Rocky Mount station

Rocky Mount, officially the Helen P. Gay Rocky Mount Historic Train Station, is an intermodal transit station in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, United States. Its main building serves as an Amtrak train station, while an adjacent building serves as the bus terminus for the Tar River Transit and as a Greyhound stop. The station is located just south of downtown Rocky Mount and is part of the Rocky Mount Central City Historic District.

Rocky Mount, NC
Amtrak inter-city rail station
Front lobby of the Rocky Mount station.
Location	101 Hammond Street Rocky Mount, North Carolina United States
Coordinates	35.9380°N 77.7977°W / 35.9380; -77.7977
Owned by	City of Rocky Mount
Line(s)	North End Subdivision
Platforms	1 side platform
Tracks	2
Bus routes	8
Bus stands	7
Bus operators	Greyhound Lines Tar River Transit
Construction
Structure type	At-grade
Parking	35 spaces; free
Bicycle facilities	Bicycle racks
Disabled access	Yes
Architectural style	Romanesque Revival
Other information
Station code	RMT (Amtrak)
History
Opened	1893
Rebuilt	1911-12, 1916, 1997-2000
Original company	Wilmington and Weldon Railroad
Traffic
Passengers (FY2018)	51,365[1][2]  1.9%
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station Wilson toward Charlotte Carolinian Petersburg toward New York Wilson toward Savannah Palmetto Fayetteville toward Miami Silver Meteor Raleigh toward Miami Silver Star
Former services Preceding station Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Following station South Rocky Mount toward Tampa Main Line Battleboro toward Richmond Nashville toward Lassiter Lassiter Branch Terminus Terminus Rocky Mount – Kinston Tarboro toward Kinston Norfolk Branch Tarboro toward Norfolk
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
Official name	Atlantic Coastline Railroad Station
Designated	June 19, 1980
Part of	Rocky Mount Central City H.D.
Reference no.	80002826, 09000659[3]
Architectural style	None Specified

History

Rocky Mount station was originally built in 1893 by the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, in dark red brick Romanesque Revivial style. After the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad bought the W&WR, they rebuilt the station between 1911 and 1912, and again in 1916. During the 1960s ACL built a modern structure within the station to store switches and signal equipment before the railroad was merged with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad.

In 1995, the 2.23-acre (0.90 ha) property, which included the station and a former REA Express freight house (c. 1930), was sold to the City of Rocky Mount. Between 1997 and 2000, the station was restored to its early 20th century design features, with additional ADA-compliant platforms and other amenities.[4] The freight house was converted into a bus terminal for the Tar River Transit and Greyhound stop. In 2010, the station was named after Helen P. Gay, a former member of the Rocky Mount City Council who was instrumental in the station's restoration project.[5]

Former ACL office car #303 is on display next to the station.[6] Former ACL "Whopper Hopper" 500000 that had been on display at the station was donated to the North Carolina Transportation Museum in 2018.[7]

Services

The train station, operated by Amtrak, provides inter-city rail service via four routes: Carolinian, Palmetto, Silver Meteor and Silver Star. The facility is open 24-hours, which includes the ticket office, passenger assistance, baggage service and the waiting area.[8]

The bus terminal, operated by Tar River Transit, provides eight bus routes that operate Monday-Friday at 6:45am–6:45pm and Saturday at 9:15am–5:45pm, closed on Sunday.[9] Greyhound operate, including package express and ticket office, Monday-Friday at 7:30am–1:30pm, 3:30pm–5:30pm and Saturday at 7:30am–12:00pm.[10]

References

1. "Rocky Mount, NC (RMT) - Great American Stations". Amtrak's Great American Stations. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
2. "Amtrak Fact Sheet, FY2017, State of North Carolina" (PDF). Amtrak. November 2017. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
3. "NPS Focus". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
4. Rocky Mount Station Improvements (NCDOT Rail)
5. Cooper, Geoffrey (March 22, 2010). "Community celebrates Helen Gay's birthday". Rocky Mount Telegram.
6. Pictures of ACL 303 (RR Picture Archives)
8. "Rocky Mount, North Carolina Train Station (RMT) - Amtrak". Retrieved April 28, 2018.
9. "Tar River Transit: General Service Information". Retrieved April 28, 2018.
10. "Rocky Mount NC Bus Station - Greyhound". Retrieved April 28, 2018.

External links

Media related to Rocky Mount (Amtrak station) at Wikimedia Commons

• Rocky Mount, NC – Amtrak
• Rocky Mount Amtrak Station (USA Rail Guide -- Train Web)
• Early 20th Century Post Card
• Rocky Mount (RMT) (Amtrak's Great American Stations)