Selma Union Depot

35°31′58″N 78°16′48″W / 35.53278°N 78.28000°W / 35.53278; -78.28000Owned byTown of SelmaLine(s)NCRR Corridor
South End SubdivisionPlatforms3 side platforms (2 used)Tracks3ConstructionStructure typeAt-gradeParking20 spacesAccessibleYesArchitectA.M. Griffin (1924)
Barry Rakes (2002)Other informationStatusUnstaffed; attendant availableStation codeAmtrak: SSMHistoryOpened1867^[1]Rebuilt1924, 2002PassengersFY 202313,914^[2] (Amtrak) Services

Preceding station	Amtrak			Following station
Raleigh toward Charlotte		Carolinian		Wilson toward New York
Fayetteville toward Savannah		Palmetto
Auto Train does not stop here
Silver Meteor does not stop here
Silver Star does not stop here

Former services
Preceding station Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Following station Smithfield toward Tampa Main Line Micro toward Richmond Preceding station Southern Railway Following station Wilson's Mills toward North Wilkesboro North Wilkesboro – Morehead City Pine Level toward Morehead City

LocationE. Railroad St., Selma, North CarolinaBuilt19 July 1924 (1924-07-19)ArchitectGriffin, A.M.MPSSelma, North Carolina MRANRHP reference No.82003482^[3]Added to NRHPJune 24, 1982

Location

Selma Union Depot, also known as Selma Union Station and Selma–Smithfield, is a train station and museum in Selma, North Carolina, and near the town of Smithfield. Built in 1924, it is currently served by two Amtrak passenger trains, the Palmetto and the Carolinian. It is located at 500 East Railroad Street in the heart of downtown Selma. The Silver Meteor and the Silver Star have their northern split here, but do not stop in Selma.

History

The original station in the area was the Mitchner station, built in 1855 a few blocks from the current station. The building still exists and is believed to be the oldest surviving train station in North Carolina.^[4]

A wood-frame structure at the current site was constructed in 1897. The current station was built as its replacement in 1924 by architect A.M. Griffin,^[1] for the Atlantic Coast Line and Southern Railroads. The ACL trains were north–south for the company's Everglades and Palmetto.^[5] The Southern Railway trains were east–west trains on the North Carolina section of the Carolina Special.^[6]

The station was closed in 1971, when Amtrak took over passenger service throughout much of the country. In 1975, the people of the city thwarted the station's demolition, and beginning the year after this reopened the station as a museum devoted to the city's railroad heritage. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 24, 1982.^[1] Amtrak service to Selma began on October 31, 1982, when the Palmetto began stopping there.^[7]

Layout

The old freight house is located to the west of the station on Railroad Street and South Webb Avenue. A maintenance shed is located to the north. Two tracks exist along the east side of the station, another one exists along the south side, and the fourth is a section of curved track behind the station that connects two of the tracks. Three platforms exist at the station, one of which is along the curved track. A parking space exclusively for the handicapped can be found between the curve and the station house.

• 
  Historic boarding shelter
• 
  Rear of the station
• 
  Station interior

Routes

• Carolinian
• Palmetto

References

External links

Media related to Selma-Smithfield (Amtrak station) (category) at Wikimedia Commons

• Selma-Smithfield, NC – Amtrak
• Selma-Smithfield, NC – Station history at Great American Stations (Amtrak)
• Selma Station – NC By Train
• Selma-Smithfield Amtrak Station (USA Rail Guide – Train Web)
• History & Heritage – Selma Historic Union Station (Visit Selma.org)