SPOKANE'S PASSENGER TRAINS

OF THE PAST

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

THE STATIONS

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

Northern Pacific Station
221 W. 1st Ave.
Opened 1890

Great Northern Station
Stevens St. and Washington St.
Opened 1902

Union Station
416 W. Trent Ave. (now Spokane Falls Blvd.)
Opened 1914

Number of station tracks: 4 through/4 stub

NORTHERN PACIFIC

(Northern Pacific Station)

Departures



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

  5                        Seattle         7:00        7:25 am
  2  Mainstreeter          St.  Paul                   8:35   30   4:35 am
  2  North Coast Limited   Chicago         8:20   26  10:45 pm    11:44 pm
315  (Motor Train)         Coulee City     8:35
311                        Lewiston        8:50        8:45 am
  3  Alaskan               Seattle         5:45
  4  Alaskan               St.  Paul       9:00
  1  Mainstreeter          Seattle                     9:10   29   2:19 pm
  1  North Coast Limited   Seattle         9:10   25  10:53 pm    11:40 pm
313                        Lewiston        9:30
Arrivals



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

  2  Mainstreeter          Seattle                     8:10   30   4:25 am
  6                        Seattle         7:00        7:00 pm
  2  North Coast Limited   Seattle         8:00   26  10:38 pm    11:29 pm
312                        Lewiston        1:00
316  (Motor Train)         Coulee City     5:20
  3  Alaskan               St.  Paul       5:25
  4  Alaskan               Seattle         7:30
314                        Lewiston        8:10        8:30 pm
  1  Mainstreeter          St.  Paul                   8:45   29   2:09 pm
  1  North Coast Limited   Chicago         8:50   25  10:45 pm    11:27 pm
Passenger service initially discontinued in 1971 with the creation of Amtrak, last important train was the North Coast Limited.

GREAT NORTHERN

(Great Northern Station)

Departures



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

  4  Western Star          St. Paul                    6:55   28   7:00 am
  2  Empire Builder        Chicago         8:00 am    11:15   32  11:40 pm
  5  Cascadian             Seattle         8:30 am     8:30 am
 28  Fast Mail             St. Paul       12:01 pm
  3  Western Star          Seattle                     9:15   27   2:30 pm
  1  Empire Builder        Seattle        10:00 pm    11:59   31  10:50 pm
Arrivals



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

  4  Western Star          Seattle                     6:15   28   6:15 am
  2  Empire Builder        Seattle         7:30 am    10:45   32  11:10 pm
 27  Fast Mail             St. Paul        6:20 pm
  6  Cascadian             Seattle         6:30 pm     5:30 pm
  3  Western Star          St. Paul                    8:00   27   2:00 pm
  1  Empire Builder        Chicago         9:30 pm    11:30   31  10:15 pm
Passenger service retained by Amtrak in 1971, with the Empire Builder.

SPOKANE PORTLAND & SEATTLE

(Great Northern Station)

Departures



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

  3  Western Star          Portland                    9:45   23   9:30 pm
  1  Empire Builder        Portland        9:45 pm    11:59   21  11:00 pm
Arrivals



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


  2  Empire Builder        Portland        7:00 am    10:25   22   9:50 pm
  4  Western Star          Portland                    6:10   24   5:40 am
Passenger service discontinued in 1971 with the creation of Amtrak.

UNION PACIFIC

(Union Station)

Departures



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

585  (Motor Train)         Wallace         7:40   67   8:15 am
 11  Spokane               Portland        9:00   19   7:30 pm    10:45 am
Arrivals



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

 12  Spokane               Portland        7:00   20   6:30 am     5:30 am
586  (Motor Train)         Wallace         6:50   68   4:50 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

 16  Olympian              Chicago         8:00 am    10:55 pm
  8                        Butte           8:40 pm
 15  Olympian              Tacoma         10:00 pm     1:05 am
Arrivals



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

  7                        Butte           6:45 am
 16  Olympian              Tacoma          7:25 am    10:45 pm
 15  Olympian              Chicago         9:20 pm    12:55 am
Passenger service discontinued in 1961, last train was the Olympian Hiawatha (formerly the Olympian).

SPOKANE INTERNATIONAL

(Union Station)

Departures



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

  2                        Eastport       11:45 pm
Arrivals



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

  1                        Eastport       11:50 am
Passenger service discontinued in 1954.

STATIONS TODAY

The Northern Pacific station continues to be used by Amtrak.

The Great Northern station was located on Havermale Island, an area which was transformed into a park for the 1974 World's Fair, and only the clock tower was preserved.

Union Station was located south of Havermale Island, in an area which was also redeveloped for the 1974 World's Fair, and was demolished.

MAPPING THE STATIONS AND RAILROADS

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