Pack Your Sack, Amtrak is Back on the Right Track Here in Fostoria
August 18, 1996

On a cold Thursday evening last December, the Amtrak Depot Restoration Committee gathered at the train station to officially close the depot and remove the many historic furnishings. Amtrak terminated the Broadway Ltd. run and the last passenger train pulled out of the station Sept. 10, 1995.

It seemed then that passenger service in Fostoria had reached the end of the line. But now almost a year later, Amtrak service is highballing its way back here to the old home town.

Frank Stoy of Amtrak’s Toledo office told the Focus in a telephone interview that service is scheduled to resume on Nov. 10 and will keep the name Broadway Ltd.

Previously the Broadway ran between New York and Chicago with an eastbound and westbound stop here. Currently, the Broadway runs from New York to Philadelphia to Harrisburg, Pa. and stops in Pittsburgh. Now the route will once again be continued west through Ohio via Youngstown, Akron, and Fostoria on its way to the Windy City once more.

Mr. Stoy stated that though the schedule hasn’t been firmly determined, there will be a daily stop in Fostoria in each direction.

Coincidentally, it was on Nov. 7, 1990 that Amtrak made its first stop at the old B&O station on South Main St. Fostoria worked hard to get Amtrak to come here in the first place since Tiffin and North Baltimore were also possible selections for the Amtrak depot in this area.

A delegation of Mayor Ken Beier, WFOB News Director Gene Kinn, Chamber of Commerce Director Mike Corcoran, and Fostoria Economic Development Committee member Linda Peiffer made a special trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with local Representatives Gillmor and Oxley and Amtrak President Graham Claytor.

Passenger service first whistled its way here in the 1850's in the form of the Fremont and Indiana. Eventually, that railroad became known as the Lake Erie and Western. By the 1870's other lines such as the Columbus and Toledo ran trackage through Fostoria. The C&T eventually became a subsidiary of the Chesapeake and Ohio and, later, CSX.

A very short-lived line here was the MCW&LM, the Mansfield, Coldwater and Lake Michigan.

Fostoria was a stop on the inaugural run of the New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad, far better known as the Nickel Plate.

The old B&O depot was chosen as the Amtrak station. The depot opened March 21, 1907 and closed its doors to passenger service in 1972. The restoration of the station became a community project. By the time restoration was complete, there were photographs, century-old benches from Fostoria’s original depots, a regulator clock and other treasures that made the depot a veritable museum as well as a place to catch the train.

Ninety-nine individuals, companies, organizations and families contributed to the restoration. WFOB was recognized by the National Association of Broadcasters as one of the top 10 stations in the country for community service for its participation in the restoration and may still be the smallest radio station ever to be so honored.

While there are some hurdles to be overcome by the city, Fostoria Mayor Jim Bailey looks forward to Amtrak’s return.

“I would like to have Amtrak stop here. I very much believe in public transportation and good quality rail transport is an important piece of the transportation puzzle. The train is less polluting and more efficient.”

The mayor pointed out that the City spent $100,000 to repave the old B&O depot parking lot and install lighting back in 1990 and it’s not clear if the City will incur additional costs this time. Furthermore, Amtrak may not be able to provide financial support to provide staffing for the station this time. These matters need some consideration.

Trina Yarnell of Rex Travel told us that they look forward to Amtrak’s return “The agency here did a lot of Amtrak business. It was so convenient for the older people to travel. A lot of people took it to Chicago. We’ve had calls from people who still think there’s Amtrak in Fostoria. I’m sure it’s going to help when they get back in.”

Business or Pleasure Travel and WFOB are sponsoring a special “welcome back Amtrak” one night trip to Chicago and back on Nov. 15-16, the first weekend of Amtrak’s renewed service. They are hoping to arrange for two special cars for the trip.

Colleen Markey-Rowe of Business or Pleasure said, “This will definitely help. Amtrak sales are strong when it was here before and we expect them to be strong.”

Railroading has been a defining feature of Fostoria’s history from the time of the town’s incorporation. Another page in that history is about to be written. Let’s hope that this time rail passenger service becomes a permanent, indelible feature of our present and future.