I second the mention of Hoboken as a true gem.
Almost any of the NCDOT renovated stations, especially Greensboro and High Point. Also Burlington which is actually a pre- civil war locomotive shop building that also houses a museum on the history of the North Carolina Railroad.
AMTRAK DEARBORN STATION for the Detroit Metro Area - Update!
-----------------------------
Yes they did install a second track of all welded rail on concrete ties at the platforms. And the overhead walkway to the second track is "in use" with elevator service. Two stairways ascending from the concourse one for service and one grand staircase - a curiosity - as going down on the second platform its elevator or service stair only?
I saw two AMTRAK trains occupy the station at once - eastbound and westbound Wolverine at one time - and that's more train station activity than I have seen in Detroit in many, many years.
While standing on the overhead - the station agent passed a private mail package to the conductor of the westbound train which seemed unusual to me. Later when she came by and I asked her if they offered some form of courier service? She shared that someone had left a cell phone on the eastbound train, and that it was being sent back to the station of origin for the customer to reclaim - a commendable courtesy I thought.
The station agent also mentioned that Amtrack will eventually allow direct access into the rail yard of the Henry Ford Museum. You will be able to ride the train to Dearborn, disembark and walk into the museum grounds at the rail facility though a unique station entrance. Not only is there a steam locomotive on display in the concourse of the AMTRAK station but there is now A SECOND one ALSO on exhibit and visible from the AMTRAK platform too.
That's right! DETROIT AND MACKINAC steam locomotive DM 8 a "slope back" tender 0-6-0 switch engine is visible from the AMTRAK platform through the museum fence along with several historic freight cars. A white painted three dome UNION OIL tank car UTLX with build date of March 1937. Also NORFOLK AND WESTERN 28502 a three chute black coal hopper with out reporting markings but showing it was serviced by the railroad in October 2010. Also a maroon painted wooden boxcar with vertical brake wheels and external framing marked DETROIT TOLEDO AND IRONTON showing build date of September 1914. Also a small SOUTHERN PACIFIC drop center flat car riding on roller bearing trucks carrying a load of rails. (Quite like those LIONEL built in the 1950's.) And a suitable entertainment for those rail fan passengers waiting to board for passenger service to Chicago.
---------------------------------
I also happened to talk to the contracting engineer who had just installed the second station track at the Dearborn station site. Quite a conversation, we discused the 110 mph speed rating on the entire Chicago rail line which was in process of implementation. A new overhead signal gantry bridge also been installed west of the station. And a switch and siding into the Henry Ford Museum for delivery and hopefull someday to allow excursion locomotives onto the old NYC - Michigan Central main line! And that's one step closer to having MC 254 the only 4-4-2 MICHIGAN CENTRAL steam passenger engine remaining - getting out and running on it's historic tracks! Or the mint condition mighty C&O 1601 the mighty 2-6-6-6 "Allegheny" - with some 6000+ horsepower - getting uncaged and unleashed at a someday to be dreamed of future time. Oh Yah! if they could move UP 4014 "Big Boy" on panel tracks - given the interest - the indoor stored Chessie is do-able also!
Before the AMTRAK train left the station platform - Homeland Security Police descended upon the scene each wearing pistols and carrying backpacks - just a "roving securty team" that was moving from one AMTRAK station to another - just "checking things out" and moving around talking to all the passengers - My God! there must have been eight or ten of them dressed in khaki and black.
Best Amtrack rail service I have seen in Detroit in years and quite a show too.
Doc
My favorites? Well, even though it doesn't service trains anymore there's the old Richmond, Fredericksbug and Potomac Broad Street Station here in Richmond Va, repurposed as the Science Museum of Virginia. Still retains a lot of it's old RF&P atmosphere with the tracks still pretty much intact complete will static rail equipment displays, even a C&O Kanawha!
Grand Central Terminal in New York, just as awesome as ever!
The NJ Transit station in Ridgewood NJ, built in 1914 and virtually unchanged since then.
Sentimental favorites, the old Erie stations in Tenafly and River Edge NJ.
PS: you can see these New Jersey stations and quite a few others cross-country by checking out www.subwaynut.com. Man, that guy's on a mission! He's been just about everywhere photographing train stations, quite a website to see!
