La Grande station (Union Pacific Railroad) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids La Grande, OR
Former Union Pacific Railroad and Amtrak station
The Pioneer at La Grande in 1997.
Location	1150 Jefferson Avenue La Grande, Oregon 97850
Owned by	Union Pacific Railroad
Line(s)	Union Pacific Railroad Huntington / La Grande Subdivisions
Platforms	2 side, 1 island platform
Tracks	3
Construction
Disabled access	No
Other information
Station code	LAE
History
Opened	1884, 1977
Closed	1971, 1997
Rebuilt	1890, 1904, 1930
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station Pendleton toward Seattle Pioneer Baker City toward Chicago Preceding station Union Pacific Railroad Following station Perry toward Portland Portland – Granger Hot Lake toward Granger Terminus La Grande – Joseph Island City toward Joseph
La Grande Railroad Depot
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
The station in 2003.
Location in Oregon Show map of Oregon Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Built	1930
Architect	Gilbert Stanley Underwood
Architectural style	Mediterranean Revival
Part of	La Grande Commercial Historic District (ID01000933)
Added to NRHP	September 3, 2001.

The La Grande station is an old train station in La Grande, Oregon. It was built in 1930 by the Union Pacific Railroad. Later, Amtrak used it for a train called the Pioneer. This train stopped running in 1997. The station building is still there today. It is even listed as a historic place called the La Grande Railroad Depot. It is part of the National Register of Historic Places.

History of the La Grande Train Station

Early Railroad Days in La Grande

The first railroad line through La Grande was finished in 1884. It was built by the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company. This line connected to other railroads, like the Union Pacific Railroad. This meant people could travel far, even to Omaha, Nebraska.

La Grande became a very important spot for the railroad. It was a "division point." This means it was a place where train crews would change. The railroad also built a rail yard and shops there. These shops were for fixing trains. By 1890, Union Pacific controlled both railroads. La Grande became a main stop on the way to Portland and Seattle.

A smaller train line was also built from La Grande. It went to Elgin in 1890. Later, it was extended to Joseph in 1908. The railroad had a huge impact on La Grande. Many people in the city worked for the railroad.

Building the La Grande Station

The first train station in La Grande was built in 1884. But it burned down around 1890. A second station was built, but it also burned down in 1904. A third station was then built.

The station you see today opened in December 1930. It was built using strong stone. This was different from the first three stations, which were made of wood. The 1930 station was designed by Gilbert Stanley Underwood. He was a famous architect. He designed many other Union Pacific stations. This station was built with two floors. The first floor had waiting rooms and a ticket office. It also had places for luggage and cargo. The second floor was for Union Pacific offices. It was not open to the public.

Passenger Trains and Amtrak Service

Many important trains used to stop at La Grande station. These included the City of Portland and the Pacific Limited. These trains connected La Grande to big cities. People could travel to Portland, Omaha, and Chicago.

All Union Pacific passenger train service ended on April 31, 1971. This happened when Amtrak was created. At first, Amtrak trains did not stop in La Grande. But on June 7, 1977, Amtrak started the Pioneer train. This train traveled between Seattle and Chicago. It made a stop in La Grande.

The Pioneer train served La Grande until May 10, 1997. After that, passenger train service stopped. There have been talks about bringing the Pioneer back. In 2009, Amtrak studied if it was possible. A 2019 study also looked into it. It said the old station would be the best place for trains to stop again.

The Station Today

Today, the La Grande station is still used by Union Pacific. It serves as an office building. La Grande is still an important "division point" for the railroad. The old ticket area is now used for train dispatching. This is where people control train movements. The old baggage rooms are now used for storage and more offices.

The smaller train line from La Grande to Joseph was sold in 1993. It is now owned by the Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad. La Grande is still a key spot for Union Pacific. It is where train crews often change shifts.