Grand Trunk Station (Richmond)

Richmond
Postcard view of the GTR station in 1915
Location	739, Rue Principale Nord Richmond, Quebec Canada.
Coordinates	45°39′54″N 72°08′54″W / 45.66500°N 72.14833°W / 45.66500; -72.14833Coordinates: 45°39′54″N 72°08′54″W / 45.66500°N 72.14833°W / 45.66500; -72.14833
Owned by	private
Construction
Structure type	brick station building
History
Opened	1853
Closed	1994
Rebuilt	1999 restaurant
Previous names	Grand Trunk Railway
Heritage Railway Station (Canada)
Official name	Canadian National Railway Station, Richmond, Quebec
Designated	1991
Reference no.	6719
Route map to Sainte-Rosalie Acton Vale Richmond Windsor Bromptonville Sherbrooke Lennoxville Coaticook USA/Canada Norton Island Pond North Stratford Groveton Berlin Gorham Bethel South Paris Oxford Mechanics Falls Lewiston Auburn Yarmouth Portland

Richmond railway station is a historic building located on rue Principale Nord in Richmond in the province of Quebec. The current building was constructed in 1912 by the Grand Trunk Railway (GTR) to replace the previous wood frame structure which had been destroyed by fire.

The brick building has granite lintels that give it a more refined look than the earlier stations. The two storey central block has two symmetrical single storeys on either end, which have had dormer windows added more recently.

The St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad acquired land in 1848 for their right-of-way through Melbourne Township, which would open up the town of Richmond to business between Portland and Montreal. At the same time the Quebec and Richmond Railway was constructing a line connecting to Quebec City, making Richmond an important railway centre.

Those two railway companies became part of the newly formed Grand Trunk Railway in 1853, with the Richmond station located between the tracks at the junction of the lines.

The Grand Trunk Railway was absorbed by Canadian National Railway (CNR) in 1923, who continued to operate the Portland-Sherbrooke line as its Berlin Subdivision. Richmond remained an important repair and maintenance yard until the 1950s. Passenger service was continued by Via Rail until 1994.

Following Canadian deregulation in 1989, short line operator Genesee & Wyoming formed subsidiary St-Laurent & Atlantique Railroad (Quebec) (SLQ) to operate the portion of the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad line from the US border at Norton through to Sainte-Rosalie, where it connects with the CNR main line. This company has facilities beside the station and a rail yard that stretches along the east bank of the Richelieu River.