Meet the woman who runs a historic Vermont train station
MaryAnn Jakubowski works seven days a week at the station, greeting passengers and handing out brownies
CASTLETON, Vt. (Aging Untold) — MaryAnn Jakubowski starts her mornings at 9 a.m. with a bone-building class at the Castleton Community Center, where seniors meet twice a week to strengthen bones and improve balance.
Jakubowski has attended the bone-building class since it started in 2000, and she now teaches the class.
But for the woman in her 80s, the morning workout is just a warmup to her real job a few miles away — running the train station.
Jakubowski works seven days a week at the station, walking there each day. She not only operates the Castleton station but also owns the historic building.
“It’s one of the oldest train stations that Amtrak has on the line,” Jakubowski said. “If it’s not the oldest, one of the oldest.”
Family business with railroad history
When D&H Railroad stopped running the rails in Castleton in the 1960s, Jakubowski’s parents bought the station and turned it into a music shop. The building has been in the family ever since.
Amtrak returned to the station in 2010.
The floors are original, and thick rope is still used to fill gaps between floorboards.
Jakubowski doesn’t sell tickets at the station.
“I don’t have any money here. I don’t deal with it,” she said.
Daily routine with the Ethan Allen Express
The train travels from Rutland to New York City. The train stops for just a few minutes — long enough for passengers to board and for Jakubowski to pass out brownies to the conductor.
“I like to meet people and talk to people and show them around,” Jakubowski said. “Every day is different, every day it’s fun.”
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