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Sunday, July 26, 2015

Northwest Railroad Depots: Vancouver, Washington

I originally posted this information on my old website on March 26, 2009, and last updated it on December 18, 2009.

IMG_3891 Amtrak Depot in Vancouver, Washington on October 4, 2008
Depot at Vancouver, Washington on October 4, 2008

The Vancouver depot sits at the end of the 1908 drawbridge over the Columbia River, in one corner of a "wye" arrangement of track forming the junction between the north-south line between Portland and Seattle and the east-west line down the north side of the Columbia River Gorge leading to Spokane and points east, putting tracks on both sides of the depot.

IMG_3890 Amtrak Depot in Vancouver, Washington on October 4, 2008
Depot at Vancouver, Washington on October 4, 2008

IMG_3889 Amtrak Depot in Vancouver, Washington on October 4, 2008
Depot at Vancouver, Washington on October 4, 2008

IMG_5118 Amtrak Station in Vancouver, Washington on January 17, 2009
Depot at Vancouver, Washington on January 17, 2009

IMG_5119 Amtrak Station in Vancouver, Washington on January 17, 2009
Depot at Vancouver, Washington on January 17, 2009

The depot was built at about the same time as the bridge and originally served the Great Northern, Northern Pacific and Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railways.

IMG_5122 Amtrak Station in Vancouver, Washington on January 17, 2009
Depot at Vancouver, Washington on January 17, 2009

The Union Pacific began serving the depot as well in 1910.

IMG_5152 Amtrak Station in Vancouver, Washington on January 17, 2009
Depot at Vancouver, Washington on January 17, 2009

IMG_5153 Amtrak Station in Vancouver, Washington on January 17, 2009
Depot at Vancouver, Washington on January 17, 2009

Today, the depot serves Amtrak passengers, with the Cascades and Coast Starlight stopping on the west side of the station and the Empire Builder stopping on the east side.

IMG_5101 Interior of Amtrak Station in Vancouver, Washington on January 17, 2009
Depot at Vancouver, Washington on January 17, 2009

The interior of the Vancouver depot was renovated in late 2008 and the depot reopened in mid-January, 2009 with a more open floor plan resulting in a much larger waiting room.

IMG_5102 Interior of Amtrak Station in Vancouver, Washington on January 17, 2009
Depot at Vancouver, Washington on January 17, 2009

Related Links:
Train carries James J. Hill across the new Columbia River Railroad Bridge from Portland to Vancouver on November 5, 1908 (HistoryLink.org)
Railroading in Vancouver & Southwest Washington (HistoryLink.org)

IMG_5120 Amtrak Station in Vancouver, Washington on January 17, 2009
Depot at Vancouver, Washington on January 17, 2009

Historical Photos:
Postcard View of Vancouver Depot, circa 1914 (Washington State Railroads Historical Society)
Postcard View of Vancouver Depot, circa 1915 (Washington State Historical Society)
Vancouver Depot, August 22, 1972 (rrpicturearchives.net)
Vancouver Depot, September 20, 1994 (shastaroute.railfan.net/)

IMG_5127 Amtrak Station in Vancouver, Washington on January 17, 2009
Depot at Vancouver, Washington on January 17, 2009

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