Ottumwa station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ottumwa, IA
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The eastbound California Zephyr train at Ottumwa in August 2017
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| Location | 210 West Main Street, Ottumwa, Iowa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Platforms | 1 side platform, 1 island platform | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parking | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disabled access | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Station code | OTM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rebuilt | May 26, 1951 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Traffic | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Passengers (2017) | 12,209  0.44% |
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| Services | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Burlington Depot
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The former Burlington depot, now used by Amtrak.
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Built | 1951 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Built by | Benson Const. Co. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Architect | Holabird, Root & Burgee | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Architectural style | Modern Movement | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Part of | Historic Railroad District (ID11000723) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NRHP reference No. | 08001100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Added to NRHP | November 26, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ottumwa is an Amtrak train station in Ottumwa, Iowa, United States. It's a stop for trains that travel long distances between cities. The station was first built by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. It has been recognized as an important historical building called the Burlington Depot since November 26, 2008. It's also part of the Historic Railroad District.
Station History
Early Railroad Days
The first railroad, called the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad (B&M), arrived in Ottumwa from Burlington, Iowa in 1859. For a few years, Ottumwa was the very last stop on this train line. After the American Civil War, work began to extend the tracks further west.
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) invested a lot in this project. They eventually took over the B&M in 1875. In 1889, the CB&Q built a station in Ottumwa that handled both passengers and freight. This building was designed by a famous architecture firm from Chicago.
This station was known as the Ottumwa Union Depot. It was shared by the CB&Q and the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. Ottumwa was a very important spot for the railroad because it was a "division point." This means it was a place where train crews would change, and trains might be reorganized.
Other railroads also served Ottumwa. The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road) and the Wabash Railroad had their own station. It was located about a quarter-mile away, near Jefferson Street.
A New Modern Station
After World War II, Ottumwa began to grow quickly. The CB&Q decided it was time to replace their old station with a new, modern one. A Chicago architecture firm designed the new building.
The new Ottumwa station was finished in 1951. It was built using parts of the old station's foundation and outer walls. However, you can't see any of the old building today. While the new station was being built, the railroad used two old passenger cars as a temporary ticket office and waiting room.
The station you see today is a two-story building with a simple, modern design. It has a flat roof, wide eaves (the parts of the roof that hang over the walls), and many windows. The outside walls are covered with a type of stone called ashlar Lannon stone.
Getting Around Ottumwa
The Ottumwa Transit Authority (which is the city's bus system) has a bus stop near the station. This is part of their East-West Route. However, if you arrive on the California Zephyr train heading west, the buses might not be running anymore. The train usually arrives almost an hour after the bus system closes for the day.
- Amtrak – Stations – Ottumwa, IA
