SAN BERNARDINO (AMTRAK STATION)

'San Bernardino (Amtrak Station)' is a passenger rail station in San Bernardino, California. It currently serves one Amtrak and three Metrolink lines. The depot is an historical landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places. California - San Bernardino County

Contents

History and renovation

Depot architecture and design

Services

References

External links

History and renovation

Through its subsidiary California Southern Railroad, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (ATSF) first built a two-and-a-half-story wooden structure on the site in 1886 to replace a converted boxcar that had been used as a temporary station.^[1] The 1886 building was mostly destroyed in a fire on November 16 1916. A Brief History of the Santa Fe Depot
Local politicians requested ATSF to build a new station on a much larger scale than the previous. The new station, designed by architect W.A. Mohr, cost $800,000 ($11,551,475 adjusted for 2005) to build and was officially opened on July 15, 1918. At that time it was the largest railway station west of the Mississippi River. The newspaper ''San Bernardino Sun'' wrote "Santa Fe's Station to be the finest in the west." A few years after the depot's opening, an extension was added that included a Harvey House and living quarters.

Trackside of the original San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot, 1915.

The station saw heavy use throughout the 20th century. But like with many railroad stations, there was a gradual decline in usage with the advent of automobiles, buses and air travel. The Harvey House closed in the 1950s. In 1972, ATSF transferred its passenger service to Amtrak. Metrolink began service to the station in the early 1990s. SANBAG Property Acquisition, Depot Restoration Funding
In 1992, San Bernardino Associated Governments (SANBAG) purchased the historic depot from Santa Fe. While Amtrak and Metrolink stopped using the depot in favor for a much smaller newer structure on the west side of the older one, SANBAG acquired over $15 million from federal and local grants and funds to begin an extensive restoration of the historic depot beginning in 2002. In 2004, SANBAG and Metrolink moved some of their offices there. After renovations are complete, SANBAG will share ownership with the City of San Bernardino and both agencies intend on leasing space in it. Restoration Details Greyhound Lines plans on moving passenger operations to the depot in 2009. Polishing a Jewel of a Depot It is unclear if the depot will be used by rail passengers from Metrolink or Amtrak in the near future.

Depot architecture and design

Trackside of the San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot.

The historic depot is built in the Spanish Mission Revival Style with some Moorish influence. Utilizing hollow clay blocks, a red tile roof and stucco exterior, the depot was designed to withstand fire. Four domed towers are built around a large center lobby with polished tile walls and floor. The interior includes handcrafted high beams, coffered ceilings and decorative column capitals.

Services

The San Bernardino station serves as the eastern terminus for most Metrolink San Bernardino Line and some 91 Line trains which both originate from Los Angeles' Union Station and the northern terminus for some Inland Empire-Orange County Line trains. Some San Bernardino Line trains continue southwestward towards Riverside on weekends.
Amtrak's ''Southwest Chief'', which travels between Los Angeles, California and Chicago, Illinois, stops once a day in each direction here.
There are no ticket offices at the station.

References

1. Santa Fé Route to the Pacific, Serpico, Philip C., , , Omni Publications, 1988, ISBN 0-88418-000-X

External links

★ Amtrak California station information