Marion Union Station is a former passenger station at 532 West Center Street in Marion, Ohio. As a union station, it served several train lines, namely the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway (acquired in 1906 by the New York Central Railroad) and Erie Railroad (and its successor Erie-Lackawanna Railroad). These lines intersected at the station, so it was a significant transfer point between different geographic points.
Built in 1902 and opened July 31st, it featured marble walls and patterned mosaic tiles on the floor. In 1923, it was the last stop on President Warren Harding's funeral train and was a canteen stop for soldiers during World War II. It had its last long-distance train in 1971 with the end of the Chesapeake & Ohio's connector line to the George Washington.
Since the days of passenger locomotives, the station currently serves as a museum for the Marion Union Station Association and draws hundreds of visitors each year. On a daily basis, one can easily count upwards of 60 trains passing through the intersection of the biggest Ohio railroads, while standing just yards away on the station’s historic brick sidewalks or viewed high in the landmark AC Tower adjacent to the station. Visitors can also tour an Erie Lackawanna caboose that is located on the grounds and harkens back to the near past when that railroad was a major employer in the Marion area.
I met a local railfan who kept me informed of any train movements then walked over to the tower and went up to the landing as this was my first visit.
The view to the south.
The view to the east.
The view to the west. Soon I heard a horn and knew my first train to photograph in Marion was coming from the north.
Norfolk Southern 8354 East went through Marion, after which I went exploring.
Views of the Marion Union Station buildings.
Erie Caboose C306 built by International Car in 1953 on display.
Tower AC.
CSX view looking north.
The CSX diamond just northwest of Marion Union Station.
CSX view looking west.
CSX view looking south.
The Erie Railroad freight house just west of Marion Union Station. I went into the station and the caretaker said I had a good twenty minutes before he had to close for a school group coming today but I did not need that long.
Views of the displays in Marion Union Station, after which I returned outside for some more train action.
Norfolk Southern 6035 East passing through Marion.
Another view of Erie caboose C306.
Two more views of the tower here.
CSX 4841 East with CSX 5406 and 8524 heading east by Marion Union Station.
A Norfolk Southern local with Norfolk Southern 5061 as power went through the complex on its way east.
Norfolk Southern 8397 South was the next train.
My final picture was of the concrete whistlepost. I thanked my new friend and returned to the car, taking US Highway 23 north.
North of Marion is the former Pennsylvania Railroad coaling tower which I took a picture of a I drove by it on US Highway 23. I exited in Carey.
The Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis (Big Four) Carey station built in 1908. I left Carey on Ohio 15 and made my next stop in Findlay for another station.
The Findlay Lake Erie & Western freight house. I drove out to Interstate 75 then went two exits north to Exit 161, and went east to my next stop of the trip.
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