Best former RR structure, turned public place

[Anonymous]

Fortunately a lot of old RR buildings have been preserved / restored and have been turned into public places (ie stores, restaurants, etc.)

How about the crew here nominates their favorite 2 or 3.

Up here in the great, white north of Wisconsin, we have a few great old depots that have become restaurants. My favorite is a classic C&NW Ry depot that has become a micro-brewery and restaurant. I'm happy that a going-concern like this will help ensure that the building stays around. There's a few pics on the website.
http://www.titletownbrewing.com/tour.shtml#

[Anonymous]

The former Ottawa Union Station is now a conference building down town.

We have to use the new, ugly, black, glass-and-steel-box Ottawa VIA Station now!

[Wdlgln005]

http://www.kirchnerprints.com/unionstation.htm

Nashville Union Station
formerly L&N headquarters, now a fine hotel with fine dining
The track is still there (freight yard) no Amtrak service since Floridian left.

[JoeKoh]

Cincinnati union terminal
Indianapolis Union Station
stay safe
Joe

[Anonymous]

Have I got a good one to add to this list. The old Rock Island Depot in Little Rock, Arkansas, is now going to be a structure used in the new Presidential Center of President Clinton. The Rock Island bridge is next to the Center and might also be used.

[Modelcar]

....Have one for the catagory in the smaller Depots. Our Muncie CSX Depot built shortly after the turn of the 20th Century and the tracks were pulled up in mid 90's and now the route is the Cardinal Greenway Trail...paved now for 20 miles and the Depot is now nearing the completion of a complete renovation...over $800,000 worth and it will be the Trail Head [offices, etc.] and a small area for R R items on display. The renovation is beautiful and the building will be very useful on our very busy Hiking and Bike Trail.

[chemung]

Union Pacific Union Station,Omaha,Nebr.Now the location of Durham Western Heritage Museum.see www.dwhm.org for information and pictures.Built in 1931.

[Anonymous]

Union Station in Houston Texas was saved and is part of the new ballbark downtown.

Mark in Texas

[Anonymous]

The Flossmoor Station Restuarant in Flossmoor, Illinois along the mainline of mid-america. The restaurant and micro brewery was voted the number 4 restaurant in former RR places turned Restaurants by the Food Network.

[mudchicken]

Guisseppe's Restaurant in Colorado Springs ( massive Ex DRGW Depot with UP/BNSF joint line action right out the window, ambiance!) The Santa Fe Depot across town is an office building and a nightclub with no railroad next to it anymore ...

[Anonymous]

One dude up here in Alaska got a GP40 loco as a present. His wife bought it for him from the ARR for $3,021 (also the road number of that loco). So he turned it into a bed & breakfast. He also has a couple of surplused passenger cars from ARR

[dknelson]

The Washington DC union station is still used as a railroad station but inside it is shops and restaurants. Very neat and not far from the US Capitol.

Dave Nelson

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Alaskaman

One dude up here in Alaska got a GP40 loco as a present. His wife bought it for him from the ARR for $3,021 (also the road number of that loco). So he turned it into a bed & breakfast. He also has a couple of surplused passenger cars from ARR

Uh Honey could you roll over....the main generator is kinda cramping me.

Seems like a SD40-2 would be better though, you could put a little bistro set out on the veranda....a little light breakfast while reading the paper on the porch.....or is that brakefast.....[:o)]

[tree68]

Pretty sure this one qualifies, and you can see it on TV on a regular basis: Camden yards.

[kwboehm]

QUOTE: Originally posted by chemung

Union Pacific Union Station,Omaha,Nebr.Now the location of Durham Western Heritage Museum.see www.dwhm.org for information and pictures.Built in 1931.

Now if they could do something with the old Burlington Station across the way...maybe put the skywalk back in and expand the Durham...hmmmm

I like what was done with Kansas City's Union Station...science center (with train watching area), restaurant(s), and still use a small part of it for Amtrak. I know Dearborn Station in Chicago was restored (I don't rememebr to what extent or what all is in there)...I've been to the bar in there. Unfortunately the tracks and train shed are long gone there.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dharmon

QUOTE: Originally posted by Alaskaman

One dude up here in Alaska got a GP40 loco as a present. His wife bought it for him from the ARR for $3,021 (also the road number of that loco). So he turned it into a bed & breakfast. He also has a couple of surplused passenger cars from ARR

Uh Honey could you roll over....the main generator is kinda cramping me.

Seems like a SD40-2 would be better though, you could put a little bistro set out on the veranda....a little light breakfast while reading the paper on the porch.....or is that brakefast.....[:o)]

I'm pretty sure they removed all the inside parts. Otherwise it wouldn't work as a bed and breakfast at all.

[Nora]

Don't know too many of them, but I kind of like Station Square in Pittsburgh. The funny thing is that there is a large, old sign on the roof of the building that says P&LERR. For many years I assumed it used to be a building owned by a Mr. P and a Mr. Lerr and I wondered whether Mr. P was ever jealous that he didn't get his whole name up there. Eventually I figured out that it meant Pittsburgh & Lake Erie RR.

