Osceola station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Osceola, IA
Location	Main and East Clay Streets Osceola, IA 50213
Coordinates	41°02′14″N 93°45′54″W / 41.0372°N 93.7650°W / 41.0372; -93.7650
Owned by	City of Osceola (2007–present) BNSF Railway (1995–2007) Burlington Northern (1970-1995) CB&Q (1907-1970)
Platforms	2 side platforms
Tracks	2
Other information
Station code	OSC
History
Opened	1907
Traffic
Passengers (2018)	16,188  2.77%
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station Creston toward Emeryville California Zephyr Ottumwa toward Chicago
Former services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station Creston toward Los Angeles Desert Wind Discontinued in 1997 Ottumwa toward Chicago Preceding station Burlington Route Following station Murray toward Denver Main Line Woodburn toward Chicago

Osceola is an Amtrak train station located in Osceola, Iowa, United States. It serves as a stop for long-distance trains. Among all Amtrak stations in Iowa, Osceola is the closest one to Des Moines. Des Moines is Iowa's capital and largest city. However, the station is still almost 50 miles (80 km) away from the center of Des Moines.

A Historic Train Station

The Osceola Depot was built in 1907. It was constructed by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (CB&Q). This was a major railroad company in the Midwest and West during the 1900s. The building was designed in the Prairie Style. This style often features low, horizontal lines. The station has reddish-brown bricks. It also has limestone details that wrap around the building.

Originally, the depot was a "combination depot." This means it had areas for both freight (goods) and passengers under one roof. The ticket office still has many of its original parts. These include ticket windows, wooden benches, and old light fixtures.

Changes in Ownership

The station's ownership changed over the years. In 1970, it became part of the Burlington Northern Railroad. This happened when the CB&Q merged with other large railway companies. Later, in 1995, it became part of the BNSF Railway.

In 2007, the City of Osceola took over the historic building. This happened after ten years of discussions with BNSF. The city wanted to restore the depot. They planned to make it a modern transportation hub. This would help both Amtrak and bus riders.

Restoring the Station

The city worked with an architect who specializes in restoring old buildings. They planned to fix up the depot in several stages. The goal was to create a better place for travelers.

Exterior Renovations

The first part of the restoration focused on the outside of the building. This project received about $600,000 in federal money. The money came through the Iowa Department of Transportation.

The work included several important repairs:

• A new roof was installed.
• A damaged chimney was rebuilt.
• The old windows were repaired.
• New storm windows were added that matched the historic style.
• New entry doors were made to look exactly like the originals.
• The mortar (the material holding the bricks together) was repaired.
• The brick and stone surfaces were cleaned and fixed up.

Future Plans for the Interior

City officials hope to restore the inside of the station too. This will happen if they can find more funding. According to their plans, the old freight area would become the new waiting room. It might also have displays about local history. The original waiting room could become a small museum, a restaurant, or another type of shop.

• Amtrak – Stations – Osceola, IA

Images for kids

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  A 1908 postcard of the station