who frequently used it between 1897 and 1903. Decline 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. The station building was reused as a restaurant by 1968. The MBTA bought the Boston and Maine commuter assets in 1976. 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. Preservation The station building fell into private ownership and hosted a pizza restaurant for a time; when the restaurant closed, the building was locked and did not provide passenger accommodations. In 1987, MBTA riders urged the town to purchase the building, which would help to restore access to the waiting room and restrooms, and the MBTA indicated that they would enforce a 1964 deed that required public access regardless of ownership. Representatives visited other stations nearby, including Hartford, Connecticut, to consult on how a station like West Concord could be renovated. Following successful appeals, a group of residents renovated the interior of the station. In 1989, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places as Union Station. The Club Car Cafe opened in the building in 1990; it provides a waiting room for passengers during weekday commute hours.