Trains.com

Americas most beautiful train stations.

3026 views
14 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Americas most beautiful train stations.
Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, June 14, 2021 7:08 PM

Always a subjective subject.  here is msn's list you be the judge.  It does start with Cincinnatti Union Terminal.

These are America's most beautiful train stations (msn.com)

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Monday, June 14, 2021 9:03 PM

Feature B&O's Mt. Royal Station in Baltimore has been overlooked.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
Posted by York1 on Monday, June 14, 2021 9:27 PM

blue streak 1
Always a subjective subject.  here is msn's list you be the judge. 

 

Being the judge, I find it strange to include New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal as one of the "beautiful" train stations.  1950s bus station architecture probably isn't on many "most beautiful" lists:

 

 

Also being the judge, they should have included Omaha's Union Station, now the Durham Museum:

York1 John       

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Toronto, Canada
  • 2,560 posts
Posted by 54light15 on Monday, June 14, 2021 9:43 PM

I vote for Los Angeles Union Station- it's southwestern look is perfect for that part of the world. Built as a train station and still is a train station. 

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: US
  • 696 posts
Posted by rixflix on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 6:06 AM

I'd have trouble ranking a lot of the MSN choices, but the the piece has a link to greatamericanstations.com. That site has a state by state listing of Amtrak stations. In many cases the pictures are of the current Amshacks and the still extant great ones are only described in text!

Rick

rixflix aka Captain Video. Blessed be Jean Shepherd and all His works!!! Hooray for 1939, the all time movie year!!! I took that ride on the Reading but my Baby caught the Katy and left me a mule to ride.

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
  • 13,540 posts
Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 10:02 AM

These three stations, based on those that I have actually seen or used, are my picks:

1. Grand Central Terminal, New York

2. Los Angeles Union Station

3. King Street Station, Seattle

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
  • Member since
    March 2010
  • 145 posts
Posted by bill613a on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 8:47 PM

Several corrections on Cleveland Union Terminal.  The only AMTRAK train to call there was the original LAKESHORE (mid May to Dec 31 1971). For several days in Jan 1972 the LAKESHORE made its Cleveland stop in the industrial flats area until its discontinuance.  Today's LSL began in late October 1975 and has always used the lakeside station which has had some upgrades but could use some improvement.  There has been talk on and off about relocating the station slightly east and have Greyhound as a tenant along with the RTA waterfront line.  Nothing yet though.  As for the building itself it had a major renovation in the mid 80's into the Terminal Tower Complex and help spur downtown development which didn't last but a new casino has bolstered the area so we shall see

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Louisiana
  • 2,310 posts
Posted by Paul of Covington on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 9:34 PM

York1
Being the judge, I find it strange to include New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal as one of the "beautiful" train stations.  1950s bus station architecture probably isn't on many "most beautiful" lists:

   I was also surprised to see it included.  I was in my teens, living in New Orleans in the 1950's when there was a massive building effort, including the station, City Hall, and other administrative buildings, all in "1950's bleak" style.

_____________ 

  "A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 8:56 AM

Some great photography, but that's one of the most poorly put-together slide shows I've ever seen.

Missing captions, captions that don't match, buildings misidentified, just very sloppy work.

msn must have passed this off to the interns to handle. 

Sorry to be a wet blanket, but kids putting together a high school newspaper wouldn't make mistakes like that. I expect a lot better from msn.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 11:30 AM

Flintlock76
Sorry to be a wet blanket, but kids putting together a high school newspaper wouldn't make mistakes like that. I expect a lot better from msn.

Wayne, it was obviously clickbait.  MSN is just the unfortunate promoter of the silliness.

As with trolling: just calling something a railroad-related subject does not actually mean 'going for it' when a moment's discretion advises you of the ulterior purposes...

  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Dallas, TX
  • 6,952 posts
Posted by CMStPnP on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 12:16 PM

My two hometown favorites did not make the list.   C&NW Milwaukee lakefront station and Milwaukee Road Everett Street Station.    I saw some color pictures of the inside of the C&NW Milwaukee Lakefront Station.    It had what looked like a large fireplace in the waiting room, not sure if they fired that baby up at all but it must have been something when they did.    The inside looked like a castle sort of.   Everett Street the only pictures I saw were black and white and it was not as ornate as the C&NW depot but it still made an impression.

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 1:24 PM

Overmod
Wayne, it was obviously clickbait.  MSN is just the unfortunate promoter of the silliness.

Well Mod-Man if it was a clickbait attempt with the ulterior motive of trying to sell me something let's just say it fell short.  Way short. 

Speaking of high school kids, I just read a raging interview with Goose Gossage screaming about the current state of the New York Yankees:

"High schools kids play better ball than that!"

On the other hand, the Mets are doing pretty well this year, which makes Lady Firestorm very happy!

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • 21,669 posts
Posted by Overmod on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 2:06 PM

Flintlock76
Well Mod-Man if it was a clickbait attempt with the ulterior motive of trying to sell me something let's just say it fell short.  Way short. 

It sold something, all right.  Did you, ah, keep clicking all the way through the 51 pictures?  Aside from all the ads served surrounding the pictures (which were pay-per-click whether you actually buy from the advertiser(s) down the line or not) there is very likely 'code' that makes note of your IP address, registers that you clicked repeatedly on a presentation, and keys a file containing... well, probably a whole lot of preferences that can be cross-related with other 'stored preferences'.

This advertising isn't about 'buying the product' and hasn't been for a fairly long time on the 'monetized' Internet...

  • Member since
    July 2008
  • 2,325 posts
Posted by rdamon on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 3:14 PM

Number 14 will shock you!!!  Big Smile

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Posted by blue streak 1 on Thursday, June 17, 2021 2:06 PM

Not to be outdone Conde' Nast immediately has come out with a list.

14 Most Beautiful Train Stations in the U.S. | Condé Nast Traveler (cntraveler.com)

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