Chartiers Valley Railway Freight Station

Courtesy of Lee Paxton

1 May 2010

Location:

123 Washington St, Washington, PA 15301

Description:

The Pennsylvania Railroad Freight Station, also known as the Chartiers Valley Railway Freight Station, is a historic building that once served as a train station in Washington, Pennsylvania. Its historical significance led to its listing on the National Register of Historic Places on July 21, 1995. Additionally, it holds designation as a historic public landmark by the Washington County History & Landmarks Foundation.

Constructed in 1871 for the Chartiers Valley Railroad, the station was later leased to the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and St. Louis Railroad (PC&StL) in the same year. Following a series of mergers, including the consolidation of the Chartiers Valley Railroad into the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St. Louis Railroad (PCC&StL) in 1907, and subsequently the lease of the PCC&StL to the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1921, the station saw a transition of ownership. With the Pennsylvania Railroad's merger with the New York Central Railroad to form Penn Central, the station's fate changed. Upon Penn Central's bankruptcy declaration in 1970, the station was sold to a private individual instead of being transferred with the rest of Penn Central's assets to Conrail in 1976.