Purcell (Amtrak: PUR) is an Amtrak station in Purcell, Oklahoma. The station is serviced by Amtrak's daily Heartland Flyer, which travels from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Fort Worth, Texas.

Purcell, OK
The station at Purcell in February 2017. The James C. Nance Memorial Bridge (U.S. Route 77 / State Highway 39) over the Canadian River is in the distance.
General information
LocationEast Main Street and North Santa Fe Avenue
Purcell, Oklahoma
United States
Coordinates35°00′43″N 97°21′26″W / 35.0120°N 97.3573°W / 35.0120; -97.3573
Platforms1 side platform
Tracks1
Construction
AccessibleYes
Other information
Station codeAmtrak: PUR
History
OpenedJune 15, 1999 (Heartland Flyer)[1]
ClosedOctober 8, 1979 (Lone Star)[2]
RebuiltJune 14, 2001[3]
Passengers
FY 20231,436[4] (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
Pauls Valley
toward Fort Worth
Heartland Flyer Norman
Former services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station
Pauls Valley
toward Dallas or Houston
Lone Star Norman
toward Chicago
Preceding station Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Following station
Noble
toward Newton
NewtonPurcell Terminus
Terminus Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway
Main Line
Wayne
toward Galveston
Kirfort
toward Chickasha
ChickashaPurcell Terminus
Location
Map

History

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Rail service to the area was established by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (now BNSF Railway) in 1887, which aimed to create a junction between the Santa Fe and its Texas-based Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe division. A townsite for railway employees was constructed around the junction and named after the Santa Fe's director, Edward B. Purcell.[5]

A station house was built at the junction in 1904. At some point, that station was demolished and rebuilt. The rebuilt station was in service until 1979, when the Lone Star was discontinued, and it was demolished in the 1990s.[5]

In 1999, the Heartland Flyer was established, which restored rail service to the city. The city constructed a brick station house for use as a waiting area, which opened on June 14, 2001. The interior contains Santa Fe memorabilia, including a bench from a former depot in Shawnee, Oklahoma.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "All Aboard! Amtrak Taking Reservations". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. June 9, 1999. p. 7. Retrieved December 27, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ "Lone Star Gone: Amtrak Routes Shrink". The Marion Star. Marion, Ohio. October 10, 1979. p. 10. Retrieved December 27, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.  
  3. ^ a b Sutter, Ellie (June 15, 2001). "Purcell Depot Gets Dedicated". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. p. 8. Retrieved December 27, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ "Amtrak Fact Sheet, Fiscal Year 2023: State of Oklahoma" (PDF). Amtrak. March 2024. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Purcell, OK (PUR)". The Great American Stations. Amtrak. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
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  Media related to Purcell station at Wikimedia Commons