Lima station (Pennsylvania Railroad) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lima, OH
inter-city rail station
The former Pennsylvania Railroad depot, served by Amtrak.
Location	424 North Central Avenue, Lima, Ohio USA
History
Opened	1887
Closed	November 11, 1990
Former services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station Fort Wayne toward Chicago Broadway Limited Crestline toward New York Capitol Limited Crestline toward Washington, D.C. Preceding station Pennsylvania Railroad Following station Elida toward Chicago Main Line Lafayette toward New York or Exchange Place Preceding station Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Following station Cridersville toward Cincinnati Toledo Division Cairo toward Detroit
Lima Pennsylvania Railroad Passenger Depot
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location in Ohio Show map of Ohio Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	424 N. Central Ave., Lima, Ohio
Area	1.1 acres (0.45 ha)
Built	1887
Architectural style	Queen Anne
NRHP reference No.	03000805
Added to NRHP	August 21, 2003

The Lima train station is a very old and important building in Lima, Ohio, United States. It was built in 1887 for the Pennsylvania Railroad. The station is made of brick in a style called Queen Anne. It sits on a strong stone base.

This station was a key stop on the main train line that connected New York City and Chicago. Famous trains like the Pennsylvania Limited and the Broadway Limited used to stop here every day.

Lima's Railroad Story

Lima, Ohio, became a big center for trains a long time ago. The very first railroad line in Allen County was built in 1854. This line later became part of the huge Pennsylvania Railroad system.

Lima as a Train Hub

By the early 1900s, Lima was a very busy place for trains. Five major American railroads met there. These included the Pennsylvania Railroad and the B&O. Lima's economy, or how people made money, depended a lot on the train industry. The city was home to the world-famous Lima Locomotive Works, which built many trains.

Trains Stopping at Lima Station

Many different passenger trains used to stop at the Lima station. These trains connected Lima to big cities like Detroit, Cincinnati, Cleveland, St. Louis, Chicago, and New York.

• The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad had trains like the Cincinnatian.
• The Nickel Plate Road ran trains called Blue Arrow and Blue Dart.
• The Pennsylvania Railroad had many trains, including the Admiral, General, and the Broadway Limited.

When Train Service Slowed Down

Over time, fewer and fewer passenger trains stopped in Lima. In 1990, the last train, the Broadway Limited, stopped coming to Lima. This meant there was no more passenger train service in the city.

Many old train buildings in Lima were torn down. Even the large buildings of the Lima Locomotive Works were gone by the late 1990s.

What Happened to the Station?

Luckily, the old Pennsylvania Railroad station in Lima was saved. It stayed in good shape, unlike many other train buildings. Because of its history and beautiful design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. This is a list of important historic places in the United States.

New Life for the Old Station

In 2004, the station was fixed up and given a new purpose. This is called "adaptive reuse." A new entrance was added, and modern restrooms were built. But the main historic look of the building was kept.

Today, the old Lima train station is used as offices. It is now the customer service center for Lima's utilities department. It's a great example of how old buildings can be used again in new ways!