Union Station (Walpole, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walpole
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Walpole Union Station in April 2010
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| Location | 275 West Street, Walpole, Massachusetts | ||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 42°08′43″N 71°15′28″W / 42.1453°N 71.2579°W | ||||||||||||
| Line(s) | Franklin Branch Framingham Secondary |
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| Platforms | 1 side platform | ||||||||||||
| Tracks | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||||
| Parking | 343 spaces ($4.00 fee) 4 accessible spaces |
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| Bicycle facilities | Racks available | ||||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||||
| Fare zone | 4 | ||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||
| Opened | April 23, 1849 | ||||||||||||
| Rebuilt | 1883, 1893, 1978 | ||||||||||||
| Traffic | |||||||||||||
| Passengers (2018) | 744 (weekday average boardings) | ||||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||||
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Union Station
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| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |||||||||||||
| Built | 1883 | ||||||||||||
| Architectural style | Victorian eclectic | ||||||||||||
| NRHP reference No. | 16000139 | ||||||||||||
| Added to NRHP | April 5, 2016 | ||||||||||||
Walpole Station, also known as Union Station, is a train station in Walpole, Massachusetts. It's part of the MBTA Commuter Rail system, which helps people travel around the area. The station is located where two important train lines, the Franklin Branch and the Framingham Secondary, cross paths. It has one platform for trains on the Franklin Line. Unlike many modern stations, Walpole Station is not yet set up for full accessibility for everyone.
Trains first started coming to Walpole on April 23, 1849. Later, in 1870, Walpole became a busy train junction when another line, the Mansfield and Framingham Railroad, opened. To help manage all the trains, a special control tower was built in 1882. In 1883, a new 'union station' was built where the two lines met. This station allowed passengers to use both train lines from one spot.
Sadly, the first station burned down in 1893. It was quickly rebuilt in a beautiful Victorian eclectic style. This new station is special because it's one of the few old train stations in Massachusetts built from wood, not stone. In 2016, Walpole's Union Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its historical importance.
Contents
History of Walpole's Train Service
Early Train Lines in Walpole
The Walpole Railroad was planned in 1846 to connect Walpole to Dedham. This would link it to the Boston and Providence Railroad. In 1847, the Norfolk County Railroad took over this plan.
The Norfolk County Railroad opened its line from Dedham to Walpole on April 23, 1849. It then extended to Blackstone in May. The first station was located near East Street.
Over the years, this line became part of the New York and New England Railroad (NY&NE). For many years, Walpole was the end of the line for local commuter trains. It still sometimes serves as a stop for shorter train trips.
Another important line, the Mansfield and Framingham Railroad, opened in 1870. This line ran through Walpole, with its station located south of the Norfolk County line. At first, the two lines only had one track connecting them. This line was later bought by the Old Colony Railroad in 1879.
Building the Union Station
The First Union Station (1883)
Having two busy train lines cross at the same level was difficult and sometimes dangerous. After a serious crash in 1881, officials suggested building a bridge to separate the tracks. Instead, the railroads decided to install automatic signals to make things safer.
In 1882, a three-story control tower was built to manage the train traffic. Then, in 1883, a new 'union station' was built. This station served both train lines, making it easier for passengers to switch between them.
The first Union Station cost about $10,000 to build. It had two wings, making it look like a Y-shape, with the signal tower nearby. The older, separate stations were then used for freight before being taken down.
The Second Union Station (1893)
On April 3, 1893, the first Union Station was destroyed by a fire. Work on a new station began that August. A separate building was built nearby for the signal controls.
The new station was similar to the old one but had a smaller tower. It was built in a Victorian eclectic style, which was popular at the time. This station is special because it's one of the few of its kind in Massachusetts made from wood, not heavy stone.
By 1898, the New Haven Railroad controlled both lines. This meant Union Station was under one company's control and became known simply as Walpole station. Passenger service on the Mansfield-Framingham line ended in 1933, but the line was still used for freight.
The old control tower was removed in 1946, and new controls were put inside the station. In 1955, major flooding stopped long-distance train service on the Midland Division, leaving only local commuter trains.
The MBTA Era (1966-Present)
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) began supporting commuter train service on the Franklin Branch in 1966. In 1973, the MBTA bought most of the commuter train lines, including Walpole station.
In 1977, the MBTA started a big project to improve the tracks and stations. New concrete platforms and a parking lot were built at Walpole in 1978. The old express office building near the station was also taken down that year.
In 1988, the old-fashioned semaphore signals (which looked like arms) were replaced with modern light signals. The signal tower itself, one of the last in New England, was replaced by a central control system in 1994.
In 2004, the MBTA approved a plan to add 200 more parking spaces at the station. This new parking lot opened in 2005. There were plans to add accessible platforms, but these were not built at that time.
Most of the station's inside still looks like it did originally. A coffee shop used to be in the north wing until 2009. Ticket sales, a waiting room, and restrooms are still available for passengers.
National Historic Status
In the 1990s, people thought about adding the station to the National Register of Historic Places. This was delayed because some local officials worried it would make future changes difficult. After a local bank helped pay for a study, the station was officially added to the National Register on April 5, 2016.
Foxboro Train Service
The old Old Colony line became the Framingham Secondary line in 2015. Since 1971, special game-day trains have run to Foxboro station for New England Patriots games. These trains use a special track connection at Walpole called Lewis's Wye.
In 2010, the MBTA studied whether to offer full-time train service to Foxboro. This could involve shuttle trains from Walpole or extending existing trains. If a shuttle was used, a new accessible platform might be built at Walpole.
A trial of full-time Foxboro service began in October 2019. This trial caused some trains to skip Walpole station. In 2019, the MBTA also announced plans to add a second track through Walpole station. Walpole is also a high priority for future accessibility improvements.
Images for kids
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Walpole Union Station in April 2010
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Map from 1876 showing the train stations in Walpole
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The first Union Station around 1890
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Front view of the 1893-built station
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A Franklin Line train at Walpole in 2017
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Foxboro trains use Lewis's Wye to connect to the Framingham Secondary
