View source for La Grande station (Union Pacific Railroad)

{{For|the former Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad station in Los Angeles|La Grande Station}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox station 
| name          = La Grande, OR
| type          = Former [[Union Pacific Railroad]] and [[Amtrak]] station
| style         = Amtrak | style2 = Amtrak old
| image         = File:Amtrak pioneer at lagrande 2.jpg
| image_size    = 
| image_caption = The ''[[Pioneer (train)|Pioneer]]'' at La Grande in 1997.
| address       = 1150 Jefferson Avenue<br />[[La Grande, Oregon]] 97850
| line          = Union Pacific Railroad [[Huntingdon Subdivision|Huntington]] / [[La Grande Subdivision]]s<ref name="Amtrak study">{{cite web|title=Pioneer Route Passenger Rail Study|url=https://transitzac.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/amtrak_pioneerservicestudy.pdf|access-date=March 28, 2020|publisher=[[Amtrak]]|author=<!--Not stated-->|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328195845/https://transitzac.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/amtrak_pioneerservicestudy.pdf|url-status=live|archive-date=March 28, 2020}}</ref>
| other         = 
| structure     = 
| platform      = 2 [[side platform|side]], 1 [[island platform]]
| depth         = 
| levels        = 
| tracks        = 3
| parking       = 
| bicycle       = 
| baggage_check = 
| opened        = 1884, 1977
| closed        = 1971, 1997
| rebuilt       = 1890, 1904, 1930
| electrified   = 
| accessible    = No
| code          = LAE
| owned         = [[Union Pacific Railroad]]
| zone          = 
| former        = 
| passengers    = 
| pass_year     = 
| pass_percent  = 
| pass_system   = 
| mpassengers   = 
| services      = {{Adjacent stations|system1=Amtrak|line1=Pioneer|left1=Pendleton|right1=Baker City|system2=Union Pacific Railroad|line2=Portland-Granger|left2=Perry|right2=Hot Lake|line3=La Grande-Joseph|right3=Island City}}
| map_locator   = 
| nrhp =
{{Infobox NRHP
| embed         = yes
| nrhp_type     = cp
| nocat         = yes
| name          = La Grande Railroad Depot
| image         = File:La Grande station, Jun 2003.jpg
|image_size = 300px
| caption       = The station in 2003.
| coordinates   = {{coord|45|19|47|N|118|05|37|W|display=inline,title}}<!--45.329709, -118.093592-->
| area          =
| built         = 1930
| architect     = [[Gilbert Stanley Underwood]]
| architecture  = Mediterranean Revival
| added         = September 3, 2001.<ref name=nrhp>{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=01000933}}|title=The La Grande Commercial Historic District|publisher=[[National Park Service]]|date=September 3, 2001|access-date=March 28, 2020|pages=9–11}}</ref>
| partof        = [[La Grande Commercial Historic District]]
| partof_refnum = 01000933
| mpsub         = 
}}
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-marker-color = #{{rcr|Amtrak}}
}}

'''La Grande station''' is a train station located in [[La Grande, Oregon]]. It was built by the [[Union Pacific Railroad]] along its main line to Portland in 1930 and was later used by [[Amtrak]]'s ''[[Pioneer (train)|Pioneer]]'' until it was discontinued in 1997. The station building still stands and is listed as a [[National Register of Historic Places]] [[contributing property]] as the '''La Grande Railroad Depot''', in the [[La Grande Commercial Historic District]].

