Washington Union Station

When we left Washington DC on Amtrak we traveled from Washington Union Station.  I've always enjoyed old train stations.  The first one I experienced was Union Station in  Los Angeles, which I visited many times while seeing historic Olvera Street.  After I moved to Northern Kentucky I experienced Union Terminal in Cincinnati where I worked for eleven years.  Washington DC's station is another beautiful old station that has had to adapt after the decline of rail travel.

Washington Union Station is one of the country’s first great union railroad terminals. Designed by renowned architect, Daniel Burnham, the station opened on October 27, 1907 and was completed in April 1908.

During its heyday in the early 1940’s, Union Station was a thriving transportation hub serving up to 42,000 passengers daily. After 1945, conditions deteriorated quickly. The demand on transportation during World War II wore greatly on the station, and repairs were often done inexpensively, diminishing the station’s elegance. Public trends shifted from rail to cars and planes for long-distance travel, which further diminished rail passenger revenues, station activity and the feeling of excitement that once percolated through the building.
--from Union Station website website

We took the Metro over to Union Station and crossed over from the metro area into the main body of the station.  After we found where our train would be leaving later we decided to explore and see what the station had to offer.  We first discovered an area with a number of different shops--I thought this was a rather good thing to add to a trafficked building.

We then headed into the Main Hall of the building.

The East Hall looks even more historic than the Main Hall, something about it really reminded me of the 1930s.

The ceiling of the Main Hall is particularly interesting.

In alcoves you can see a number of statues.

We next headed out the front doors.

When you look up you can see more statues on the outside.

Looking to the side you can see even the entryway is highly decorated.

In front is a replica of the Liberty Bell.

You can also see the US Capitol in the distance.

Turning around we could see the front of the building, which definitely had a grand stone edifice.

Before too long it was time to board our train and head back to Richmond.

I hope you've enjoyed reading about our time at Union Station, if you want to see more pictures of the building open this album.

~Matt

Tower A

Tower A is the historic control tower for Cincinnati's Union Terminal.  It is open nearly every weekend, and I think perhaps another day or two during some weeks.

In this picture to the left you can see Union Terminal as it existed in the past--when the passenger concourse was still standing, extending far behind the half-dome of the Rotunda.  According to the Cincinnati Railroad Club's literature:

"The movement of trains to and from the main lines and into the passenger platforms was controlled from Tower A.  The function of Tower A was similar to the control tower at a major airport."

I've been up there several times, but Amy had never gone, so I figured that yesterday was a good day to visit as long as we were in the building to visit the Appalachian Culture Fest.  Back by the entrance to the Omnimax theater you'll find an elevator.  You take that elevator up to the third floor, and then prepare to climb a few steps.

Due to the historic nature of the tower there isn't an elevator and the stairs are the only way to get up to it.  But the view is worth the short climb, even if you're surrounded by the institutional green paint job on your way up.  Of course I had to take a picture of the most beautiful person to ever ascend the stairs.  :-)  No I'm not biased, why do you ask?  ;-)

Once you get up to the top you can look out into the trainyards.  They are really quite extensive, and even more extensive than you can see from the tower.

Where the concourse used to be there is a commercial yard specializing in the movement of shipping containers.  Amy thought it strange to see them in a train yard since she is used to seeing them on ships (her dad used to work for a shipping line).

Quite a few containers were sitting on the ground, but a good number were also being moved around.  I think the moving cranes (whatever they're called) that move the containers on and off trains and trucks are quite impressive.



But if you're looking at the history those shipping yards are sad, since they remind you of the huge passenger concourse that used to exist.  The rest of my pictures are of the inside of the tower, ;-).

"In 1989, the Museum Center approached the Cincinnati Railroad Club concerning the use of Tower A as the [sic] our headquarters and meeting room.  We had been meeting in CUT [Cincinnati Union Terminal] since the club was founded in 1938 and were the longest and last tenant in the building.  During the construction of the Museum Center, we were forced to relocate out of the building.  Concurrently, the club leased and funded the renovation of Tower A.  In September 1991 we returned to CUT and Tower A."

Several cases display memorabilia and other equipment formerly used in the tower and elsewhere.

"The Cincinnati Railroad Club and the Museum Center are justifiably proud of the results of their efforts to restore Tower A.  The ceiling in the main room is original with the Celotex tiles extending three feet down the walls for sound deadening purposes....  In addition, the original position of the now removed 49 foot interlocking machine has been outlined in the floor with black tiles to give visitors an indication of the massiveness of that mechanism.  The walls of the main room has [sic] been altered only to the extent that small stairways and emergency exit doors have been added to the northeast and southeast corners.  The windows have been provided with 1930s era wide slat Venetian blinds."

I'm not sure I completely understand it (without looking into it), but I thought a display on track sizes was quite interesting:

And in the corner there was a small play train set that kids could play with.  Sadly I didn't play with it as two kids were already quite occupied with the various trains.

Along with vintage equipment there were also several displays that were quite fascinating.

One of the things that Amy and I really enjoyed looking at were the old menus.  Of course money was valued differently back then, but you also got quite a bit with your railroad meals.

If you find yourself at the Museum Center on a weekend and you enjoy history and/or trains, then you definitely need to check out Tower A!

~Matt