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.

History

Opened in 1904, the Spartanburg Union Depot 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.
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.
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.

Services

The station, operated by Amtrak, provides inter-city rail service via the. 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.

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.