West Barnstable station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West Barnstable, MA
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West Barnstable station in 2012
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| Location | 2469 Meetinghouse Way (Route 149) West Barnstable, Massachusetts |
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| Coordinates | 41°42′25″N 70°22′27″W / 41.70694°N 70.37417°W | ||||||||||
| Owned by | Town of Barnstable, Massachusetts | ||||||||||
| Line(s) | Cape Main Line | ||||||||||
| Platforms | 1 side platform | ||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||
| Parking | Small lot | ||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||
| Rebuilt | 1911, 1980s | ||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
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The West Barnstable station is a train station located in West Barnstable, Massachusetts. Today, it serves as a stop for special weekend train trips. These trips are run by the Cape Cod Central Railroad.
The station building is owned by the Town of Barnstable. It is also the main office for the Cape Cod Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society (NRHS).
Contents
History of West Barnstable Station
Early Beginnings: The First Station
The very first passenger station in West Barnstable opened in 1854. It was built by the Cape Cod Railroad. This early station helped people travel across Cape Cod.
Building the New Station in 1911
The original station was later taken down. A new station was built in its place in 1911. The New Haven Railroad built this new station. It looked just like other stations built around the same time in Buzzards Bay and Sagamore.
Train Services and Changes Over Time
The station was busy for many years. It served trains going to Boston and seasonal trains to New York City. These trains helped many people visit Cape Cod.
Passenger train service stopped in 1964. This was when the New Haven Railroad stopped running trains to Cape Cod. From 1986 to 1996, the station was a stop for Amtrak's Cape Codder service. This train connected Cape Cod to other places.
The station is no longer a stop for the seasonal Cape Flyer train. This train runs between Boston and Hyannis.
Station as a Filming Location
The West Barnstable station has also been used in movies! It was a filming location for two films:
- The Golden Boys (2008)
- The Lightkeepers (2009)
Restoration and Museum Efforts
The Cape Cod Chapter of the NRHS signed a 20-year agreement in 2012. They have been working to restore the station since 2001. They want to make it a historical railway station and museum.
The station building is open to the public on Saturdays. You can visit from May to October. It also hosts many special events, such as:
- National Train Day in May
- The West Barnstable village festival in August
- The Cranberry Express in October
Current Use and Excursion Trains
Today, the West Barnstable station is a stop for special train trips. These trips are run by the Cape Cod Central Railroad. During the summer, these trains often go from Hyannis to the Cape Cod Canal. Sometimes, they also stop at the historic Pairpoint Glass factory in Sagamore.
Even though trains leave Hyannis every day in the summer, the West Barnstable station only serves trains on Saturdays.
