Columbus Amtrak Station
1977-1979
In 1977, during the Conrail era, the Columbus Union Station closed, replaced by a new Amtrak station. The steel prefab building was located east of Fourth Street on the old New York Central (Big Four) line. Automobile access to the new depot was from Swan St. The last two trains through Columbus in 1977 were the east and westbound National Limited, between New York City and Kansas City. The eastbound National Limited arrived on the old B&O/PRR panhandle line, while the westbound Limited arrived on the old PRR Little Miami line. In order for the train to get to the new depot, the trainmen had to do a time-consuming switching maneuver.The westbound train pulled through a crossover that led from the B&O/PRR main to the NYC main. It then backed past the depot, which was located on that old NYC main line. Next, it pulled into the station.
To leave the station, it backed from the station, then pulled west under High Street, then backed through the crossover to the B&O/PRR main. It then continued west on its way via the PRR Little Miami line. The eastbound National Limited did the opposite maneuver.
On October 1, 1979, the National Limited was discontinued, and Columbus became the largest city in the country without train service. Thus, after 139 years of passenger train service, it ended.
This depot was derisively called the Amshack. In retrospect, that was a little unfair. Considering the limited funds Amtrak was working with and the crumbling infrastructure of the railroads, there was not much else it could do to improve facilities. The interior had new furniture and tiled walls in the waiting room. It even had vending machines, more than the old CUS had at the end. It was always going to be a temporary station, even if the National Limited was not abandoned, as more interstate road construction was planned for the area.
After abandonment, the building was used as a Columbus Police substation until the land was needed for I-670.
