and two openings facing east. A schedule of arrivals and departures
was posted on the wall. There, passengers could comfortably enjoy
California's weather while waiting.
The north wing of the building did not have the same glamour as
the other parts of the building but was very functional. This is
where baggage and freight were loaded and unloaded. Two windows
flanked a door that served as the main entrance to the shipping
office. The interior of the space was simple and had shelves to store
goods and a restroom so employees did not have to use the same one
reserved for passengers.
The freight section of the building, which possibly could have
been an addition to the building, was a long, narrow and rectangular
part of the structure that had a large shipping door to allow baggage
and freight to be efficiently wheeled in and out.
The train and the train depot played a significant role in
Burbank's growth and development. Passengers, whether they were
tourists, businesspeople or newcomers seeking fame in the growing
entertainment industry, all passed through the train depot's doors if
Burbank was their destination. By the 1950s, however, the mobility
that trains offered began to wane with travelers.
Automobiles and airplanes became the preferred choice of mobility.
By 1953, this trend had firmly taken root in Burbank, and the train
station was closed.
The best days of the Burbank Train Depot were behind it after it
closed. The building sat vacant, and plans to revitalize it into
another use did not come to fruition as envisioned.
The most creative plan was to fully restore the building and have
it serve as the headquarters to a model railroad club and rent it out
for special events. The city contemplated incorporating the train
depot into a larger development that would serve as the Burbank stop
for commuter rail (Metrolink). In 1992, the building was demolished
after it caught fire and was deemed unsalvageable. Sadly, a piece of
Burbank history was lost forever. All that commemorates the train
depot now is a few fond memories and a plaque at the Metrolink
Station.
* CRAIG BULLOCK is the chairman of the Burbank Heritage
Commission. Reach him at brbnkheritage com@aol.com. 559-3242
