Kirkwood Depot - Kirkwood, Missouri
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 38° 34.865 W 090° 24.404
15S E 725890 N 4273479
Historic train depot located in Kirkwood, Missouri.
Waymark Code: WMZEC
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 11/22/2006
Views: 111
"In 1852, land where the current station is located (Argonne Avenue and
Kirkwood Road) was obtained from Owen Collins by the Pacific Railroad for a
right of way. The track for the Pacific Railroad to Kirkwood was completed in
1853. The first train arrived May 11, 1853, for an auction sale of lots, making
Kirkwood the first planned suburb west of the Mississippi. The town was named
for the chief engineer for the railroad, James Pugh Kirkwood.
In 1863, a frame depot was built. Here members of the first school board met to
draft the charter of the Kirkwood School District, which was granted in 1865. In
1893, Douglas Donovan was hired to construct the current stone station to
replace the wooden station. The current station remains today as an outstanding
example of Richardsonian architecture.
Commuter trains ran to and from Kirkwood until 1961. A train turn-table was
located near the present Farmer’s Market for the engines to be turned for the
return trip to St. Louis and for the helper engines, which were used to help
freight trains manage the “Kirkwood Hill,” prior to the arrival of diesel
engines." ~
City of Kirkwood website.
The depot continues to serve as an active train depot services four Amtrak
trains a day. Amtrak no longer mans the station with an agent, however each
train is met by volunteers from the community.