Passenger Trains > St. Paul Union Depot - Photos

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

9) Inside the waiting room looking towards the concourse/headhouse.

10) View of the waiting room and concourse showing the new benches/furniture.

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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

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Jefferson Lines has quite a palace right now.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

very nice pictures when amtrak moves there are they going to have as much free long term parking as there is at midway?

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.

Truly beautiful, but $243 million?

good luck with the bus people
Amtrak has enough trouble with the ones that
buy their tickets

YES! A homerun!!! Looks sooo nice.

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.

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.

Really a great job / nice.

Very impressive indoor photography, perfect lighting, composition, and color balance.