SANDERSON, TX (RAILFAN JOURNAL) – Nestled in the heart of West Texas, the town of Sanderson boasts a modest Amtrak railway station that whispers tales of its illustrious history. Serving as a stop for travelers journeying along the Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle routes, Sanderson Station stands as a testament to a bygone era of rail travel.
Unstaffed, Yet Pivotal
Situated along Downie Street in the southwestern corner of the town, Sanderson Station is an unstaffed Amtrak railway station. Despite its unassuming presence, the station still plays role in accommodating passengers traveling between Los Angeles and New Orleans, or Chicago, depending on the direction of their journey.
It is here that the westbound Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle trains make their mark, arriving at approximately 8:30 am on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Conversely, the eastbound train makes its stop at around 10:30 pm on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
A Station with a Humble Patronage
With a town population that remains on the smaller side, it comes as no surprise that Sanderson Station holds the distinction of being the least-utilized Amtrak stop within the national system. In the fiscal year of 2022, the station dutifully served 153 passengers, averaging a mere 0.6 passengers per day.
The Echoes of History
Sanderson Station is not merely a blip on the Amtrak map; it carries the echoes of a storied past. The site was once home to a depot belonging to the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railroad (GH&SA).
Later, it passed into the hands of Southern Pacific and Union Pacific, two railroad giants. The station’s historical narrative was marked by the assembly of a substantial prefabricated clapboard wooden depot in 1882, with a subsequent expansion in 1910.
Where Meals and Memories Were Made
At the east end of the depot, a quaint lunchroom once beckoned to travelers—a common feature in an era preceding the widespread introduction of dining cars. Passengers could alight from their trains for a quick meal before resuming their journeys.
Beyond its practical function, the restaurant doubled as a cherished community center in Sanderson’s early days, offering residents a place to gather for meals and conversations over a cup of coffee.
The End of an Era
Even as passenger rail travel dwindled in popularity, Sanderson’s depot found purpose as a crew change terminal for the Southern Pacific Railroad, enduring in this capacity until 1995. However, when the crew change point shifted out of town, the depot’s fate took a dark turn.
Abandoned and forsaken, the structure began to succumb to the relentless march of time. In a twist of fate, Southern Pacific was later acquired by Union Pacific, who, burdened by the escalating maintenance costs, earmarked Sanderson for demolition.
Local residents rallied to preserve or relocate the historic depot, yet their efforts bore no fruit. In October 2012, the depot met its unfortunate end, leaving only memories and echoes of its former grandeur.
A Testament to History
For several years following the demolition, all that remained at the station site was an Amtrak information sign. A reminder of a once-vibrant rail hub that had played a crucial role in connecting communities and forging memories.
In the heart of West Texas, the Sanderson Station’s unassuming presence tells a tale of a town’s history, of travelers’ journeys, and of a bygone era when rail stations were more than just transit points; they were the heartbeats of the communities they served.