Passenger Trains > Something new and nice at Chicago Union Station

Beautiful additon to CUS.  This space has been out of service since I moved to Chicago in 1976.

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What is that space used for now ?

Event rental space...

With the Great Hall no longer used for private events, The Burlington Room will now serve this revenue generating purpose.


 

I am so, so happy that the Great Hall is yet again a room for transportation, not weddings. (Said as somone who often works weddings)

mbutte Wrote:
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> Event rental space...
>
> With the Great Hall no longer used for private
> events, The Burlington Room will now serve this
> revenue generating purpose.
>
>
>  



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/02/16 14:28 by inCHI.

I believe there was a pretty decent restaurant in that space up until whenever it closed (prior to 1976, apparently).  Had lunch in there during a few layovers.

Didnt the Silver Streak run into those pillars or something? Lol

Wasn't that space a Fred Harvey restaruant at one time--mid '60's?

The linked article explains what was where.  The Fred Harvey restaurant was just to the south of what is now the Burlington Room, and was then the women's lounge.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20151111/BLOGS02/151119975/the-hidden-union-station-take-a-tour

The Chicago Tribune has an nice article about this in their November 27 edition by Blair Kamin,
"Union Station slowly moving into 21st century."  Unfortunately, my computer skills are even slower,
and as usual, I can't get the link to paste here.  But you will find it easily with a search on that paper's site.
Thanks for posting this news and your excellent photos to this board.

Seventyfive Wrote:
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> The Chicago Tribune has an nice article about this
> in their November 27 edition by Blair Kamin,
> "Union Station slowly moving into 21st century."
>  Unfortunately, my computer skills are even
> slower,
> and as usual, I can't get the link to paste here.
>  But you will find it easily with a search on
> that paper's site.
> Thanks for posting this news and your excellent
> photos to this board.
Here's the link:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ct-union-station-future-kamin-met-1127-20161125-column.html

It's nice to see areas of Union Station being updated. But the areas where the inbound and outbound passengers have to go through is an absolute abomination. The passenger waiting area is an armpit and a disgrace. I travelled out of Union Station several Saturdays ago and there were literally three pigeons flying around in the Amtrak waiting area,The walkways to the trains are lined with garbage and dirty laundry bags laying about. That is one heck of a way to be welcomed to Chicago. I hope there are some plans to modernize these problems. 

Back in the mid 2000's - Gunn was president I believe - pretty sure that it was this room that served as a substitute first class lounge for sleeping car passenger and others who were permitted. I just remember that the room was not geared to handle all the luggage that was piled around. This was one of the more recent overhauls where the lounge was closed to go through an expansion. 

It appears as though the skilled construction crews have successfully repaired all of the damage from the Silverstreak! Just about everybody in that movie has passed on! I believe Fred Willard is still around>



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/02/16 19:24 by TomPlatten.

The Silver Streak crased into Toronto Union Station, not Chicago. The entire movie was filmed in Canada.

Yes, there is a plan.  http://www.unionstationmp.com/

run8 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It's nice to see areas of Union Station being
> updated. But the areas where the inbound and
> outbound passengers have to go through is an
> absolute abomination. The passenger waiting area
> is an armpit and a disgrace. I travelled out of
> Union Station several Saturdays ago and there were
> literally three pigeons flying around in the
> Amtrak waiting area,The walkways to the trains are
> lined with garbage and dirty laundry bags laying
> about. That is one heck of a way to be welcomed to
> Chicago. I hope there are some plans to modernize
> these problems. 

run8 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
The walkways to the trains are
> lined with garbage and dirty laundry bags laying
> about.  I hope there are some plans to modernize
> these problems. 

I assume you are referring to the station passenger and
baggage platforms being littered with dirty laundry bags.
That was the condition in the late 80's and early 90's.
The tracks then were also littered with numerous tail
hoses and 480 cables.  Sad to see nothing has changed.
Getting on people's a**es to pick things up is not as "sexy"
as putting forth new CUS remodeling plans every few years.
I assume these problems will be addressed about the same time
as the 16th St. Diesel Shop and 14th St. Coach Yard are forced
to put out quality work.

Thanks for the update "triple e".

If only a neo Fred Harvey's would open up somewhere in the station. The food court is not very appetizing.
I'd also settle for a satellite mini-Lou Mitchells facility too.

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> If only a neo Fred Harvey's would open up
> somewhere in the station. The food court is not
> very appetizing.
> I'd also settle for a satellite mini-Lou Mitchells
> facility too.

There was until about one - two years ago, the Metro Deli & Cafe, a cafeteria/bar on the right side of the passageway connecting the Amtrak and Metra boarding areas to the Great Hall.  It had a great selection of hearty & tasty meals.  I was sorry to that it was no longer at Chicago Union Station when I passed through Chicago in February of this year.

For those who don't mind venturing a couple of blocks from Union Station, go to the Metra Market, on the street level of the Richard B. Ogilvie Transportation Center (successor to the North Western Depot).  Its offerings are vastly superior to the Union Station food court.  Here's a link with more information:

Metra Market
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/03/16 17:32 by RuleG.

Is there any palce to sit down and eat there ? I seem to remember the Ogilvie facilty in general has few places to sit.