Richmond, VA: 1915 Southern RR Hull Street Station and Freight House

Depot: (3D Satellite)

Freight House: (3D Satellite)

Topo map location

Street View

Street View

"The Southern Railway passenger station in Richmond, VA, from 1915 to 1957 is now owned & operated as the Richmond Railroad Museum by the Old Dominion Chapter of the National Railroad Historical Society. The Old Dominion Chapter of the National Railroad Historical Society produced this video that gives a look at the history of the station." [ThenAndNow]

Hull Street was the fourth Southern Station serving Richmond. The third station was built in 1900 at 14th and what is now Canal Street.

Screenshot @ 1:24

So why was an elegant station replaced by a relatively mundane station just 15 years later? Land. The freight business grew so much in downtown Richmond in the first decade of the 20th century that they tore down the third station to make room for a freight house and offices. This building still stands and is used by the Southern Railway Taphouse.

Screenshot @ 2:38

Segregation was required by law.

Screenshot @ 4:58

Passenger service ended in 1957 and NS donated the vacant station to the Old Dominion Chapter of the National Railroad Historical Society in 1982. It had suffered 13 floods, the worse was during the 1972 Hurricane Agnes when the water almost touched the eaves. The flood wall was built in 1995. Restoration work was finally completed in 2011.

Screenshot @ 7:41