Durand Union Station

Durand Union Station
Station statistics
Address	200 Railroad Street Durand, MI 48429
Lines	Blue Water
Parking	Yes; free
Other information
Opened	1903
Code	DRD
Owned by	City of Durand
Traffic
Passengers (2010)	10,198[1]  9.9%
Services
Preceding station   Amtrak   Following station East Lansing toward Chicago Blue Water Flint toward Port Huron
Grand Trunk Railway Station U.S. National Register of Historic Places Location: 200 Railroad Street Durand, Michigan Coordinates: 42°54′33″N 83°58′57″W / 42.90917°N 83.9825°W / 42.90917; -83.9825Coordinates: 42°54′33″N 83°58′57″W / 42.90917°N 83.9825°W / 42.90917; -83.9825 Built: 1903 Architect: Grand Trunk Railway Co. of Canada, and Spier & Rohns Governing body: Private NRHP Reference#: 71000419 Added to NRHP: May 06, 1971[2]

Durand Union Station, also known as the Grand Trunk Railway Station, is an Amtrak train station in Durand, Michigan.

Construction and operation

The station is an important part of railway history in the state. Built in 1903 by the Detroit firm of Spier and Rohns^[3] it had a high volume of rail traffic as the Grand Trunk Western and Ann Arbor railroads crossed at that location. It was almost destroyed by fire in 1905, but quickly rebuilt. At its peak, 42 passenger, 22 mail, and 78 freight trains passed through Durand on a daily basis. It serviced almost 3000 passengers a day. The station was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 6, 1971.^[4] It also contains a Michigan Historical Places marker.

Preservation

In 1974, because of declining traffic and rising costs, Grand Trunk decided to close the station.

The city of Durand purchased the station in 1979 for $1.00^[5] and it was brought back to its former glory.

Amtrak continues to provide intercity passenger rail service on the Blue Water route between Chicago and Port Huron, Michigan. Amtrak stops at the historic station which is located at the junction of major east/west and north/south rail lines. Baggage cannot be checked at this location; however, up to two suitcases in addition to any "personal items" such as briefcases, purses, laptop bags, and infant equipment are allowed on board as carry-ons.

Freight railroads operating in Durand include Canadian National Railway (CN), Huron and Eastern Railway (HESR), and Great Lakes Central Railroad (GLC). A freight yard used by all three carriers is just north of the station.

The station's parking lot is currently being paved for the first time.

Ridership

Of the 22 Michigan stations served by Amtrak, Durand was the 16th-busiest in FY2010, boarding or detraining an average of approximately 30 passengers daily.^[1]

Other uses

The station was also selected by the Michigan legislature to serve as the home of the Michigan Railroad History Museum. It is a popular viewing location for railfans, and houses a model railroading club, a ballroom, and a gift shop. During the Durand Railroad Days Festival in May, a lunch counter operates in the station, reminiscent of its glory days.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Amtrak Fact Sheet, FY2010, State of Michigan" (PDF). Amtrak. November 2010. http://www.amtrak.com/pdf/factsheets/MICHIGAN10.pdf. Retrieved 2011-01-06. 
2. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2008-04-15. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
3. ^ The Book of Detroiters; Albert Nelson Marquis Published by A. N. Marquis & company, 1914, p.456
4. ^ National Register of Historic Places (Building - #71000419)
5. ^ Durand Union Station Depot History

External links

• Amtrak – Stations – Durand, MI
• Durand Union Station Official Site
• Durand Union Station / Michigan Railroad History Museum on Facebook
• Michigan Railroad History Museum
• Durand Depot (Michigan Passenger Stations)
• Durand Amtrak Station & Michigan Railroad History Museum (USA Rail Guide -- Train Web)
• Durand, Michigan Railroad Crossings (Mike's Railroad Crossing Website)