TACOMA'S PASSENGER TRAINS

OF THE PAST

Intercity passenger trains serving Tacoma in 1942, 1956, and 1971 immediately prior to the creation of Amtrak.

THE STATIONS

The major stations serving Tacoma, during the golden age of passenger trains. Most passenger trains used Union Station.

Union Station
1713 Pacific Ave.
Opened 1911

Interlocked switches controlled from 15th Street Tower

Milwaukee Road Station
102 E. 25th St.

GREAT NORTHERN

(Union Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

562                        Portland        9:40  460   9:16  199   9:01 am
459                        Seattle         8:10        4:31  198   4:33 pm
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

562                        Seattle         9:31  460   9:16  199   8:57 am
459                        Portland        8:05        4:31  198   4:25 pm
Passenger service retained by Amtrak in 1971.

NORTHERN PACIFIC

(Union Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

422                        Hoquiam         9:31
408                        Portland        1:49        1:26  195   1:05 pm
407                        Seattle         4:35        8:33  196   7:53 pm
423                        Seattle         7:50
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

422                        Seattle         9:20
408                        Seattle         1:47        1:22  195   1:02 pm
407                        Portland        4:33        8:29  196   7:49 pm
423                        Hoquiam         7:37
Passenger service retained by Amtrak in 1971.

UNION PACIFIC

(Union Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

402                        Portland       12:33        1:15 am
401                        Seattle         5:10        4:30 am
405  Streamliner           Seattle        11:08
561                        Seattle         1:09  457  12:05 pm     1:38 pm
406  Streamliner           Portland        3:18
458                        Portland        5:20        6:07 pm     6:32 pm
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

402                        Seattle        12:18       12:55 am
401                        Portland        4:50        4:10 am
405  Streamliner           Portland       11:08
561                        Portland        1:04  457  12:01 pm    1:34 pm
406  Streamliner           Seattle         3:18
458                        Seattle         5:15        5:57 pm    6:27 pm
Passenger service discontinued in 1971 with the creation of Amtrak.

MILWAUKEE ROAD

(Milwaukee Road Station)

Departures



No.  Name                  1942 Dest.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 16  Olympian              Chicago         8:30 pm     2:00 pm
Arrivals



No.  Name                  1942 Orig.  1942 Time  1956 Time  1971 Time

 15  Olympian              Chicago         9:30 am    10:45 am
Passenger service discontinued in 1961, last train was the Olympian Hiawatha (formerly the Olympian).

STATIONS TODAY

Tacoma Union Station was used by Amtrak until 1984, when Amtrak moved to a new station at 1001 Puyallup Ave.. The building still stands, and is available for rental for special events.

The Milwaukee Road station has been demolished.

Tacoma Union Station
Link to a Web site containing further information and pictures of Union Station.

MAPPING THE STATIONS AND RAILROADS

Links to locations of past and present stations and railroads, using Google Maps. Satellite views are also available.