SEATTLE'S PASSENGER TRAINS

OF THE PAST

Intercity passenger trains serving Seattle in 1942, 1956, and 1971 immediately prior to the creation of Amtrak.

THE STATIONS

The major stations serving Seattle, during the golden age of passenger trains.

King Street Station
303 S. Jackson St.
Opened 1906

Number of station tracks: 3 through/3 stub
Interlocked switches controlled as follows:
South Portal: controlled the immediate station area
North Portal: controlled junctions with the various railroads serving the station

Union Station
4th Ave. and Jackson St.
Opened 1911

Number of station tracks: 4 stub
Non interlocked switches

King Street Station and Union Station were immediately next to each other.

GREAT NORTHERN

(King Street Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

360  Canadian              Vancouver BC    8:15        2:00 pm
562                        Portland        8:20  460   8:20  199   8:05 am
  6  Cascadian             Spokane         8:30        8:30 am
358  International Ltd.    Vancouver BC    6:00        8:05  194   8:00 am
  2  Empire Builder        Chicago        10:15        3:30   32   3:45 pm
362  International         Vancouver BC                6:25 pm
  4  Western Star          St. Paul                   10:00   28  10:00 pm
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  3  Western Star          St. Paul                    5:30   27  10:30 pm
  1  Empire Builder        Chicago         8:00        7:50   31   7:30 am
357  International         Vancouver BC               12:10 pm
359  International Ltd.    Vancouver BC   12:45        4:35  193   4:45 pm
  5  Cascadian             Spokane         6:30        5:30 pm
459                        Portland        9:20        5:30  198   5:30 pm
355  American              Vancouver BC   10:00  361  10:25 pm
Passenger service retained by Amtrak in 1971.

NORTHERN PACIFIC

(King Street Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  4  Alaskan               St.  Paul       8:00
422                        Hoquiam         8:05
408                        Portland        1:00       12:30  195  12:15 pm
  6                        Spokane         6:50        8:25 am
  2  North Coast Limited   Chicago         9:45   26   1:30 pm     2:30 pm
  2  Mainstreeter          St.  Paul                   9:35   30   7:15 pm
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

  3  Alaskan               St.  Paul       6:05
  1  Mainstreeter          St.  Paul                   7:50   29  11:45 pm
  1  North Coast Limited   Chicago         7:50   25   8:00 am     8:45 am
407                        Portland        5:30        9:30  196   8:45 pm
  5                        Spokane         6:30        6:10 pm
423                        Hoquiam         9:05
Passenger service retained by Amtrak in 1971.

UNION PACIFIC

(Union Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

406  Streamliner           Portland        2:30
458                        Portland        4:10        5:00 pm     5:30 pm
402                        Portland       11:00       11:45 pm
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

401                        Portland        6:45        6:15 am
405  Streamliner           Portland       12:01
561                        Portland        2:20  457   1:00 pm     2:30 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1971 with the creation of Amtrak.

MILWAUKEE ROAD

(Union Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 15  Olympian              Tacoma          8:15 am     9:45 am
 16  Olympian              Chicago        10:30 pm     3:15 pm
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 15  Olympian              Chicago         8:00 am     9:30 am
 16  Olympian              Tacoma          9:45 pm     3:00 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1961, last train was the Olympian Hiawatha (formerly the Olympian).

Until early 1930's, also operating into Seattle was the Pacific Coast Railroad, using its own separate station.

STATIONS TODAY

King Street Station continues to be used by Amtrak and commuter trains.

Union Station's last passenger trains operated in 1971, consolidated into King Street Station with the creation of Amtrak. The Union Station building still stands, and is now the headquarters of the regional Sound Transit system.

Railroad Stations: Their Evolution in Seattle
King Street Station
King Street Station (Wikipedia)
Union Station/Seattle (Wikipedia)

Links to Web pages containing further information on the historic stations.

MAPPING THE STATIONS AND RAILROADS

Links to locations of past and present stations and railroads, using Google Maps. Satellite views are also available.