation. [2]

The station was closed between June 24 and July 17, 1992 due to a mold outbreak. [11]

Stumptown started by renovating the upper stories of the depot and leased that space back to the BNSF Railway (successor to the Burlington Northern). Additional funding and the lease payments provided the money needed to renovate the first floor which is now leased to Amtrak and local vendors. The Historical Society also maintains a local history museum on the first floor adjacent to the waiting room. [2] A Kenworth-Pacific bruck serving the local route from Kalispell between 1951 and 1971 is on display. [12] The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. [4]

Recent additions include a baggage facility built in 1997 on the side of the station to better serve the large number of visitors during ski season. [4] In 2011, Amtrak designed and constructed a new 1,200 foot long concrete platform, which includes an electric snow-melting system and better lighting. [2]

Related Research Articles

<i>Empire Builder</i> Northern U.S. rail service

The Empire Builder is a daily long-distance passenger train operated by Amtrak between Chicago and either Seattle or Portland via two sections west of Spokane. Introduced in 1929, it was the flagship passenger train of the Great Northern Railway and was retained by Amtrak when it took over intercity rail service in 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flathead Tunnel</span> Rail tunnel in Montana, United States

The Flathead Tunnel is a 7-mile-long (11 km) railroad tunnel in the Rocky Mountains of northwest Montana near Trego, approximately 28 miles (45 km) west of Whitefish. Located on the BNSF Railway's Kootenai River Subdivision, it is the second-longest railroad tunnel in the United States after the Cascade Tunnel. It is ultimately named after the Bitterroot Salish, also known as the Flathead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Street Station</span> Amtrak and commuter train station in Seattle, Washington, United States

King Street Station is a train station in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is served by Amtrak's Cascades, Coast Starlight, and Empire Builder, as well as Sounder commuter trains run by Sound Transit. The station also anchors a major transit hub, which includes Link light rail at International District/Chinatown station and Seattle Streetcar service. It is located at the south end of Downtown Seattle in the Pioneer Square neighborhood, near the intersection of South Jackson Street and 4th Avenue South, and has four major entrances. It is the 15th-busiest station on the Amtrak system, serving as the hub for the Pacific Northwest region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Paul Union Depot</span> Train station in Saint Paul, Minnesota

Saint Paul Union Depot is a historic railroad station and intermodal transit hub in the Lowertown neighborhood of Saint Paul, Minnesota. It serves light rail, intercity rail, intercity bus, and local bus services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wolf Point station</span>

Wolf Point station is a train station in Wolf Point, Montana. It is a stop for the Amtrak Empire Builder line. The station, platform, and parking are owned by BNSF Railway. Prior to the formation of Amtrak, the Great Northern Railway operated passenger service along the line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Havre station</span>

Havre station is a train station, re-fueling, and service stop for the Amtrak Empire Builder in Havre, Montana. The station, platform, and parking are owned by BNSF Railway, and the station was previously owned and operated by the Great Northern Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shelby station</span>

Shelby station is a station stop for the Amtrak Empire Builder line in Shelby, Montana. Near U.S. Highway 2, the station is adjacent to downtown Shelby. The station, platform, and parking are owned by BNSF Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cut Bank station</span>

Cut Bank station is a train station in Cut Bank, Montana. It is served by Amtrak's Empire Builder, and is an important regional railway freight yard for BNSF Railway, which operates several grain collection elevators in the yard. The station site is owned by Amtrak, while the adjacent yard, trackage and signals are owned by BNSF Railway. The station is less than a mile from Cut Bank Creek gorge, which gives the county seat, station, and yard their names.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Libby station</span>

Libby station is a station stop for the Amtrak Empire Builder in Libby, Montana. The station, platform, and parking are owned by BNSF Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edmonds station (Washington)</span> Amtrak and commuter train station in Edmonds, Washington

Edmonds station is a train station serving the city of Edmonds, Washington, in the United States. The station is served by Amtrak's Cascades and Empire Builder routes, as well as Sound Transit's N Line, a Sounder commuter rail service which runs between Everett and Seattle. It is located west of Downtown Edmonds adjacent to the city's ferry terminal, served by the Edmonds–Kingston ferry, and a Community Transit bus station. Edmonds station has a passenger waiting room and a single platform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Columbia Station (Washington)</span> Railway station in Wenatchee, United States

Columbia Station, also known as Wenatchee station, is an intermodal train and bus station in Wenatchee, Washington, United States. It is a stop on Amtrak's Empire Builder train and is the main hub for Link Transit, the local bus system serving Wenatchee and surrounding areas. The station is also served by intercity buses operated by Grant Transit Authority, Northwestern Trailways, and Travel Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sandpoint station</span> Railway station in Idaho, U.S.

