Old Colony and Newport Railroad Depot - Newport, RI
Posted by: 
NorStar
N 41° 29.548 W 071° 19.047
19T E 306550 N 4596020
The depot for the Old Colony and Newport Railroad is a cute, cartoonish looking structure that is used by both the scenic railroad and a dinner train operation, located by the Newport Transportation and Visitors Center.
Waymark Code: WMBAKV
Location: Rhode Island, United States
Date Posted: 04/26/2011
Views: 9
In Newport, by a bus transportation center, is the end of a railroad line and a modest railroad depot and platform. This depot is the loading point for the Old Colony & Newport Railroad, a scenic railroad that runs on a 10 mile round trip along the eastern shore of Narragansett Bay.
The depot looks cartoonish, as it has rather prominent peaks and large windows compared to the relatively short length and width. The station is wood frame, and is painted in a dark red color.
The station itself is used as the ticket office for the railroad. A wooden sign to the right of the door states "Newport Dinner Train - 401-841-8700." This is another organization that shares the same facilities.
According to an online article, this building was not originally a railroad station. It was first used as a cemetery office on Warner Street, then moved a few times to its current location. In the 1980s students from Rogers's High School Vocational program added the cupola and redid the interior to the building to make it more station-like. At the time, it was dedicated to U.S. Senator Clairborne Pell, an advocate for railroads and public transportation. The article also reported that the future of this station had been threatened and is still not yet resolved. A series of meetings with Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has resulted in RIDOT committing to restore the present structure and address several structural problems.
The article also mentioned that the station does not have enough room shelter crowds of people [do you think?!!!], nor does it have insulation or indoor plumbing. The article did not indicate how these issues will bve addressed when restoring the station.
But, for now, the station is approachable and viewable from the outside, and easily visible from America's Cup Avenue. It is located next to the Newport Transportation and Visitor Center on America's Cup Avenue. There is public parking by the transportation center, and around the station.
The Old Colony and Newport Railroad web site has a history page. This railroad is a remnant of the Old Colony Railroad that used to stretch all over Southern New England. The railroad line was built as an extension from Fall River around 1862 and service began in 1864. Freight and passenger service ran all the way to Boston. After World War I, service declined and by 1970, the heirs to the railroad, Penn Central, went bankrupt, and the line was transferred to the state around 1970. Today, the Old Colony and Newport has tourist trains that run 80 minutes along scenic Narragansett Bay and travels through the Navy War College grounds. See the web site for schedules and fares.
Additional Source:
Newport-Now.com
(
visit link)