I know this probably makes me sound like a total idiot, but what’s the difference in a depot and a station ?. The reason I’m asking is because I’m planning a new layout, and I’m either going to put in one or the other, but want the one that would work best for the 1930s through the 1960s.
Thanks
Tracklayer (Mark)
In railroad usage, “station” is a technical term, which means “a place designated by name in the timetable.” A “station” doesn’t have to have any kind of structure associated with it – and it isn’t uncommon for a “station” just to have a signboard bearing its name at the designated place.
A “depot” however, is almost always some kind of a structure in the railroad context. The Engli***erm is derived from the French word of the same spelling, and means “a storage space” or “place of assemblage.”
The words tend to be used interchangably when referring to structures.
Although this is by no means an official determination, to me a depot is smaller than a station. A small town has a depot – a large city has a train station. A depot might serve only one railroad, while a station would serve many; i.e., a Union Station.
Very good explanation… One question, I have been told that " depot " came from the Latin meaning to deposit… Have you ever heard this? . Where did you get the French connection? … Would like to know as I am putting together a book on Western Pacific Depots and use that information in my explanation of Station verses Depot. Sorry to not address you by name but you did not provide that information and I’m to lazy to track it down [:D]
Thanks WP steve
French has Latin roots, even though the French have tried to disguise it for years! LOL
Darrell, Gallicly quiet…for now
Okay guys. I think what I’m really looking for according to what you’ve told me is a “depot”, which will probably end up being painted flat mustard yellow with flat brown trim.
Thanks a lot.
Tracklayer
I only have what I understood to be the proper usage. I could be way off because, frankly, I am feeling too lazy to pull out the dictionary. Freight depot. Passenger station. The “Union” in Union Terminal or Union Station refers to a partnership formed by several railroads to operate a large metropolitan passenger / freight operation.
Please correct whatever needs correcting.
Tim
Here’s what my vintage ‘Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary’ says under Station…
Def. #1 - A place where a person or thing usually stands or is; an assigned location.
Def. #2 - The headquarters of some official person or body of men; As a police station or train station.
Def.#3 - An established building or place serving as a starting point, stage, stopping place, or post; specifically, a building for the accomodation of passengers or freight, as on a railroad or bus line; terminal; depot.
Then we have the Synonyms; Depot - Properly a train stops at a station to take on and discharge passengers or frieght. Freight is kept in a depot, which is a storage room or a storehouse. Hovever the station and the depot were so often located in one building in the early days of railroads that the word depot, which was formerly was thought to be more elegant but now has less diginity than station, came to be used for both.’
And then there was my Grandfather who had worked on the WM for many decades ending in the 1950’s telling me as a young boy that; stations contained employees of the railroad and depots did not, hence the title for folks like the ‘Station Master’ or ‘Station Agent.’ The shelter were we picked up up my father from his commute to NYC on the old Erie RR, he referred to as a depot.
I guess stops at buildings or shelters with no personel would techniically be a depot.
Then I’ve never heard of a ‘Depot Master’ either.
And then there are unscheduled stops or Flag Stops; with or without buildings but that’s another thread.
My [2c]
HTH
Mark