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San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot

Coordinates: 34°06′15″N 117°18′35″W / 34.10417°N 117.30972°W / 34.10417; -117.30972
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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Oakshade (talk | contribs) at 02:18, 23 February 2016 (Decline and renovation). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

San Bernardino
General information
Location1170 West Third Street
San Bernardino, CA 92410[1]
United States
Coordinates34°06′15″N 117°18′35″W / 34.10417°N 117.30972°W / 34.10417; -117.30972
Owned bySan Bernardino Associated Governments
Line(s)BNSF Railway
Platforms1 side platform (Amtrak)
3 island platforms (Metrolink)
Tracks1 (Amtrak)
6 (Metrolink)
ConnectionsAmtrak Thruway Motorcoach; 19A (to Hemet)[2] and 19B (to Indio)[3]
Construction
AccessibleYes
Other information
Station codeSNB (Amtrak)
History
Opened15 July 1918
Rebuilt2004
Passengers
201311,349[4]Decrease 1.2% (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station   Amtrak   Following station
Template:Amtrak lines
SCAX
TerminusTemplate:SCAX lines
Template:SCAX linesTerminus
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Passenger and Freight Depot
LocationSan Bernardino, California
Built1918
ArchitectW.A. Mohr; Cresmer Manufacturing Co.
Architectural styleMission Revival/Moorish Revival/Spanish Colonial Revival
NRHP reference No.01000025 [5]
Added to NRHP2 February 2001
Location
San Bernardino is located in California
San Bernardino
San Bernardino
Location within California

The San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot is a Mission Revival Style passenger rail terminal in San Bernardino, California, United States. It currently serves one Amtrak (Southwest Chief) and two Metrolink lines (Inland Empire–Orange County Line & San Bernardino Line). The depot is a historical landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Passenger and Freight Depot.[6]

Early history

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.[7] The 1886 building was mostly destroyed in a fire on 16 November 1916.[8]

Architecture and design

Trackside of the San Bernardino 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 (equivalent to $16,205,000 in 2023) to build and was officially opened on 15 July 1918. At that time, it was the largest railway station west of the Mississippi River. The 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.[8]

The historic depot is built in the Mission Revival Style with Moorish Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival features. 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.[8]

Decline and renovation

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 1971, ATSF transferred its passenger service to Amtrak. Metrolink began service to the station in the early 1990s.[9]

Trackside of the original San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot, 1915

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.[10] The historic depot waiting area, along with a new snack shop, opened again for Amtrak and Metrolink passengers on 2 May 2008.[11] Greyhound Lines also planned on moving passenger operations to the depot at some point in 2009,[12] although as of 2016 that has not occurred.

Services

The San Bernardino station serves as the eastern terminus for most Metrolink San Bernardino Line trains which 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.

San Bernardino is considered a 91 Line station, but no actual 91 Line (700-series) trains stop there. It is listed because the combination of the Orange County and IE-OC lines is listed on the 91-line timetable. When one transfers between the two in Orange, the effect is the same as riding the 91 Line.

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, though tickets for both Amtrak and Metrolink can be picked up at Metrolink's ticket vending machines. Amtrak tickets must be reserved either via telephone or internet before being picked up.

Platforms and tracks

Amtrak platform  Southwest Chief toward Los Angeles (Riverside–Downtown)
 Southwest Chief toward Chicago (Victorville)
Metrolink platforms  Inland Empire–Orange County Line toward Oceanside (Riverside–Downtown)
 San Bernardino Line toward L.A. Union Station (Rialto)

Former services

  Former services  
Amtrak
Template:Amtrak lines
Discontinued in 1997
ATSF
Template:ATSF lines
Major stations
Major stations
Template:ATSF lines
Major stations
Major stations
TerminusTemplate:ATSF lines
Template:ATSF linesTerminus

References

  1. ^ "San Bernardino, CA (SNB)". amtrak.com. Amtrak. Retrieved 11 Jan 2014.
  2. ^ Amtrak Thruway Bus Route 19a; Bakersfield - Hemet (Amtrak California)
  3. ^ Amtrak Thruway Bus Route 19b; Bakersfield - Indio (Amtrak California)
  4. ^ "Great American Stations: San Bernardino, CA (SNB)". greatamericanstations.com. Amtrak. Retrieved 27 Nov 2012.
  5. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  6. ^ "California - San Bernardino County". www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com. American Dreams, Inc. Retrieved 11 Jan 2014.
  7. ^ Serpico, Philip C. (1988). Santa Fé Route to the Pacific. Palmdale, California: Omni Publications. p. 20. ISBN 0-88418-000-X.
  8. ^ a b c "A Brief History of the Santa Fe Depot". San Bernardino Associated Governments. Retrieved 11 Jan 2014.
  9. ^ "SANBAG Property Acquisition, Depot Restoration Funding". San Bernardino Associated Governments. Retrieved 11 Jan 2014.
  10. ^ "Restoration Details". San Bernardino Associated Governments. Retrieved 11 Jan 2014.
  11. ^ Richard, Chris (4 Mar 2008). "San Bernardino depot is open for rail travelers, thanks to historical society volunteers". The Press-Enterprise. Riverside, California: Freedom Communications.
  12. ^ Gaudette, Karen; Santos, K. Franke (13 Jul 2003). "Polishing a Jewel of a Depot". www.harveyshouses.net. TrainWeb LLC. Retrieved 11 Jan 2014. Copied from original article in The Press-Enterprise