page_title: West Concord station
section_title: Decline
hierarchical_section_title: West Concord station / History / Decline
caption_attribution_description: English: The former diamond crossing at Concord Junction (West Concord) station, moved slightly and restored, in May 2017
context_page_description: West Concord station is an MBTA Commuter Rail station located in West Concord, Massachusetts. It is served by the Fitchburg Line. The station has two side platforms serving the line's two tracks, with mini-high platforms for accessibility. The adjacent station building, now a restaurant, is not used for railroad purposes.
  Concord Junction station opened in 1871 at the junction of the Fitchburg Railroad and the Framingham and Lowell Railroad, replacing an earlier station at Damon Mill to the west. It soon became an important railroad junction, and a new union station was built in 1894. Passenger service declined during the 20th century, though commuter service to Boston was retained. The station and surrounding village were renamed as West Concord in 1927. The interior of the station building was restored in the 1980s; it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989 as Union Station. The exterior was restored with the original tri-color paint scheme in the 2000s.
context_section_description: The Nashua, Acton and Boston became part of the Boston and Maine Railroad in 1895, followed by the Fitchburg Railroad in 1900. The F&L went through several ownership changes; it was acquired by the Old Colony Railroad in 1879, which was leased by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad in 1893. Passenger service declined in the 20th century; service to Nashua ended in 1924, and the line was abandoned the next year. Passenger service on the F&L ended in 1933, though north-south freight service through Concord Junction continued. At that time, the freight office (the northwest part of the station) and part of the roof were demolished. With passenger service only remaining on the Fitchburg mainline, in 1927 the station and village became known as West Concord. Intercity service past Fitchburg ended in 1960, leaving only commuter service to West Concord.
  The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) was formed in 1964 to subsidize suburban commuter rail operations. This public funding stabilized remaining service on the Boston and Maine system in 1965. In 1976, the MBTA bought the Boston and Maine commuter assets, including West Concord station. Around this time, the building began to be used as a restaurant. In 1982, a faux-brick exterior was added to the building and the space between the waiting room and baggage room was enclosed. Freight service on the ex-F&L from West Concord south to South Sudbury ended that year. The diamond crossing was soon removed and moved slightly south, where it was put on display in a small park.
caption: The preserved diamond crossing
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