Big Four Depot (Delaware, Ohio)

Delaware Big Four Depot was completed in 1887 by the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis Railway (CCC&I). The brick structure is in Delaware, Ohio, on the east side of the Olentangy River, and opposite side of the river from Ohio Wesleyan University. The building was a successor to an earlier frame structure built in the 1850s.[1]

Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroad Depot
Location60 Lake Street
Coordinates40.300479°N 83.058555°W / 40.300479; -83.058555
NRHP reference No.100008393
Added to NRHPNovember 21, 2022

The CCC&I was absorbed two years later into the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway, also commonly known as the 'Big Four.' Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway in 1906 acquired the CCC&I; however, the Big Four operated as a separate entity until 1930 when the Big Four was fully absorbed into New York Central operations. In Delaware, Ohio, two other railroads, the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway and Pennsylvania Railroad had stations with passenger service. Yet, the Big Four Depot was the far busier station.[2]

In 1944, in the latter years of World War II there were several trains a day. In each direction (north and south) four trains on the Cincinnati-Columbus-Cleveland corridor: three daily and one daily except Sunday train; additionally, there was a Cincinnati-Cleveland train making daily stops at the station.[3]

By the early 1960s, service declined to a Cincinnati-Columbus-Cleveland train, the Night Special.[4] The train ceased stopping at the station on November 19, 1965. The station continued for few years as a freight depot.[5][6]

The building is extant. Preservationists and other community activists have sought protect and renovate the building. In 2018 the building was added to Preservation Ohio's list of most endangered historic sites.[7] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2022.

The city of Delaware had other stations, run by the Pennsylvania Railroad and Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, respectively.[8] The C&O continued to run a train north to Detroit and south to Ashland, Kentucky until 1971.[9]

Preceding station New York Central Railroad Following station
Pershing
toward Cincinnati
 Cincinnati – Cleveland Leonardsburg
toward Cleveland
Scioto
toward Springfield, OH
 Delaware Branch Terminus

References
  1. Camp, Mark J. 'Railroad Depots of Central Ohio,' Arcadia Publishing, 2008, pp. 53-54.
  2. "Index of Railroad Stations". Official Guide of the Railways. National Railway Publication Company. 58 (9). February 1926.
  3. New York Central Timetables, November 19, 1944, Table 26
  4. New York Central Railroad timetable, October 31, 1965, Table 5
  5. Davis, Dillon, ‘Historic train station to be revitalized,’ 'Delaware Gazette,' May 13, 2021
  6. Camp, Mark J. 'Railroad Depots of Central Ohio,' Arcadia Publishing, 2008, pp. 53-54.
  7. Davis, Dillon, ‘Historic train station to be revitalized,’ 'Delaware Gazette,' May 13, 2021
  8. "Index of Railroad Stations". Official Guide of the Railways. National Railway Publication Company. 58 (9). February 1926.
  9. "Project 1971," U. S. Passenger Trains operating on the eve of Amtrak, Reference: Journey to Amtrak; Harold A. Edmonson, Ed.; Kalmbach Publications; ©1972 https://www.streamlinerschedules.com/project1971.html
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