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Passenger Trains > St. Paul Union Depot - PhotosDate: 02/06/13 14:13 St. Paul Union Depot - Photos Author: CPengineer I visited Minnesota's St. Paul Union Depot (SPUD) today with the family. The facility was restored at a cost of $243M, and was opened in December. Jefferson Lines bus service is already being offered, while Amtrak should be in the depot in 8-9 months, and light rail will call there in 2014. Yep, there have been several problems and setbacks (search "SPUD" on Trainorders and you'll find the story).
These photos are intended to celebrate what's been accomplished so far. 1) The drug store and barber shop were once located here on the left side of the headhouse. 2) The lobby and ticket office houses a Greek restaurant (GREAT food - we ate there today - even our 3-year-old liked it). 3) Looking towards the concourse from the left side of the lobby. Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/13 15:42 by CPengineer. Date: 02/06/13 14:16 Re: St. Paul Union Depot - Photos Author: CPengineer 4) Looking towards the waiting room from the concourse.
5) Approaching the waiting room. Both the concourse and the waiting room have been sealed off and off limits for decades. There was a bowling ally at one time above the area where I'm standing. 6) Inside the concourse looking towards the lobby (note the gentle grade). Passing under the concourse is Third Street. Date: 02/06/13 14:19 Re: St. Paul Union Depot - Photos Author: CPengineer 7) The restored waiting room looking out from the concourse.
8) "B" gate down to track level. Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/13 14:21 by CPengineer. Date: 02/06/13 14:22 Re: St. Paul Union Depot - Photos Author: Ptolemy The thing that fascinated me the most about the station was that when I last used it, about 1965, the switches were not automated, but handled by switchmen at each switch. The North Coast Limited had to back out on its way to Chicago, and the view from the observation car of this yard full of switchmen, each using hand and arm gestures to indicate the position of their switch, was truly amazing. One could follow the train's route through the terminal trackage by following the gestures. I never saw that anywhere else.
Date: 02/06/13 14:23 Re: St. Paul Union Depot - Photos Author: CPengineer 9) Inside the waiting room looking towards the concourse/headhouse.
10) View of the waiting room and concourse showing the new benches/furniture. Date: 02/06/13 14:27 Re: St. Paul Union Depot - Photos Author: CPengineer 11) The colors used in the waiting room are accurate for 1924, the year it was built.
12) Around the walls in the waiting room are 3 different transportation scenes. This is the "Best Friend of Charleston." (Funny they picked that - GN was a major tenant in the Depot, and the 4-4-0 WM Crooks was restored by that time. But instead of the Crooks, they chose an eastern prototype). 13) Covered wagon Date: 02/06/13 14:29 Re: St. Paul Union Depot - Photos Author: joemvcnj Jefferson Lines has quite a palace right now.
Date: 02/06/13 14:29 Re: St. Paul Union Depot - Photos Author: CPengineer 14) Milwaukee Road electric
15) There are several neat little details that have been left in place to discover. 16) There is plenty of modern technology packed into the Depot. Note that the waiting room seats have WiFi and outlets for laptops. Date: 02/06/13 14:33 Re: St. Paul Union Depot - Photos Author: CPengineer 17) The Amtrak name adorns several signs in the waiting room.
18) Gate C to track level. 19) The reason that Amtrak doesn't serve the depot yet: the connection hasn't been completed to UP's Depot Track/CP's Main 1 at Robert Street. Date: 02/06/13 14:36 Re: St. Paul Union Depot - Photos Author: CPengineer 20) Empty tracks - they'll soon host Amtrak trains (and someday high speed trains and commuter trains).
21) The Amtrak ticket offices are empty...for now. This is on the new lower level of the depot. 22) Interior of the Amtrak office. While it may look empty for now, St. Paul has invested in its future by creating a first class transportation hub. Date: 02/06/13 15:04 Re: St. Paul Union Depot - Photos Author: RevRandy Grace and beauty with an elegant utility -- we have lost so much in our rush to modernity and efficiency. Thank you for the great photos.
Date: 02/06/13 15:12 Re: St. Paul Union Depot - Photos Author: bronco22 very nice pictures when amtrak moves there are they going to have as much free long term parking as there is at midway?
Date: 02/06/13 15:28 Re: St. Paul Union Depot - Photos Author: billio Nice to see a magnificent old structure like this one not just rescued but restored to new or better-than-new condition. Too many beautiful old structures end up under the wrecking ball. It is a crime to lose the sort of deatil shown in pics 12-14. Nobody -- NOBODY -- produces stuff like that today.
Thanks for sharing. Date: 02/06/13 16:04 Re: St. Paul Union Depot - Photos Author: PERichardson Truly beautiful, but $243 million?
Date: 02/06/13 16:46 Re: St. Paul Union Depot - Photos Author: The_Chief_Way good luck with the bus people
Amtrak has enough trouble with the ones that buy their tickets Date: 02/06/13 16:47 Re: St. Paul Union Depot - Photos Author: NYSW1904 YES! A homerun!!! Looks sooo nice.
Date: 02/06/13 17:20 Re: St. Paul Union Depot - Photos Author: CP8888 No free parking. Outdoor lot is $5.00/day. Indoor
parking under the depot $10.00/day. There is 24/7 security provided which is not the case at Midway. Date: 02/06/13 17:32 Re: St. Paul Union Depot - Photos Author: rob_l Beautiful. Are the track connections on the east end ready for a direct move from the CP/BNSF main coming up from Division St. to the depot?
Thanks much, Rob L. Date: 02/06/13 17:51 Re: St. Paul Union Depot - Photos Author: DECA34 Really a great job / nice.
Date: 02/06/13 21:31 Re: St. Paul Union Depot - Photos Author: railstiesballast Very impressive indoor photography, perfect lighting, composition, and color balance.
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