Another great station is Utica central, not only serves Amtrak but the Adirondack scenic
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.
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!
AMTRAK DEARBORN STATION for the Detroit Metro Area - Update!
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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.
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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
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.
I second the mention of Hoboken as a true gem.
A Florida favorite that is being restored in the era of stations built at that time.
http://bungalower.com/2015/03/amtrak-station-renovation-coming-along-nicely/
To Sunnyland:
Gotta tell you ... the above photos of Newark Penn are recent; it is well-maintained. Also look up NJ Transit's Hoboken Terminal. Although not an AMTRAK facility it is truly one of the best surviving stations in the country. Built on the Hudson River by DL&W in 1907 it may be the first intergrated intermodal transportation center in the world. From the beginning it has hosted long distance varnish, suburban commuters, streetcars, subways, ferries, and buses. The Bush train sheds still cover the platforms and the waiting room is capped by a huge Tiffany Studios stained glass ceiling. Hoboken Terminal was fully restored for it's hundreth anniversary; it is an architectual gem and absolute joy for train buffs.
Union Station in Chicago. I wish they kept Northwestern Station in both Milwaukee and Chicago both were also great stations and would awe visitors to both cities.
The obsevations are interesting. Any real discussion of the "best" staion has to start with the living breathing (125 trains per day in four directions) 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. Everything else is minor league.
White River Jct VT. Still a classic waiting room, staffed by a volunteer attendant.
Have not travelled through Cincinatti lately, but as a child made several connections to Southern's Carolina Special at CUT. (Seattle-Asheville, NC, by train is quite an adventure for a youngster.) Always in awe of the murals depicting US history near the ceiling. Wish I had a tape recording for those boarding calls for trains now long gone, but heading off to places on exotic sounding railroads.
Glenwood Springs, CO.
Of course, mine would be St. Louis Union Station "back in the day" when it had lots of trains still running, no more.
I like GCT in NYC which does not host Amtrak, but left from there with parents on New York Central again "back in the day" . Buffalo was a huge station too, spent hours there waiting on connection from Niagara Falls back home, traveling on a pass that often happened.
Also like Los Angeles Union, can still remember the stuffed armchairs, more comfy than benches. Still see them when TV show is filmed there. And KCUS and CUS which are still used.
Portland has a nice station too, very attractive outside. And so was Wash, DC. That Newark station above looks super, we probably stopped there on way to NYC on Pennsy, but didn't get off and it probably didn't look like that, had a newer look.
Newark Penn Station has my vote. Walk in off the street and step into 1934 in all it's original restored art deco glory. Take a seat on the polished and suprisingly comfortable waiting room 'pews' and note they retain their PRR keystone end decorations. Move your eyes up to the original ceiling and lighting fixtures. Hear the clacking of the Solari board every few moments. Stroll the concourse with shops, access to the City Subway (today's Light Rail), bus platforms, taxi stand, and the clearly numbered track platforms. Go through the heavy brass and glass doors under one of the track numbers, then up an escalator or climb the stairs and you find yourself in a small window-enclosed platform waiting room. Step out onto the steel and glass covered platform, find a bench, and watch the endless comings and goings of AMTRAK, NJ Transit, and PATH. This is a busy big city station like they used to be and Newark Penn is the second busiest station on the AMTRAK network.
Another small-station gem is the new Winter Park, Florida Amtrak station (built in the summer of 2014.) Beautiful building, beautiful setting. Be sure to check out the Peacock stained glass window, and the Craftman style lights.
Of all time: The original Penn Station in NYC
Today: Restored station in Selma, NC. Two platforms at 90 degrees, to serve 2 lines, one of which no longer has passenger service. But passenger trains stop on the connecting curve.
Are there still a caboose and GG1 on display at the Harrisburg Station?
There ought to be a second category for stations not located in urban areas, many of which have been renovated and re-purposed and which do much to preserve rail heritage: Winslow, AZ and Las Vegas, NM for example. The Dodge City, KS station was rescued through gov't and private grants several years ago and still boards AMTRAK passengers. It's a gorgeous 1898 red brick, two-story structure which hosts a number of other civic functions and anchors the historic downtown area. Although the roundhouse was torn down a number of years ago, the turntable is still in use a quarter mile east in the yards.
My favorite would be Penn Station in Newark NJ. The main attraction is the track platforms; six through tracks for Amtrak and NJ Transit, and another track for the PATH heavy rapid transit system. What makes this special for the railfan is that there is open access to the platforms (except for PATH); no ticket is needed to just watch.
The afternoon weekday rush hour is very busy; a quick timetable review for the 4 PM - 6PM period showed 40+ trains through the station.
Additionally, in the basement, is the terminal for the two Newark Light Rail routes. One route, the original Newark City Subway, goes to Bloomfield. The newer route goes to the E-L Broad Street Station, and includes some street running down Broad Street.
Although not a classic station my favorite for the 21st century would probably be Anaheim.
http://www.metrolinktrains.com/content/media/20/files/MTL315_MetrolinkMattersSinglePages(m1bh).pdf
Hey blue if we go by your criteria, again I would put in my vote for Utica central station. Classic design, main concourse with shops and eateries. Serves both Amtrak and the Adirondack scenic railroad Thur its original tunnels. A fair amount of Amtrak trains and on the former NYC, now CSX mainline.
IMHO there actually be 4 items that need consideration.
1. Outside design of the building
2. Inside layout of terminal and beauty of design.
3. Ease of access to board train and platforms.
4. Platforms themselves.
Here are my picks
for #1 Hard to beat Washington Union station or Cincinnati.
for #2 LAX waiting room although it does need more lighting. Tunnel to platforms lacking.
for #3 San Diego Ease of access from both station and light rail. Dallas comes in a close second.
for #4 Sacremento. Nice wide platforms great for railfans and the service stop passengers. Access to platform from station is terrible.
Did not include train waatching possibilities as #5 as not enough experience.
Los Angeles Union Station and the Santa Fe Depot in San Diego have been well preserved and well used as multimodal transportation hubs. Not sure how to classify Sacramento, IMO the politicos really screwed up the new track layout to accomodate developers but the old SP depot is preserved.
Links to my Google Maps ---> Sunset Route overview, SoCal metro, Yuma sub, Gila sub, SR east of Tucson, BNSF Northern Transcon and Southern Transcon *** Why you should support Ukraine! ***
I will put in a vote for La Grange Road IL on BNSF. It is admittedly primarily a suburban stop for Metra but Amtrak's trains to and from Quincy all stop there. The station is relatively large with a nice waiting room and is located in the La Grange business district. The trainwatching is really good, too.
Another great station...tol
Toledo Central Union with NS freight trains blasting thru the lower platforms
I like the Amtrak Station at Mitchell Field in Milwaukee. I am surprised about the number of people that use this station that are not flying. It shows the practicality of building suburban stations for Amtrak.
Wes
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