Speaking of Richmond, it is interesting to note that all three passenger stations are saved. The Southern Rwy. Hull st. facility is the Old Dominion Chapter NRHS museum. The Main St. station is back in use for Amtrak's Newport News service, with possible use as part of the SEHSR on the old Seaboard side, and the aforementioned Broad st Union Station. For small town charm, I recommend going about 20 miles north to the town of Ashland. That station is still used by Amtrak and the town's visitors center. If you are a model railroader, this would be a beautiful small town scene to model.
Another great station is Utica central, not only serves Amtrak but the Adirondack scenic
Have to agree with you about Ashland Mr. McIntosh, it's the best place in the Richmond area for railfanning. Great small-town charm, plus several blocks south of the station is Tiny Tim's Toys, a great little model railroad shop I highly recommend.
Is there any update on the Utica NY trains station that was damaged this summer by the run-away hopper car? Did the NYC 0-6-0 switch engine that was on display survive the impact?
Jackson, Mi is a gem.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
Montreal. Yes I know it is not in the U.S., nevertheless, it is served by Amtrak. Large open concourse/waiting room, stairwells down to the platforms. I don't remember what the outside looked like, probably because you could go right to the hotel without having to leave the building. A number of the larger city Canadian stations have that feature, many were former CP hotels.
Toronto union station is another goodie, how bout Boston south station, built in 1897 another american classic
The station in Toronto is another station with an Amtrak train (operated by VIA between Toronto and Niagara Falls, Ontario) that is close to a hotel--the Royal York (formerly CP) is directly across the street, and there is a passage under the street.
The Chateau Laurier (formerly CN) in Ottawa used to be located similarly, but the station is now quite some distance from the hotel.
The Scotian (formerly CN) in Halifax is still right by the railroad station; a few years ago, after we came into the waiting room, my wife asked me how we would get to the hotel; I took a quick look, and told her to walk into the lobby.
Johnny
I stayed at the Royal York. When I checked out, a bellman offered to take my luggage to the train station. It was a nice day, and he chose to push the hotel luggage cart across the busy city street, rather than use the tunnel. I suppose it saved a couple of elavator rides.
I also stayed at the Nova Scotian a couple of times. The first time was in the early 90s before VIA eliminated the Atlantic (Unfortunatly I didn't have time to also ride the Yarmoth RDC.) The second time was in 2001 when we drove to Halifax, and stayed at the Hotel so it would be easy to catch the VIA tour train to Cape Bretton. When we checked in, we were concerned that the passageway to the station was gated off (the hotel was now a Westin.) However, next morning the gate was open.
Another vote for Toledo. Every Xmas the wife and I board the Capitol Limited to DC from Toledo. MY wife hands out rubber duckies everywhere she goes, and that station has a line of them inside their ticket window now, not sure 10-15 of them at this point. The window staff remembers us year to year. And last summer our 30 year old son trained to NYC from Toledo, so he announced himself as son of duck lady, and presented them yet another duck my wife sent along. The station itself has an eye challenging colorful tile floor in the waiting room, a work of art itself, and an arc of rail embedded in the sidewalk out front, with a hostorical marker sign. Comvortable up[holstered bench seats, and the train is maybe 20 feet outside the waiting room door. Though the sleepers are a bit of a hike down the platform.
Quebec City:
East Glacier, MT
Washington D.C., probably has the best food court. Don't stand outside the front and admire the Capitol. You will be confronted by neer-do-wells who panhandle and/ or mooch cigarettes.
One of my favorite stations is the century-old NY NH & H RR station in New Haven, Conn., now busy as anything handling trains from Amtrak, Shore Line East, and MetroNorth. Trains come and go from 3 different directions.
Designed by Cass Gilbert (Woolworth Bldg in Manhattan, 3 state capitols, US Supreme Court Bldg, among others) about 1916, this wonderful station has everything the passenger could want. Its large waiting room is a sun-filled joy to sit in, especially on the original wooden benches which have on top of them glass-encased large (Lionel?) model New Haven RR trains. Lots of marble, wonderful light fixtures, clerks behind cage windows, a stunningly modern tunnel to the platforms, a locomotive ready track just outside the station, all make NH a fascinating and comfortable place to watch trains, while giving passengers a warm, safe, inspiring station in which to spend one's wait time.
