Current NKP passenger "station"

[Bob Durnell]

As part of my new quest to photograph every existing railroad depot and station in the state of Indiana, I did something the other day that I had never done, and that was to take pictures of the Fort Wayne Nickel Plate "station". While the platforms up on the elevation seem complete and well thought out, the lower level just seems like a disorganized afterthought and incomplete. The only thing there is the two stairways and the baggage elevator. Was there originally more to it, and does anybody have pictures of the lower level when it was actually in use? Where did the station employees work out of, and where were tickets sold from? I feel silly for not knowing the answers to these questions, but it seems like one of those things that has kind of fallen through the cracks. I realize that by the time the elevation was built passenger trains on the NKP only had a few years left, but still. I searched online and couldn't find a single picture or description of it. I am kind of surprised the NKP went to as much trouble as they did with the station up the platform. It seems they could have done something on the cheap on a non-elevated portion of the line in town.

[Steve Bryan]

Bob, you have probably seen pictures of the original NKP depot before the elevation. It was still there after the elevation was built and I assume everything used that building, as before the elevation. Sometime after passenger service ceased, someone torched it and it burned down. I remember when it happened but I was just a kid so I am guessing it was sometime by the early 60's

[Howard]

Passenger service ended 9/10/65 and I have a note on a photo of the station that it burned in 69 although I'm not positive about that.

[Bob Durnell]

Wow. I was under the impression that the original station burned down MUCH earlier. I have never seen too many photos of the old station either, and it seems like they are all taken looking east at the station from some distance away. I don't think I have ever seen the front or the east side, and certainly none after the elevation was constructed.

[Howard]

Here's one view

[Howard]

And another

[Howard]

And after the elevation

[Bob Durnell]

OK, GREAT! Picture three makes this whole thing make sense to me now. I know for a fact that I have NEVER seen this picture. Thanks for the help!

[Notch 8]

The Fort Wayne NKP Passenger Station had a Sister in Erie PA,

[hibbard]

West 25th Street in Cleveland had the same structure with aa express room on the end. Cleveland Public Library photo appeared in the "Railroads Depots of Northeastern Ohio" on page 92.

[rrnut282]

OK, GREAT! Picture three makes this whole thing make sense to me now. I know for a fact that I have NEVER seen this picture. Thanks for the help!

I have to agree with Bob, I don't recall ever seeing this angle before. It really puts things in perspective.

[Goalieman]

As part of my new quest to photograph every existing railroad depot and station in the state of Indiana, I did something the other day that I had never done, and that was to take pictures of the Fort Wayne Nickel Plate "station". While the platforms up on the elevation seem complete and well thought out, the lower level just seems like a disorganized afterthought and incomplete. The only thing there is the two stairways and the baggage elevator. Was there originally more to it, and does anybody have pictures of the lower level when it was actually in use? Where did the station employees work out of, and where were tickets sold from? I feel silly for not knowing the answers to these questions, but it seems like one of those things that has kind of fallen through the cracks. I realize that by the time the elevation was built passenger trains on the NKP only had a few years left, but still. I searched online and couldn't find a single picture or description of it. I am kind of surprised the NKP went to as much trouble as they did with the station up the platform. It seems they could have done something on the cheap on a non-elevated portion of the line in town.

Based on the photos, the station was on the north side of the tracks, correct?

[Bob Durnell]

Correct, along Superior street, just west of the old Canal Building, which can be seen in the background of depot picture.