==History==
The [[Oregon Railway and Navigation Company]] built the railroad through La Grande, completing the line in 1884.<ref>{{cite web|title=La Grande|url=https://oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/la_grande/#.Xn_cMdNKiqA|website=The Oregon Encyclopedia|publisher=[[Oregon Historical Society]]|access-date=March 28, 2020}}</ref> The line was built from the west to connect with the [[Oregon Short Line Railroad]] at [[Huntington, Oregon]].<ref name="Book">{{cite book|isbn=0760307563|page=70|publisher=Voyager Press|date=September 18, 2000|title=Union Pacific Railroad|first=Brian|last=Solomon}}</ref> This offered connections with the [[Union Pacific Railroad]], allowing connecting service to points as far as [[Omaha, Nebraska]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/oregon_railroad_and_navigation_company/#.Xn_wltNKiqA|title=Oregon Railway & Navigation Company
|website=The Oregon Encyclopedia|publisher=Oregon Historical Society|access-date=March 28, 2020}}</ref> La Grande was established as a "division point" for the railroad, and a [[rail yard]], [[Railway roundhouse|roundhouse]], and other maintenance shops were also established near the depot.<ref>{{cite web|title=Crowds Line Downtown LaGrande Streets, 1908|url=https://oregonhistoryproject.org/articles/historical-records/crowds-line-downtown-lagrande-streets-1908/#.Xn_rfNNKiqA|website=The Oregon History Project|publisher=Oregon Historical Society}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Railroads in Union County, Oregon|website=Oregon Genealogy and History|url=https://www.oregongenealogy.com/union/railroads.htm|access-date=March 28, 2020}}</ref> By 1890, both railroads were controlled by the Union Pacific, and it was established on its main line to Portland and Seattle. A branch line was also constructed from La Grande to [[Elgin, Oregon|Elgin]] in 1890, and extended to [[Joseph, Oregon|Joseph]] in 1908.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pnwc-nrhs.org/hs_or_n.html|title=The Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation Company|publisher=[[National Railway Historical Society]] The Pacific Railway Chapter|first=Glenn|last=Laubaugh|editor-last=McCoy|editor-first=Ron|access-date=March 28, 2020}}</ref> The addition of the railroad to La Grande was seen as an "enormous influence" and it was estimated that a quarter of homes in the city were owned by railroad employees in 1925.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The "Cross of Culture": La Grande, Oregon, in the 1920s|journal=Oregon Historical Quarterly|volume=93|number=2|publisher=Oregon Historical Society|jstor=20614450|first=David|last=Horowitz|page=148|date=Summer 1992}}</ref>

The first depot in La Grande was built in 1884, but was destroyed in a fire {{circa|1890}}. The second depot was destroyed in 1904, and a third depot was built to replace it, near Jefferson Street and Depot Street. The existing structure opened in December 1930 and was built out of stone, in contract to the previous three wooden depots.<ref name=nrhp/><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Agent Keeney Has Served Three Depots at La Grande|page=18|date=February 1931|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HwsTAAAAIAAJ|publisher=[[Union Pacific Railroad]]|access-date=March 28, 2020|magazine=The Union Pacific Magazine}}</ref><ref name="ODOT report">{{cite report|title=Central & Eastern Oregon Station Report|url=https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/RPTD/RPTD%20Document%20Library/Central-Eastern-Oregon-Station-Report.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329234044/https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/RPTD/RPTD%20Document%20Library/Central-Eastern-Oregon-Station-Report.pdf|archive-date=March 29, 2020|url-status=live|access-date=March 29, 2020|last=Geiger|first=Brandon|editor-last=Melbo|editor-first=Robert|publisher=[[Oregon Department of Transportation]]|date=September 2019|location=[[Salem, Oregon]]}}</ref>{{rp|83}} The 1930-built station was designed in a [[Mediterranean Revival architecture|Mediterranean Revival]] style by architect [[Gilbert Stanley Underwood]], who designed twenty other Union Pacific stations across the country. It was noted as one of Underwood's last stations designed, due to the [[Great Depression]] in the 1930s. The station was built with two floors, with the ground floor containing waiting rooms, a ticket office, bathrooms, and baggage/freight areas. The second floor was not for public use, and used for Union Pacific offices. The exterior of the second floor contained [[terracotta]] panels, with "La Grande" and the logo of Union Pacific inscribed.<ref name=nrhp/><ref name="ODOT report"/>{{rp|84}}
 
