Berkeley station (Southern Pacific Railroad) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Berkeley
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The station c. 1908–1915
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| Location | Shattuck Avenue Berkeley, California |
| Coordinates | 37°52′16″N 122°16′05″W / 37.87119°N 122.268°W |
| Line(s) | Berkeley Branch Railroad |
| History | |
| Opened | 1876 |
| Closed | 1938 |
| Rebuilt | 1892 1906–1908 |
| Electrified | 1911 |
Berkeley Station was a very important train station in Berkeley, California. It was the main station from 1878 to 1911. You could find it in what is now downtown Berkeley. It was located on Shattuck Avenue, between University Avenue and Center Street. Today, this area is known as Shattuck Square and Berkeley Square. Even after 1911, the name "Berkeley Station" was still used, but it was no longer the main train hub.
Contents
History of Berkeley Station
How Berkeley Station Started
Berkeley Station began in 1876 as the "Berkeley Terminus." This was part of the Central Pacific Railroad's Berkeley Branch Railroad. Berkeley itself became a city two years later. In 1878, the train tracks were extended a few blocks north. Because it was no longer the "end" of the line, the station was renamed Berkeley Station.
In 1885, the Southern Pacific took over the train line. They were connected to the Central Pacific. In 1911, the Berkeley line got electric trains. It became part of the East Bay Electric Lines, which were commuter trains.
The Station Buildings Over Time
From 1876 to about 1892, Berkeley Station had a small wooden building. It was near Center and Shattuck. Around 1892, a slightly bigger wooden building replaced the first one.
In 1906, work started on a much larger station. This new building was made of brick and stone. It was designed by the Southern Pacific's architect, Daniel J. Patterson. The new station opened in 1908. It had two main buildings connected by a small enclosed area. The north building was for luggage. The south building had the ticket office and a waiting room. The original plan for the station was changed a bit. This was because of the costs from the San Francisco earthquake of 1906.
Changes and Closing of the Station
In 1911, the Southern Pacific built a new, large station. This was the West Berkeley Station. It was located at Third and University. This new station was just as big as Berkeley Station. The Southern Pacific made it a regular stop for its main train lines. Because of this, Berkeley Station was no longer the most important station.
Berkeley Station continued to be a regular train stop. It became part of the electric commuter train system. In the late 1930s, a new train line opened. This line went over the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge. The Southern Pacific decided they didn't need such a large station downtown anymore. So, the depot was torn down in August 1938. A small ticket office in a new building took its place.
The Name Lives On
In 1972, the name "Berkeley Station" was used again. It was for the BART stop in downtown Berkeley. But in the 1990s, its name changed to "Downtown Berkeley."
Today, the Amtrak stop near the old West Berkeley depot is called "Berkeley Station." The old West Berkeley depot building is still standing. It has been used by different restaurants over the years. From the early 1970s to the early 2000s, it was the China Station Restaurant. Later, it was Xanadu Restaurant and then Brennan's Restaurant. Brennan's closed in 2018.
