Re: ATSF passenger
Author: Bill Root
Date: 12-10-2015 - 13:22
The Santa Fe passenger station (albeit without tracks)lasted until Amtrak Day, May 1, 1971. The depot was also home to Continental Trailways buses, but it was torn down shortly thereafter and replaced by a parking structure. I haven't been by there in many years, but it appears from google earth that yet another structure has been built on the site. The second floor had offices, where my father-in-law, the late R B "Rocky" Estrada was Chief Boat dispatcher. Those offices were moved to the station in Richmond when passenger service ceased.
The freight station at 1420 4th Street lasted longer, but was closed along with the agency, when the sales force was moved to a new site in Concord. The Marine Department was an expensive oddity and by that time Santa Fe was pushing piggy-back from the ramp in Richmond. The day of the boxcar was pretty much over. Not sure when it closed, but I'd say circa 1980.
To answer SallyK's question, I believe Paul Hastings was a vice president of the Santa Fe and would not have worked in San Fran. He had a Santa Fe tug named after him in 1947. The freight agent in San Fran through the 60's was Tom Irwin. There was also a passenger agent with offices in the 44 4th St depot. I always thought the passenger station was a handsome example of Art Moderne architecture pretty rare in railroad stations.