The station was primarily served by cross-country trains such as the ''[[City of Portland (train)|City of Portland]]'', ''Idahoan'', ''[[Pacific Limited]]'', and the ''Portland Rose''. These trains provided connections to [[Portland, Oregon|Portland]], Omaha, and [[Chicago]], among others.<ref>{{citation|page=35|date=January 1, 1951|title=Union Pacific Railroad Time Tables|url=http://streamlinermemories.info/UP/UP51-1TT.pdf|publisher=Union Pacific Railroad|access-date=March 29, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{citation|page=21|title=Union Pacific Railroad Time Tables|date=September 7, 1969|publisher=Union Pacific Railroad}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=[[Official Guide of the Railways]]|section=Union Pacific Railroad|page=810|date=June 1941|publisher=National Railway Publication Company|location=[[New York City]]}}</ref> All Union Pacific passenger service ended on April 31, 1971, with the creation of [[Amtrak]]. La Grande was originally not on the initial services offered by Amtrak, and the closest service was the ''[[North Coast Hiawatha]]'', on the former [[Northern Pacific Railway]] main line.<ref>{{cite web|title=Amtrak Timetable|date=May 1, 1971|access-date=March 29, 2020|website=National Museum of Timetables|url=http://timetables.org/browse/?group=19710501&st=0001|publisher=[[Amtrak]]}}</ref><ref name="ODOT report"/>{{rp|83}} Amtrak service to La Grande began on June 7, 1977, with the formation of the ''[[Pioneer (train)|Pioneer]]'', operating between [[Seattle]] and Chicago.<ref>{{cite journal | title=Inaugural Run Introduces Pioneer To Boise Route Cities | journal=Amtrak News | volume=4 | number=10 |date=June 1977 | url=http://history.amtrak.com/archives/i-amtrak-news-i-june-1-1977 | pages=1 | access-date=March 29, 2020}}</ref> Work was previously performed to bring La Grande up to Amtrak standards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://history.amtrak.com/archives/i-amtrak-news-i-february-15-1977|title=New Route's Station Work Set|work=Amtrak News 4 (3)|date=February 15, 1977|access-date=March 29, 2020}}</ref> The ''Pioneer'' served La Grande until a Congressional-funded mandate expired on May 10, 1997, and no deal was worked out between state governments to continue funding.<ref>{{cite journal | title=The Pioneer's last stand | author=Johnston, Bob | journal=[[Trains (magazine)|Trains]] |date=August 1997  | pages=24–26}}</ref> Passenger service has not existed to La Grange since 1997, although efforts have been made to restore the route.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=[[The Observer (La Grande)|The (La Grande) Observer]]|title=La Grande wants Amtrak's return to Eastern Oregon|url=https://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/la-grande-wants-amtrak-s-return-to-eastern-oregon/article_271938ba-c9ea-5add-b57c-c2ee498e1fb2.html|date=October 29, 2019|access-date=March 28, 2020|first=Dick|last=Mason}}</ref> In 2009, Amtrak published a report under the [[Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008]] in order to determine the feasibility of returning ''Pioneer'' service.<ref name="Amtrak study"/> However, no major developments to restoring service have been made since the study was released.<ref name="ODOT report"/>{{rp|25}} A 2019 study by the [[Oregon Department of Transportation]] concluded that the present location would be most ideal for the resumption of service.<ref name="ODOT report"/>{{rp|86}}

The station is currently still used as a Union Pacific office, and La Grande is still operated as a division point, marking the beginning/end of the La Grande and Huntingdon Subdivisions, respectively.<ref name="Amtrak study"/> The former ticket area is used for [[Train dispatcher|dispatching]] and office space while the former baggage rooms contain storage and more office space.<ref name="ODOT report"/>{{rp|85}} The branch line from La Grande to Joseph was sold to the [[Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad]] in 1993.<ref>{{cite book|isbn=9780890242902|title=American Shortline Railway Guide|last=Lewis|first=Edward A.|date=1996|publisher=[[Kalmbach Publishing Company]]|page=154|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3i6K_Nf9e2EC}}</ref> La Grande has been noted by Union Pacific as being "an important operational and crew change point."<ref>{{cite web|title=Union Pacific in Oregon|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906050708/http://www.ci.the-dalles.or.us/sites/default/files/imported/agendas/city_council/PDFs/additionalUPRR060412.pdf|archive-date=September 6, 2015|url-status=live|date=2011|publisher=Union Pacific Railroad|url=http://www.ci.the-dalles.or.us/sites/default/files/imported/agendas/city_council/PDFs/additionalUPRR060412.pdf|access-date=March 29, 2020}}</ref> [[Greyhound Lines]] provides [[Amtrak Thruway]] service at a station on East Penn Avenue in La Grange on a Portland–[[Boise, Idaho|Boise]] line.<ref>{{cite web|title=La Grande, Oregon|url=https://www.amtrak.com/stations/lae|publisher=Amtrak|access-date=March 29, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Amtrak System Timetable|page=94|url=http://www.timetables.org/newpdf/NatT01_20160111_2016_Winter_Spring.pdf|date=January 16, 2016|website=National Museum of Timetables|publisher=Amtrak}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.trainweb.org/usarail/lagrandeor.htm La Grande station – TrainWeb]
{{Commons category|La Grande (Amtrak station)|position=left}}

{{Amtrak Oregon stations}}

[[Category:Railway stations on the National Register of Historic Places in Oregon]]
[[Category:Former Amtrak stations in Oregon]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1884]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1930]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the United States opened in 1977]]
[[Category:La Grande, Oregon]]
[[Category:Transportation in Union County, Oregon]]
[[Category:1930 establishments in Oregon]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Union County, Oregon]]
[[Category:Former Union Pacific Railroad stations]]
[[Category:Mediterranean Revival architecture in Oregon]]
[[Category:Gilbert Stanley Underwood buildings]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Union County, Oregon]]
[[Category:Historic district contributing properties in Oregon]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the United States closed in 1971]]
[[Category:Railway stations in the United States closed in 1997]]