Spartanburg station

Spartanburg is an Amtrak train station in Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States. It is located at 290 Magnolia Street, within walking distance of Wofford College, the Spartanburg County government administration building and the Donald S. Russell Federal Building, which includes the federal courthouse for the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina.

Spartanburg, SC
Amtrak inter-city rail station
Location290 Magnolia Street
Spartanburg, South Carolina
United States
Coordinates34.9535°N 81.9375°W / 34.9535; -81.9375
Owned byCity of Spartanburg
Line(s)Charlotte District
Platforms1 side platform
Tracks2
Construction
Structure typeAt-grade
Parking50 spaces; free
Disabled accessYes
Other information
StatusUnstaffed
Station codeSPB (Amtrak)
History
Opened1904
Original companySouthern Railway
Passengers
FY20183,870[1][2]  9.08%
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
Greenville
toward New Orleans
 Crescent Gastonia
toward New York
Former services
Preceding station Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Following station
Terminus Charleston and Western Carolina Railway
Main Line
 Roebuck
toward Port Royal

History
1910s Spartanburg Union Station

Opened in 1904, the Spartanburg Union Depot (also referred as Union Station) was built by Southern Railway and also served the Clinchfield Railroad and the Charleston & Western Carolina Railway. Nicknamed "Hub City," the two-story station had one side platform and two island platforms operating on five tracks. The facility included waiting areas, baggage facilities and offices; a few years later, the facility was expanded which included a three-story tower near center. In 1915, a separate building, located west adjacent to station, was built for the Southern Express Company (packaging services).[3][4]

By 1940, the three-story tower was already removed from the station. Over next three decades a progression continued of the station being scaled down as passenger rail service dropped. In 1973, the main station was razed while the former Southeastern Express building was converted into the current station. In 1996, the station was damaged by fire; however, instead of being demolished it was restored thanks to a 16-year-old who launched a crusade to save the station through letters, editorials and meetings with local politicians.[5][6][1]

Until the 1960s the station was rather busy. The Southern Railway ran several New York City to Atlanta trains, of which a few such as the Crescent continued to Birmingham and New Orleans. The station also hosted the Southern's Skyland Special, which ran from Asheville to Jacksonville, Florida. And it had the Southern's Carolina Special, which ran from Cincinnati to Knoxville, Asheville, Spartanburg, Columbia and then Charleston.[7]

Services

The station, operated by Amtrak, provides inter-city rail service via the Crescent. The facility is open nightly at 11:00pm-6:00am, which includes the waiting area. No ticket sales office nor baggage services are available at this station.[8]

Hub City Railroad Museum

Located inside the depot building, the museum showcases Spartanburg's railroads and two major industries, textiles and peaches. Open on Wednesdays and Saturdays, it is operated by the Greenville Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society.[9]

References
  1. "Spartanburg, SC (SPB) - Great American Stations". Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  2. "Amtrak Fact Sheet, FY2017, State of North Carolina" (PDF). Amtrak. November 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  3. Spartanburg, South Carolina, June 1908 (Map). New York, NY: Sanborn Map Company. June 1908. p. 13. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  4. Spartanburg, South Carolina, 1923 (Map). New York, NY: Sanborn Map Company. 1923. p. 3. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  5. Willis, Jeffrey (1999). Spartanburg, South Carolina. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0738502946.
  6. "Spartanburg Union Station - Spartanburg, South Carolina". Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  7. "Southern Railway schedule" (PDF). 1952. p. 8, Table Q; p. 17, Tables 5, 5A.
  8. "Spartanburg, South Carolina Train Station (SPB) - Amtrak". Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  9. "Hub City Railroad Museum". Retrieved May 10, 2018.
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