--Nora

[Anonymous]

For my money, it is the old Union station in Chatanooga, Tennessee. They have it really going on with real sleeping cars for a motel. Train exhibits, shops and, of course, Glenn Miller's 'Chatanooga Cho-Cho' blasting all the time. Great place to visit.

[RudyRockvilleMD]

The ex CP station in St Stephen, NB is now a visitor information center for the province of New Brunswick and for the city of St Stephen.

[kwboehm]

The old Burlington Depot in Grand Island, NE is being converted into part Police substation, part model railroad club and part dining / gathering area. Still alongside the tracks...only the tracks are about 20 ft. higher now to flyover the UP and eliminate a bunch of grade crossings through town.

I believe at one point the old Illinois Terminal station in Peoria, IL was also being used as a police station. If I remember correctly from my childhood, you could see some of the rails in the parking lot towards the sallyport. If someone can confirm or deny this please let me know.

[lrfogle]

Try the former CB & Q depot in Creston, Iowa. It was sold to the City by BN for a dollar and after extensive renovation now serves as City Hall, Senior Citizens Meal Site, Model Railroad exhibit and community center. Stop in sometime and see what has been accomplished when a community pulls together.

[RAILFANUSA]

How 'bout the old WESTERN PACIFIC station in Sacramento---the last time I was there a bunch of years ago it was a "Spaghetti Factory" and the trains rolled by real close!!!


----------Don in New Hampshire.

[danahu]

I nominate "Pizzaworks" restaurant in the ex-NH Old Saybrook, CT Station along the NEC (neat, whimsical HO Model RR installed on the top floor, and great pizza and suds on tap), and "The Station" restaurant in the ex-PRR Northumberland, PA station (featuring two ex-DL&W MU cars surrounding the dance floor), along today's NS Harrisburg-Buffalo Main and the North Shore RR. (ex-DL&W Bloomsburg Branch)

[Anonymous]

Kansas City Union Station. It's got a science museum and theaters downstairs; restaurants, special exhibits, a few small specialty stores, and a transit center in the "first floor" areas; a free station history museum, food court overlook, and World War I "canteen" on the mezzanine level; and accessible overlook areas above that. Opened 89 years ago this month (Oct., 1914), the station was still served by 12 Class I railroads in the early 1960's. Amtrak is now back in the station, and freights from 4 major railroads pass by the back of the station at all hours of the day. The station is connected to two hotels and a shopping area by a scenic skywalk, and is directly across the street from the impressive Liberty Memorial tower dedicated to those who fought in WW I.

Plus, on many of the tables in the food court, you can see old TRAINS Magazine covers!

[Anonymous]

The former WP depot in Sacramento, host once to the California Zephyr, is now a restaurant. It's of course right by the tracks, and so it's lots of fun to be eating and have a train go by... most of the patrons have no idea what's going on, and the presence is overpowering.

Bob Burket
Santa Monica, California

[Anonymous]

Having been involved with the sale of both structures I would agree with the gentleman who voted for the union Station in Indianapolis and the Cincinnati Union Terminal now used as a museum center.

Third would have to be P&LE Station in Pittsburgh, is the restaurant still there ?

[Anonymous]

The former Erie (New York and Lake Erie ) passenger station and at one time,
headquarters for the Delaware and Jefferson Divisions and eastern terminal for
the Susquehanna Division at Susquehanna Depot, Pa should be way up there on
a lot of lists. This brick structure was once listed as the oldest brick railroad station
still in use. At one time there were two yards, two roundhouses, a stone locomotive
erecting shop and a concrete coaling tower in the area. Only the station and the
coaling tower remain. The station is now in private hands, in use as a resteraunt
called the Starrucca House. Did I mention...the Starruca Viaduct built in 1847-1848
is a mile east of the station. Fall along the Susquehanna River is a wounderful time
to visit this once busy railraod center.
)

[Anonymous]

Two come to mind. First, a small station converted to an excellent restaurant in Warrenton, VA and secondly, the wonderful railroad museum in Ogden, Utah

[Anonymous]

Waynoka OK 1910 Harvey House was beautifully restored with help of ISTEA funds. More than $1.3 million spent to date. Museum on 2nd floor. El Charro Mexican Restaurant and Museum Gift Shop on first floor. Great place. On BNSF main line from Chicago to Los Angeles. Frequent trains. Super atmosphere. Old Santa Fe Depot to be restored next. Owned by Waynoka Historical Society.

Museum exhibits feature Santa Fe Railroad, Fred Harvey (Mrs. Harvey's silk coat dress on display), America's largest ice plant, Transcontinental Air Transport (coast to coast via air and rail), railroad town, military, etc. See waynoka.org.

[Anonymous]

Ron Brown's The Last Stop is a nice read for those who have a thing for stations.