| Rocky Mount, NC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Rocky Mount station in 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other names | Helen P. Gay Rocky Mount Historic Train Station | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | 101 Hammond Street Rocky Mount, North Carolina United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 35°56′17″N 77°47′52″W / 35.9380°N 77.7977°W / 35.9380; -77.7977 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owned by | City of Rocky Mount | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line(s) | CSX North End Subdivision | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Platforms | 1 side platform | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bus routes | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bus stands | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bus operators | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parking | 35 spaces | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bicycle facilities | Racks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Accessible | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Station code | Amtrak: RMT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 1893 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rebuilt | 1911-12, 1916, 1997-2000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Original company | Wilmington and Weldon Railroad | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Passengers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FY 2023 | 46,006 (Amtrak) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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U.S. Historic district Contributing property | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Official name | Atlantic Coastline Railroad Station | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Designated | June 19, 1980 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Part of | Rocky Mount Central City H.D. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Reference no. | 80002826, 09000659 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Architectural style | None Specified | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rocky Mount station, officially the Helen P. Gay Rocky Mount Historic Train Station, is an intermodal transit station in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, United States. Its is served by four daily Amtrak round trips –the Carolinian, Floridian, Palmetto, and Silver Meteor – and is a bus station for Tar River Transit and Greyhound. The station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing property to the Rocky Mount Central City Historic District.
History
Rocky Mount station was originally built in 1893 by the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, in dark red brick Romanesque Revival style. After the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad bought the W&WR, they rebuilt the station between 1911 and 1912, and again in 1916. During the 1960s ACL built a modern structure within the station to store switches and signal equipment before the railroad was merged with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad.
In 1995, the 2.23-acre (0.90 ha) property, which included the station and a former REA Express freight house (c. 1930), was sold to the City of Rocky Mount. Between 1997 and 2000, the station was restored to its early 20th century design features, with additional accessible-compliant platforms and other amenities. The freight house was converted into a bus terminal for the Tar River Transit and Greyhound stop. In 2010, the station was named after Helen P. Gay, a former member of the Rocky Mount City Council who was instrumental in the station's restoration project.
Former ACL office car #303 is on display next to the station. Former ACL "Whopper Hopper" 500000 that had been on display at the station was donated to the North Carolina Transportation Museum in 2018.
References
- "Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2023: State of North Carolina" (PDF). Amtrak. March 2024. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
- "NPS Focus". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
- "Rocky Mount Station Improvements (NCDOT Rail)". Archived from the original on January 16, 2009. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
- Cooper, Geoffrey (March 22, 2010). "Community celebrates Helen Gay's birthday". Rocky Mount Telegram. Archived from the original on June 28, 2010. Retrieved July 6, 2010.
- Pictures of ACL 303 (RR Picture Archives)
- "N.C. Transportation Museum on Facebook". Facebook. Archived from the original on April 30, 2022.
External links
Media related to Rocky Mount (Amtrak station) at Wikimedia Commons
- Rocky Mount, NC – Amtrak
- Rocky Mount, NC – Station history at Great American Stations (Amtrak)
- Rocky Mount Station – NC By Train
| Amtrak stations in North Carolina | |
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| Active stations | |
| Seasonal stations | |
| Former stations |
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| Future stations | |
- Amtrak stations in North Carolina
- Buildings and structures in Rocky Mount, North Carolina
- Transportation in Nash County, North Carolina
- Bus stations in North Carolina
- Former Atlantic Coast Line Railroad stations
- Railway stations in the United States opened in 1893
- Historic district contributing properties in North Carolina
- National Register of Historic Places in Nash County, North Carolina
- Railway stations on the National Register of Historic Places in North Carolina