Sandpoint station is a train station along Amtrak's Empire Builder line in Sandpoint, Idaho, as well as the only operating Amtrak station in Idaho. The station site is owned by BNSF Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Centralia station (Washington)</span> Amtrak train station in Centralia, Washington

The Centralia Union Depot is an Amtrak train station in Centralia, Washington, United States. It is served by the Cascades and Coast Starlight trains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Transcon</span> Railroad route in the United States

The Northern Transcon, a route operated by the BNSF Railway, traverses the most northerly route of any railroad in the western United States. This route was originally part of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, Northern Pacific Railway, Great Northern Railway and Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway systems, merged into the Burlington Northern Railroad system in 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fargo station</span> Amtrak station in North Dakota, United States of America

Fargo Station is a train station in Fargo, North Dakota, United States. It is served by Amtrak's Empire Builder. It is the only railway station in use in the Fargo-Moorhead area and is the third-busiest in North Dakota. The platform, tracks, and station are currently all owned by BNSF Railway. The station is currently located in the former BNSF freight house. The former main station building is now home to Great Northern Bicycle Co.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Forks station</span>

Grand Forks station is a train station in western Grand Forks, North Dakota. It is served by Amtrak's Empire Builder line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rugby station (North Dakota)</span> Train station in Rugby, North Dakota, US

Rugby station is a train station in Rugby, North Dakota served by Amtrak's Empire Builder line. The station was built in 1907 as the Great Northern Passenger Depot. In 1987 a local Lions Club chapter was among the groups involved in a restoration project for the station. The former Great Northern Depot was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 26, 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minot station</span> Train station in Minot, North Dakota

Minot station is a train station in Minot, North Dakota served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system. The station is located at the site of the former Great Northern Railway station, adjacent to the Minot Public Library, and close to Minot's City Hall and Downtown Minot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glendive station</span> Montana train station

Glendive Depot is an office building and former train station in Glendive, Montana. The Northern Pacific Railway established the town in 1881 and opened the first depot in 1882. The present depot building was built in 1922 and is part of the Merrill Avenue Historic District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bozeman station</span> Former train station in Montana

Bozeman Depot is a former train station in Bozeman, Montana, opened in 1883 by the Northern Pacific Railway. The current brick station house was built in 1892 and expanded in 1924.

References

  1. ↑ "Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2022: State of Montana" (PDF). Amtrak. June 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Amtrak – Great American Stations". Amtrak . Retrieved April 23, 2009.
  3. ↑ Grau, Kara; Bruns-Dubois, Melissa; Nickerson, Norma P. (December 2006). "The Economic Review of the Travel Industry in Montana" (PDF). Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research at the University of Montana. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 30, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2007.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "National Register of Historic Places, Montana – Flathead County". National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved February 6, 2002.
  5. ↑ "Amtrak Fact Sheet, FY2014, State of Montana" (PDF). Amtrak. November 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Amtrak Fact Sheet, FY2011, State of Montana" (PDF). Amtrak. November 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Amtrak Fact Sheet, FY2012, State of Montana" (PDF). Amtrak. November 2012. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Amtrak Fact Sheet, FY2013, State of Montana" (PDF). Amtrak. November 2013. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Excavation Starts on Whitefish Depot". The Great Falls Tribune. September 11, 1927. p. 4. Retrieved January 4, 2020– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  10. ↑ "$70,000 Whitefish Depot Opened by Great Northern". The Great Falls Tribune. June 23, 1928. p. 5. Retrieved January 4, 2020– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  11. ↑ "Temporary Amtrak Station Opens". The Independent-Record. Helena, Montana. July 18, 1992. p. 7. Retrieved January 4, 2020– via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  12. ↑ LYNNETTE HINTZE, The Daily Inter Lake, October 27, 2005

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Whitefish (Amtrak station) at Wikimedia Commons

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.