King Street (Amtrak) Station - Seattle, WA
N 47° 35.846 W 122° 19.835
10T E 550322 N 5271775
King Street Station in downtown Seattle, WA
Waymark Code: WM2RA6
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 12/12/2007
Views: 192
from Wikipedia:
"Built between 1904 and 1906 by the Great Northern Railway and Northern Pacific Railway, the station replaced an antiquated station on Railroad Avenue, today's Alaskan Way. Designed by the firm of Reed and Stem, who acted as associate architects for the design of Grand Central Terminal in New York City, the station was part of a larger project that moved the mainline away from the waterfront and into a 5,245 foot tunnel under downtown. The depot's 242 foot tower was modeled after Campanile di San Marco in Venice, Italy, making it the tallest building in Seattle at the time of its construction. This tower contained four huge mechanical clock faces offering the time to each of the four cardinal directions. Later, this tower also served as a microwave tower for the Burlington Northern Railroad, the successor of both the Great Northern and Northern Pacific railroads, which occupied the second and third floors of the station, now deserted."
The interior of the station is in the process of a major renovation, and you can see both remnants of the old ceiling as well as some that has been newly restored. The main King Street entrance is no longer used and you need to walk around the block and enter near the Quest Field parking lot.
Amtrak service to and from points East and South begin and end here. Sound Transit's Sounder commuter trains are also served by this station.
Is the station/depot currently used for railroad purposes?: Yes
Is the station/depot open to the public?: Yes
If the station/depot is not being used for railroad purposes, what is it currently used for?: Not listed
What rail lines does/did the station/depot serve?: Not listed
Station/Depot Web Site: Not listed
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