By Railfan & Railroad Staff

The City of Portland, Ore., is putting its historic train station up for sale. Portland Union Station was built in 1896 and today serves Amtrak. The structure is in dire need of repair, which officials expect will cost anywhere between $250 million and $300 million, an amount the city cannot afford. 

Amtrak was recently in talks with the city to purchase the structure, but according to local media, it has since decided against buying the building. 

Portland Union Station is on the National Register of Historic Places and is the oldest railroad station on the West Coast that has been in continuous use. The station was designed by Van Brunt & Howe and was at one time owned by the Portland Terminal Railroad Co. It was later sold to the Portland Development Commission, now called Prosper Portland. The most notable feature of the building is a 150-foot-tall clock tower with the iconic “Go by Train” sign.