Trains.com

Favorite Station/Depot

1703 views
11 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    August 2002
  • From: Memory Lane, on the sunny side of the street.
  • 737 posts
Favorite Station/Depot
Posted by ironhorseman on Thursday, July 17, 2003 8:20 PM
Seeing how this topic over at Classic Trains is running a little slow I thought I'd post it here for more exposure.

I like visiting train stations as much as I like standing by the tracks watching trains or model railroading. I've seen all this talk lately about missed and favorite fallen flags and was just wondering what station(s) you miss most that have either been demolished or converted to some other use. And what station would visit if you had a chance to see it in it's prime?

I would choose Pennsylvania Station because I never saw it. It was demolished before I was even born. In fact, I've never been to Pennsylvania. I have heard so much about it and seen all kinds of pictures in books, magazines, and videos.

Wichita, KS lost a gem when the victorian-style Missouri Pacific depot was demolished to make way for the architecturaly inferior Garvey Plaza, a collection of office buildings and hotel. The depot was demolished in the 1960s. Had it survived it would have made it onto the National Register of Historic Places. Union Station now houses the cable tv company and the Rock Island depot has two restaurants in it.

To vote in my poll surf on over to http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5852

yad sdrawkcab s'ti

  • Member since
    August 2002
  • From: Memory Lane, on the sunny side of the street.
  • 737 posts
Favorite Station/Depot
Posted by ironhorseman on Thursday, July 17, 2003 8:20 PM
Seeing how this topic over at Classic Trains is running a little slow I thought I'd post it here for more exposure.

I like visiting train stations as much as I like standing by the tracks watching trains or model railroading. I've seen all this talk lately about missed and favorite fallen flags and was just wondering what station(s) you miss most that have either been demolished or converted to some other use. And what station would visit if you had a chance to see it in it's prime?

I would choose Pennsylvania Station because I never saw it. It was demolished before I was even born. In fact, I've never been to Pennsylvania. I have heard so much about it and seen all kinds of pictures in books, magazines, and videos.

Wichita, KS lost a gem when the victorian-style Missouri Pacific depot was demolished to make way for the architecturaly inferior Garvey Plaza, a collection of office buildings and hotel. The depot was demolished in the 1960s. Had it survived it would have made it onto the National Register of Historic Places. Union Station now houses the cable tv company and the Rock Island depot has two restaurants in it.

To vote in my poll surf on over to http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5852

yad sdrawkcab s'ti

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 17, 2003 8:24 PM
Grand Central Terminal. New York, NY.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, July 17, 2003 8:24 PM
Grand Central Terminal. New York, NY.
  • Member since
    April 2002
  • From: Joliet, Illinois
  • 256 posts
Posted by David3 on Thursday, July 17, 2003 8:26 PM
I would say the Chicago Union station because Amtrak and metra trains park in there and when they are idling it sounds really cool.
  • Member since
    April 2002
  • From: Joliet, Illinois
  • 256 posts
Posted by David3 on Thursday, July 17, 2003 8:26 PM
I would say the Chicago Union station because Amtrak and metra trains park in there and when they are idling it sounds really cool.
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Northern Kentucky
  • 512 posts
Posted by louisnash on Thursday, July 17, 2003 10:31 PM
I must say that Cincinnati Union Termial is good. Going into Tower A is awesome to be able to overlook Queensgate Yard.

Brian (KY)
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Northern Kentucky
  • 512 posts
Posted by louisnash on Thursday, July 17, 2003 10:31 PM
I must say that Cincinnati Union Termial is good. Going into Tower A is awesome to be able to overlook Queensgate Yard.

Brian (KY)
  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Muncie, Indiana...Orig. from Pennsylvania
  • 13,456 posts
Posted by Modelcar on Thursday, July 17, 2003 10:37 PM
....The great PENNSYLVANIA STATION In NYC...Demolished in 1965. One of the greatest structures I've ever been in....grand like a cathedral. What a terrible loss to lose it to the wrecking ball. If interested....A great book on the history from the beginning, and it's in use time period and the end...plus many photos of it all....Great..! "The Late Great Pennsylvania Station"....by Lorraine B. Diehl.

Quentin

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Muncie, Indiana...Orig. from Pennsylvania
  • 13,456 posts
Posted by Modelcar on Thursday, July 17, 2003 10:37 PM
....The great PENNSYLVANIA STATION In NYC...Demolished in 1965. One of the greatest structures I've ever been in....grand like a cathedral. What a terrible loss to lose it to the wrecking ball. If interested....A great book on the history from the beginning, and it's in use time period and the end...plus many photos of it all....Great..! "The Late Great Pennsylvania Station"....by Lorraine B. Diehl.

Quentin

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,287 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, July 17, 2003 10:39 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by louisnash

I must say that Cincinnati Union Termial is good. Going into Tower A is awesome to be able to overlook Queensgate Yard.