Favorite station of days past? Cleveland Union Terminal. (to paraphrase Satchmo, "If you gotta ask, you'll never know.")
New Haven Union Station 1909-18
http://www.cassgilbertsociety.org/works/new-haven-ct-rr/new-haven-rr-exterior/
A tip of the hat to schlimm and wanswheel for their pictures of Union Station at New Haven. A picture certainly is worth a thousand words..
I have never seen the drawing of the proposed station before, but I note the proportions of the building are substantially the same as the station I have come to know. Fascinating to study.
It's a great station and I like seeing it get the respect it deserves. Thanks, gentlemen.
My favorite Amtrak station -- RHINECLIFF, New York -- its an historic building but is not in very good condition. Its my favorite, however, for convenience and for very polite staff. I also like it as its right on the Hudson River and so there is both water traffic to watch as well as rail on both shores plus views ofteh Catskill Mountains. As business increases (which it is, including scheduled stops for the Lakeshore Ltd.) I hope the station is brought back to its earlier standards.
I do enjoy the many restored Amtrak stations around the country, as well as some of the smaller ones past and present (e.g. Saint Petersburg, Florida when the trains actually went there and today's Ticonderoga, New York station.
Least favorite: Penn Station New York !
H.L. Mencken was a Baltimore man through and through, so he would have been a B&O man. Mount Royal would have been his style; in fact it's not far from his home. Someone posted recently the story of how the B&O provided sepcial trains for several months, operating from Philadelphia to Baltimore, to keep the newspaper going after the Great Baltimore fire of 1904. Can't find it now, but if you check out his book Newspaper Days it's there.
matthewsaggie H.L. Mencken was a Baltimore man through and through, so he would have been a B&O man. Mount Royal would have been his style; in fact it's not far from his home. Someone posted recently the story of how the B&O provided sepcial trains for several months, operating from Philadelphia to Baltimore, to keep the newspaper going after the Great Baltimore fire of 1904. Can't find it now, but if you check out his book Newspaper Days it's there.
https://books.google.com/books?id=F60762CfNPQC&pg=PA88&lpg=PA88&dq=Mencken%27s+views+on+B%26O+RR&source=bl&ots=tQHbvYKBiQ&sig=BvoCRcYDMPBR6pHKtgeVH80eC98&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi1yfappLbKAhUN12MKHeA8CtIQ6AEIOjAE#v=onepage&q=Mencken's%20views%20on%20B%26O%20RR&f=false
Amtrak would be Portland station, still a classic.And I always loved Los Angeles Union but have not been there since Amtrak took over, went there on SP and UP. Still remember the stuffed comfy chairs and I see them on TV when they show the station. Kansas City US is another classic one. Chicago is a good one too, huge, but never seem to have time to really look around, making connections.
Pre-Amtrak of course would be my home town St. Louis Union Station, still a beauty today without trains. But renovations are being made and the new owner is very train friendly, and hopes to get an excursion train back. Buffalo was a massive station, we spent hours there between Niagara Falls and waiting for our train to St. L. With a pass, it wasn't always a quick connection, but we didn't care. We'd watch people milling around and a few running for their trains that they did miss. Another classic is Grand Central in NYC, will never forget that round info center with the clock.
To New Jersey, thanks for the info. Looks like a beautiful station, I only know Penn in NYC, we came through there on Pennsy years ago and don't remember much about it, except it was huge. I liked GCT better. If I ever get back that way, I'll have to check it out.
I didn't realize this was an older forum that restarted, see my previous comments and did reply to New Jersey. For Canada, I did like Montreal, we stayed at Queen Elizabeth owned by CN and right above the station, easy access and for their rubber tired subway system and shops too. It was 25th anniversary of station opening and they had a huge cake that they cut up and gave out pieces to all as we were waiting for train to Quebec City. The pic of VIA station does not look like the same one I remember CN using, but it might have been renovated over the years. I do remember seeing an old station right across from Chateau Laurier in Ottawa where we stayed, but we arrived and left from a newer station on the outskirts of the city. Toronto was huge.
Utica is indeed a beautiful station, but access throuh the tunnels was been changed some time ago to bridges over the tracks.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.