Abandoned Rails of

Shreveport, Louisiana

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Brief History

Shreveport, Louisiana, was a crossroads for a number of railroad companies as they sought passage from the east to the west coast, and from the north to the Gulf coast. As such, the city was a bit unorthodox, as it hosted no less than four different passenger terminals, instead of just one as traditionally found in other cities of similar size served by multiple railroads. The owners of each were the St. Louis & Southwestern Railroad (Cotton Belt), which served Shreveport Central Station, built in 1910; the Illinois Central; the Texas & Pacific, whose station was built in the 1930s; and the Kansas City Southern (Shreveport Union Station). Among them, Union Station stood out with its tall "watchman's tower", the neighboring Jefferson Hotel, and its close proximity to the center of downtown Shreveport.

Also called Union Depot, Shreveport Union Station was built by the Kansas City, Shreveport & Gulf Terminal Company in 1897, making it the oldest of Shreveport's passenger stations. The Kansas City Southern was granted use of the facilities on July 24, 1909, designated a "meal station stop" prior to 1928, when KCS first offered dining car service on their passenger trains. The grand Southern Belle passenger trains began calling at the station in 1940, with the first arrival on August 23. At the pinnacle of its use after World War I, the station saw an average of 35 passenger trains per day.

Links

Union Station Floorplan

Excerpt KCS&GT Timetable with "Union Depot"

As passenger service saw declines across the country due to increase air travel and personal automobiles, KCS ceased making stops on November 2, 1969, bringing to an end almost 30 years of Southern Belle service in Shreveport. Thus, Shreveport Union Station shut its doors the following day, November 3, never to see passenger service again. Oddly enough, two days later, a fire started in the basement, and consequently burned the station completely to the ground.

Today, all that's left of this magnificent passenger terminal is the concrete footprint, some stairs leading up the knoll, and some decorative tan/brown tiles at the entry way, and green/white tiles in what were most likely the restrooms. Next to the station lies the remains of the KCS Cafe, now long abandoned and forgotten as much as the station it served.

We start our tour at the southern corner of the station, looking... — We start our tour at the southern corner of the station, looking in a generally northwestern direction. The concrete at front extending away is platform 4 (of 4 platforms). The KCS main that served the station is situated just in front of the trees in the background.

Here is platform 3. (Since I have no records indicating platform... — Here is platform 3. (Since I have no records indicating platform numbers, I've numbered them 1 through 4, with platform 1 being closest to the KCS main line to the right.)

Looking down platform 2. The Common Street bridge is the overpas... — Looking down platform 2. The Common Street bridge is the overpass you see.

At the northeast corner of the station, we have these decorative... — At the northeast corner of the station, we have these decorative green and white tiles, located in what was the women's restroom.

Looking back over the station footprint from the northeast corne... — Looking back over the station footprint from the northeast corner.

The remains of the stairs as they lead up to track level. These ... — The remains of the stairs as they lead up to track level. These stairs are on the east-facing side of the northeast corner. The green tiles are located behind and further back from these stairs.

Looking down the front of the knoll. The other set of stairs at ... — Looking down the front of the knoll. The other set of stairs at the front of the station can be seen in the distance. The Jefferson Hotel is just across the street.

Just across the way from the north-facing side of the station is... — Just across the way from the north-facing side of the station is what was known as the KCS Cafe, now long abandoned. This view is from the front of the Jefferson Hotel. The front door is on the right side of the building, while the station itself is off the picture to the left. The KCS tracks pass closely behind the building.

This picture was taken alongside the Cafe, showing how close the... — This picture was taken alongside the Cafe, showing how close the KCS tracks come to the restaurant.

At the entrance of the KCS Cafe is the "ABLON'S". I am not sure ... — At the entrance of the KCS Cafe is the "ABLON'S". I am not sure the origin of this name; perhaps this was the name of the restaurant after the KCS Cafe closed down.

This is looking southeast from the north-facing side of the stat... — This is looking southeast from the north-facing side of the station (the KCS Cafe is behind me).

As we work are way around the perimeter of the station, we can s... — As we work are way around the perimeter of the station, we can see the recessed areas where the dual tracks used to lay. There were no remains of tracks or related hardware anywhere, save for a two locations, as we'll see later.

Here we are at what looks like to be a "grand stair" of sorts, d... — Here we are at what looks like to be a "grand stair" of sorts, due to their width relative to the other stairs around the corner of the knoll (seen earlier). These stairs are also visible on the historical pictures of the station.

Here are the brown tiles at the double-door entry way at the fro... — Here are the brown tiles at the double-door entry way at the front of the station. The Jefferson Hotel is across the street to the right.

Here you can see the hinge anchors for the two front doors.

Looking down the front of the knoll, with the brown tiles in the... — Looking down the front of the knoll, with the brown tiles in the foreground on the left, and the KCS Cafe in the background. Again, the Jefferson Hotel is across the street on the right.

Here is a concrete pad located at the southeast corner of the st... — Here is a concrete pad located at the southeast corner of the station.

A telephoto shot looking down platform 3 from the station proper... — A telephoto shot looking down platform 3 from the station proper.

Here is some remaining track hardware, located between platforms... — Here is some remaining track hardware, located between platforms 3 and 4. I'm not sure what something like this was used for, based on its shape.

Some tracks still exist at the station. Here are some that run o... — Some tracks still exist at the station. Here are some that run on a line closest to the KCS main, and were possibly covered by the station. Jefferson Hotel is visible in the background.

Here is the edge of platform 1. The station would have been at t... — Here is the edge of platform 1. The station would have been at the end of the tracks in the background.

Between platforms 2 and 3. The bridge overhead is Common Street.

Now looking down on the platforms from the Common Street bridge.... — Now looking down on the platforms from the Common Street bridge. From left to right are platforms 4, 3, 2 and 1. The KCS main is in the background.

Now looking to the northwest, platforms 1, 2 and 3 are visible.

Looking down on the embedded tracks. It looks like the station i... — Looking down on the embedded tracks. It looks like the station itself covered those tracks. They were probably used for Railway Express freight terminal and dock.

Looking down over platforms 3 and 4. The furthest track to the r... — Looking down over platforms 3 and 4. The furthest track to the right was not as long as the others at the station, which is why the platform itself moves closer to the platform next to it as it gets closer to the station.

Back at "track level", we see more tracks at the station, toward... — Back at "track level", we see more tracks at the station, toward the end of platform 4. It looks like this may have been part of a pedestrian crossing across the station tracks.

Passenger trains once traveled these rails; now the silence tell... — Passenger trains once traveled these rails; now the silence tells a story of great passenger trains now gone. This brings the photographic tour of Shreveport Union Station to an end.

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