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| Tom Carter posted My grandpa took this photo of Union Station in Grand Rapids in 1911, when he was about 18 years old. We’re looking southwest at the Ionia Avenue side of the depot, with streetcar tracks in front. The station served several railroads including the Pere Marquette/C&O, Grand Rapids & Indiana/Pennsylvania, Michigan Central/New York Central and other predecessors. The train shed and freight depots are located just behind the station. A Carl Bajema article notes a 1905 report estimating that 1000 passenger tickets per day were sold here, and that 20,000 trains, 100,000 cars, and 750,000 people passed through this depot and train shed that year. Those “specs” in the sky are street lights strung on cables, and I suspect the dark spot above the chimney is a blotch on the photo, not a mysterious balloon hovering overhead. [Comments determined it opened in 1900. This or a replacement was torn down in 1960. Grand Trunk continued to use their own depot.] Russ Andre My grandfather, who worked for the New York Central, used to take me there often. He was able to take me beyond the gates and right out to the tracks where trains were coming and going. Took the train a lot as a kid with my parents. Mostly to Detroit, Chicago and New York City. The interior of the station was really cool. Wooden benches, a high ceiling, a coffee shop, ticket booths, news stand and shoe shine. I believe the station was designed by the same architect that designed Grand Central Station in New York City. It would have been great to save! Al Koole If memory serves,,, there is a twin of this design in Richmond Ind.,,possibly on the old GRand I |
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| Tom Carter commented on his posting Here's how the area looked in 1907. |
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| Viral Media posted GR Railroads Circa 1924 Around 1900, the Grand Rapids was center of mass-produced furniture in North America. There were 40 furniture companies and as much as half of the city working in furniture manufacturing or related industries. Manufacturing has regrettably declined as in most of the US, but Grand Rapids has economically diversified and is Michigan’s second largest city after Detroit. In it’s manufacturing heyday, Grand Rapids was a railroad hub. Historic Railroads in Grand Rapids • Pere Marquette (later C&O) • Grand Trunk Western • New York Central (Michigan Central) • Pennsylvania (Grand Rapids & Indiana) Today, the city is served by: • CSX (Former C&O Pere Marquette) • Grand Elk (Former GR&I - PRR) • Grand Rapids Eastern (former GTW) • Marquette Rail (Former C&O-PM) |
Viral Media posted four images with the comment:
Grand Rapids Railroad HeritageAround 1900, the Grand Rapids was center of mass-produced furniture in North America. There were 40 furniture companies and as much as half of the city working in furniture manufacturing or related industries. Manufacturing has regrettably declined as in most of the US, but Grand Rapids has economically diversified and is Michigan’s second largest city after Detroit. In it’s manufacturing heyday, Grand Rapids was a railroad hub.Historic Railroads in Grand Rapids• Pere Marquette (later C&O)• Grand Trunk Western• New York Central (Michigan Central)• Pennsylvania (Grand Rapids & Indiana)Today, the city is served by:• CSX (Former C&O Pere Marquette)• Grand Elk (Former GR&I - PRR)• Grand Rapids Eastern (former GTW)• Marquette Rail (Former C&O-PM)
Richard Fiedler shared
Jeff Branch: Not just Michigan Central for NYC, Grand Rapids also had a Lake Shore & Michigan Southern line.
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| Matt Weber posted 1948 |
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| Tom Olek commented on Matt's post |
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