Durand Union Station
Encyclopedia
Durand Union Station, also known as the Grand Trunk Railway Station, is an Amtrak
train station
in Durand, Michigan
.
and Ann Arbor railroads crossed at that location. It was almost destroyed by fire in 1905, but quickly rebuilt. At its peak, 42 passenger, 22 mail, and 78 freight trains passed through Durand on a daily basis. It serviced almost 3000 passengers a day. The station was added to the National Register of Historic Places
on June 6, 1971. It also contains a Michigan Historical Places marker.
The city of Durand purchased the station in 1979 for $1.00 and it was brought back to its former glory.
Amtrak
continues to provide intercity passenger rail service on the Blue Water route between Chicago
and Port Huron, Michigan
. Amtrak stops at the historic station which is located at the junction of major east/west and north/south rail lines. Baggage cannot be checked at this location; however, up to two suitcases in addition to any "personal items" such as briefcases, purses, laptop bags, and infant equipment are allowed on board as carry-ons.
Freight railroads operating in Durand include Canadian National Railway
(CN), Huron and Eastern Railway
(HESR), and Great Lakes Central Railroad (GLC). A freight yard used by all three carriers is just north of the station.
The station's parking lot is currently being paved for the first time.
s, and houses a model railroading club, a ballroom, and a gift shop. During the Durand Railroad Days Festival in May, a lunch counter operates in the station, reminiscent of its glory days.
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
train station
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
in Durand, Michigan
Durand, Michigan
Durand is a city in Shiawassee County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 3,933.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.-Demographics:...
.
Construction and operation
The station is an important part of railway history in the state. Built in 1903 by the Detroit firm of Spier and Rohns it had a high volume of rail traffic as the Grand Trunk WesternGrand Trunk Western Railroad
The Grand Trunk Western Railroad is an important subsidiary of the Canadian National Railway , constituting the majority of CN's Chicago Division ....
and Ann Arbor railroads crossed at that location. It was almost destroyed by fire in 1905, but quickly rebuilt. At its peak, 42 passenger, 22 mail, and 78 freight trains passed through Durand on a daily basis. It serviced almost 3000 passengers a day. The station was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on June 6, 1971. It also contains a Michigan Historical Places marker.
Preservation
In 1974, because of declining traffic and rising costs, Grand Trunk decided to close the station.The city of Durand purchased the station in 1979 for $1.00 and it was brought back to its former glory.
Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
continues to provide intercity passenger rail service on the Blue Water route between Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and Port Huron, Michigan
Port Huron, Michigan
Port Huron is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Clair County. The population was 30,184 at the 2010 census. The city is adjacent to Port Huron Township but is administratively autonomous. It is joined by the Blue Water Bridge over the St. Clair River to Sarnia,...
. Amtrak stops at the historic station which is located at the junction of major east/west and north/south rail lines. Baggage cannot be checked at this location; however, up to two suitcases in addition to any "personal items" such as briefcases, purses, laptop bags, and infant equipment are allowed on board as carry-ons.
Freight railroads operating in Durand include Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
(CN), Huron and Eastern Railway
Huron and Eastern Railway
Huron and Eastern Railway is a short line railroad operating of track in The Thumb of the lower peninsula of Michigan. It is one of many shortlines owned by Rail America, and was the first railroad owned by the conglomerate....
(HESR), and Great Lakes Central Railroad (GLC). A freight yard used by all three carriers is just north of the station.
The station's parking lot is currently being paved for the first time.
Ridership
Of the 22 Michigan stations served by Amtrak, Durand was the 16th-busiest in FY2010, boarding or detraining an average of approximately 30 passengers daily.Other uses
The station was also selected by the Michigan legislature to serve as the home of the Michigan Railroad History Museum. It is a popular viewing location for railfanRailfan
A railfan or rail buff , railway enthusiast or railway buff , or trainspotter , is a person interested in a recreational capacity in rail transport...
s, and houses a model railroading club, a ballroom, and a gift shop. During the Durand Railroad Days Festival in May, a lunch counter operates in the station, reminiscent of its glory days.
External links
- Durand Union Station Official Site
- Durand Union Station / Michigan Railroad History Museum on Facebook
- Michigan Railroad History Museum
- Durand Depot (Michigan Passenger Stations)
- Durand Amtrak Station & Michigan Railroad History Museum (USA Rail Guide -- Train Web)
- Durand, Michigan Railroad Crossings (Mike's Railroad Crossing Website)