Saturday May 10 was National Train Day. According to Amtrak, "The seventh annual National Train Day marks the 145th anniversary of the creation of the nation’s first transcontinental railroad." Cool.
So we headed to Union Station for St. Louis' local Train Day Festival. St. Louis Union Station opened in September of 1894 at a cost of $6.5 million. By the mid-1940s, over 100,000 people a day traveled in to, out of, or through St. Louis via train. This was not only one of the largest train sheds ever built, but it also covered the greatest number of tracks. After World War II, the general public began choosing other forms of transportation. Finally, on October 31, 1978, the last train pulled out of St. Louis Union Station.* Now, it serves only as the local MegaBus stop and one stop along the MetroLink route.
In 1976, this magnificent station was designated a National Historic Landmark. In March 1979, Oppenheimer Properties purchased the Station for $5.5 million. In August of 1985, St. Louis Union Station reopened after $150 million restoration, making it the largest adaptive re-use project in the United States.*
There is some marvelous history and architecture.
23. St. Louis Union Station
So we headed to Union Station for St. Louis' local Train Day Festival. St. Louis Union Station opened in September of 1894 at a cost of $6.5 million. By the mid-1940s, over 100,000 people a day traveled in to, out of, or through St. Louis via train. This was not only one of the largest train sheds ever built, but it also covered the greatest number of tracks. After World War II, the general public began choosing other forms of transportation. Finally, on October 31, 1978, the last train pulled out of St. Louis Union Station.* Now, it serves only as the local MegaBus stop and one stop along the MetroLink route.
In 1976, this magnificent station was designated a National Historic Landmark. In March 1979, Oppenheimer Properties purchased the Station for $5.5 million. In August of 1985, St. Louis Union Station reopened after $150 million restoration, making it the largest adaptive re-use project in the United States.*
There is some marvelous history and architecture.
23. St. Louis Union Station
There was a train simulator where the kids had to speed up, slow down, stop, and restart the train. Our favorite part was the train whistle.
There were real train cars to climb on, "drive," tour, and relax in.
This kiddie train made laps around the parking lot.
Inside, the large ballroom/hall was filled with model train displays.
And, of course, a train table. Almost every time we see one of these, I notice a distinct lack of diversity. She don't care.