Brian (KY)

Will be there tommorow[:D] I would like to see the B&O depot saved here in Defiance no answers from csx.It was a 2 story depot.Not many around here.I know there is enough people interested not only in rail history but city history that want it saved too.[;)]
stay safe
joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,287 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, July 17, 2003 10:39 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by louisnash

I must say that Cincinnati Union Termial is good. Going into Tower A is awesome to be able to overlook Queensgate Yard.

Brian (KY)

Will be there tommorow[:D] I would like to see the B&O depot saved here in Defiance no answers from csx.It was a 2 story depot.Not many around here.I know there is enough people interested not only in rail history but city history that want it saved too.[;)]
stay safe
joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Northern Kentucky
  • 512 posts
Posted by louisnash on Thursday, July 17, 2003 11:31 PM
Joe,
Know what you mean. There was a depot in Sparta KY that they (I guess CSX)have tore down just in the past few months. Hated to see it done but I guess it must have been a safety issue and/or no one to support fixing it up. Thank goodness I got photos of it last fall.

Brian (KY)
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Northern Kentucky
  • 512 posts
Posted by louisnash on Thursday, July 17, 2003 11:31 PM
Joe,
Know what you mean. There was a depot in Sparta KY that they (I guess CSX)have tore down just in the past few months. Hated to see it done but I guess it must have been a safety issue and/or no one to support fixing it up. Thank goodness I got photos of it last fall.

Brian (KY)
  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, July 18, 2003 12:10 AM
Grand Central Station, in Chicago.
For one that's still there, Durand, Michgan.

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

  • Member since
    June 2001
  • From: Lombard (west of Chicago), Illinois
  • 13,681 posts
Posted by CShaveRR on Friday, July 18, 2003 12:10 AM
Grand Central Station, in Chicago.
For one that's still there, Durand, Michgan.

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 18, 2003 12:56 PM
LA Union Station is another great one...

LC
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 18, 2003 12:56 PM
LA Union Station is another great one...

LC
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Upper Left Coast
  • 1,796 posts
Posted by kenneo on Sunday, July 20, 2003 3:59 AM
King Street in Seattle, WA
Union Station in Portland, OR [:D]
LAUPT
Union Station, Washington, DC
30th Street, Philladelphia, PA
3rd and Townsand Street, San Francisco, CA (it's gone now)
Oakridge, OR (burnt to the ground many moons ago)[V]
Timber, OR (arson, built of logs, total destruction)[V]
Eric
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Upper Left Coast
  • 1,796 posts
Posted by kenneo on Sunday, July 20, 2003 3:59 AM
King Street in Seattle, WA
Union Station in Portland, OR [:D]
LAUPT
Union Station, Washington, DC
30th Street, Philladelphia, PA
3rd and Townsand Street, San Francisco, CA (it's gone now)
Oakridge, OR (burnt to the ground many moons ago)[V]
Timber, OR (arson, built of logs, total destruction)[V]
Eric
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 20, 2003 4:37 AM
Phildadelphia's 16th Street Station is a beautiful station, however, Washington's Union Station is wonderful, there is a mall inside. Scenes from Hannibal were shot there.
Nevertheless, I am very fond of small depots. Springfield, Illinois depot has a wonderful clock inside the depot. There is a beautiful depot with the southwest look in Davis, California. Although Amtrak does not serve Abilene, Texas depot, it is wonderful. It would be great if Amtrak would serve this one. Another fine depot in Texas is Marshall's, they spent over a million dollars restoring it. Probably the prettiest depot ever destroyed was the Katy depot in Waco, Texas. Too bad it was destroyed by the railroad before restoration efforts began. It once had a dome to match the county courthouse in Waco. Well, at least the old county courthouse is still standing.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 20, 2003 4:37 AM
Phildadelphia's 16th Street Station is a beautiful station, however, Washington's Union Station is wonderful, there is a mall inside. Scenes from Hannibal were shot there.
Nevertheless, I am very fond of small depots. Springfield, Illinois depot has a wonderful clock inside the depot. There is a beautiful depot with the southwest look in Davis, California. Although Amtrak does not serve Abilene, Texas depot, it is wonderful. It would be great if Amtrak would serve this one. Another fine depot in Texas is Marshall's, they spent over a million dollars restoring it. Probably the prettiest depot ever destroyed was the Katy depot in Waco, Texas. Too bad it was destroyed by the railroad before restoration efforts began. It once had a dome to match the county courthouse in Waco. Well, at least the old county courthouse is still standing.
  • Member since
    May 2001
  • From: US
  • 158 posts
Posted by Saxman on Sunday, July 20, 2003 8:17 AM
1. The ex GTW depot in Durand, MI

2. Gone but not forgotten: The GTW/PM depot in South Lyon, MI
  • Member since
    May 2001
  • From: US
  • 158 posts
Posted by Saxman on Sunday, July 20, 2003 8:17 AM
1. The ex GTW depot in Durand, MI

2. Gone but not forgotten: The GTW/PM depot in South Lyon, MI

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy