Omaha passenger stations

[midlifemalenurse]

I grew up in Omaha, Nebraska 1955-1972.  There were two passenger stations:  Union Station (Union Pacific, Rock Island, Milwaukee Road, Missouri Pacific, Wabash) and Burlington Station (CB&Q, Chicago Great Western).  I rode trains from both stations in my childhood.  I remember there was a long enclosed bridge between the two stations, maybe 300 feet, with escalators or stairs to trackside below.  That structure is long gone; Union Station is now Durham Western Heritage Museum, and Burlington Station, vacant for many year and home to many cats, is being restored.

I have rode trains all over the world since that time, and I have never known any other city that has (or had) interconnected depots.  Was Omaha unique in this way?  Does anyone have pictures or information?  I would be grateful for any response.  Best wishes to all lovers of trains!

[passengerfan]

midlifemalenurse

I grew up in Omaha, Nebraska 1955-1972.  There were two passenger stations:  Union Station (Union Pacific, Rock Island, Milwaukee Road, Missouri Pacific, Wabash) and Burlington Station (CB&Q, Chicago Great Western).  I rode trains from both stations in my childhood.  I remember there was a long enclosed bridge between the two stations, maybe 300 feet, with escalators or stairs to trackside below.  That structure is long gone; Union Station is now Durham Western Heritage Museum, and Burlington Station, vacant for many year and home to many cats, is being restored.

I have rode trains all over the world since that time, and I have never known any other city that has (or had) interconnected depots.  Was Omaha unique in this way?  Does anyone have pictures or information?  I would be grateful for any response.  Best wishes to all lovers of trains!

Seattle might fill the bill they had two stations King St. (served by the Great Northern and Northern Pacific) and Union Station (served by the Union Pacific and Milwaukee Road. Separating the two stations was the fourth ave viaduct. Passengers could walk from one station to the other to make connections to trains operating out of either station. A passenger would hardly get a drop of water on them if it was raining passing under the viaduct between stations. The main entrances to both stations were on King st. elevated at the same height as the fourth ave viaduct. Passenger cars from the SP brought to Seattle from Portland on the UP pool train were also transferred under the fourth ave viaduct from UP to the NP to be returned the next day to Portland. King St. Station still exists today as a station and Union Station I believe is still there minus the tracks.

Further north in Vancouver BC the Great Northern Station and Canadian National stations sat next to each other and it was possible to go from one to the other without getting wet there as well. Unfortunately the GN station in Vancouver was torn down years ago but the old CN station operates Via Rail and Rocky Mountaineer trains today.  

Hope that helps.

Al - in - Stockton

PS We have two fully operational stations in Stockton a city of under 300,000 and the third station former WP is used for storing city junk. The former SP station has been fully restored and operates Altamont Commuter Express trains and San Joaquin trains between Sacramento and Bakersfield. The third station is the former Santa Fe station and handles the San Joaquins that originate in the Bay area and run to Bakersfield.

[midlifemalenurse]

Thank you!  Very interesting!

[cnwfan51]

   I also grew up in Omaha and remember the two stations and the overhead walkway between them I just sickens me to see whats left there  But Omaha also had a thrid station at 32nd and Webster The CMOs station was there with stub tracks 6 of them I think . Do you remember the huge tree in the main waiting room at Union every year at Christmas  Larry

[wjstix]

cnwfan51

   I also grew up in Omaha and remember the two stations and the overhead walkway between them I just sickens me to see whats left there  But Omaha also had a thrid station at 32nd and Webster The CMOs station was there with stub tracks 6 of them I think . Do you remember the huge tree in the main waiting room at Union every year at Christmas  Larry

I was going to ask about that - I figured the "Omaha Road" must have had an Omaha station!!

[Los Angeles Rams Guy]

I'm assuming that CNW also used Union Station in Omaha along with Overland Route partner, UP, in addition to the other roads you mentioned (MILW, RI).

But what about the Illinois Central?  Even though they left the passenger market for the Council Bluffs/Omaha market many years before the closing, did they call Union Station or the Burlington depot home in town? 

[Deggesty]

Los Angeles Rams Guy

I'm assuming that CNW also used Union Station in Omaha along with Overland Route partner, UP, in addition to the other roads you mentioned (MILW, RI).

But what about the Illinois Central?  Even though they left the passenger market for the Council Bluffs/Omaha market many years before the closing, did they call Union Station or the Burlington depot home in town? 

Yes, the IC used the UP station in Omaha. Except for the Omaha Road, the MP, and some CB&Q trains, the roads coming in from the east used the UP between Council Bluffs and Omaha. The Q was different in that it routed some trains through Council Bluffs and some through Plattsmouth, and it used its own station. The Chicago Great Western, at least in 1955, also used the Q's station. Even though it came up the west side of the Missouri, the MP used the UP station.

In 1980, I was going to Chicago, and I was surprised to find the train using the UP bridge on its way from Omaha to Pacific Junction. I understand that at that time, the BN dispatcher used his discretion as to how to route the train out of and into Omaha.

Johnny

[cnwfan51]

  The Chicago Great vWestern used the CB&Q stsation because they didnt want to pay the rent the managment impossed pn them It was a flat rate no matter how many trains the railrods operated  thru it. Because the CGW only had two trains a day they felt they were being taken advantage of . The CGW used the CB&Q station unil 30 September 1965 when trains 13 and 14 were discontinued between Omaha and the Twin Cities   Larry

[Falcon48]

wjstix

cnwfan51

   I also grew up in Omaha and remember the two stations and the overhead walkway between them I just sickens me to see whats left there  But Omaha also had a thrid station at 32nd and Webster The CMOs station was there with stub tracks 6 of them I think . Do you remember the huge tree in the main waiting room at Union every year at Christmas  Larry

I was going to ask about that - I figured the "Omaha Road" must have had an Omaha station!!

  They still do the big tree at Omaha Union Station / Durham museum at Christmas.  It's an annual tradition.

[AgentKid]

passengerfan

Further north in Vancouver BC the Great Northern Station and Canadian National stations sat next to each other

 

I just found out this week that the GN station had actually been built as a Union Station. NP was going to use it as well, but only did so for less than a year in 1916 before American regulators ordered it discontinuance as a redundant service just prior to the U.S. entry into WWI.

AgentKid