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As I am sure most of you know, the KC Union Station recently reopened after a major, expensive overhaul. Recently, we took the Ann Rutledge but needed to get off in Lees Summit. We had major baggage and checked 3 of them through from MSP. After spending the night in Lees Summit, we went to pickup the luggage at Union Station.
I was pleasantly surprised that the bags arrived right on schedule. However, the beauty of the Union Station was awesome! And to think that we almost missed seeing it if we wouldn't have checked luggage through.
The museum showed untouched areas of the building so that people could realize the terrible deterioration of the building. I hope that the people of KC are able to make a go of the station. The Amtrak people told me they preferred the old pole building type location over this authentic location as there were several inconveniences they now have to deal with. This was sad to hear.
I would recommend a trip to see this station. There are several hotels within walking distance of the station.
Also, I would like to put forward a travelogue of our recent Rutledge/Empire Builder/Coast Starlight trips and am looking for ideas on where to post them.
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I'm not likely to get to KC anytime soon. Does anyone have photos of this glorious station?
As for posting travelogues, there used to be a link in Trainweb's travel section for submitting travelogues. I can't seem to find it today. Anyone?
I post travelogues on my own web space provided by AOL (see the link below). I then e-mail Trainweb and let them know when I have a new one posted, and they make a link from their travelogue pages within a few days.
------------------ Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth. -Mr. Toy
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Mr. Toy, Thanks for responding. We were very pleased with the Coast Starlight and Empire Builder and I wanted to share it with others. I don't have a website so that's out.
Like others have suggested, I went on the trip with few expectations. However, the price was right (BlGl sale) and rail travel fit our plans well. We were pleasantly surprised and would do the Coast Starlight again in a heartbeat (especially with Richard in the parlour car).
Your travelogues were useful to me in preparing for the trip. Thank you.
[This message has been edited by choochoo (edited 03-03-2003).]
I can say as I just recently (First of March) rode my first passenger train (not including local metro) from St. Louis to Kansas City and back the following day and I had a great time and the Union Station in KC was the real gem of the trip.
The station is quite fascinating and the preservation and restoration results are simply awe-inspiring. It was very exciting to see so many people there enjoying the station and all that it provides.
We didn't have a working camera due to the failure of an exotic lithium battery. This will be resolved the next time through as we definitly plan to return via rail again soon. The volunteers that we met at the station really helped make it memoriable as they provided considerable insight that even the very detailed museum didn't provide.
One of the volunteers, an elderly female told about how the whole city came to the station on VJ day and how amazing it was with all of the excitement and celebration.
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And while at KC Union Station, at least try the steak soup at the Herford House counter in the Harvey House food court. It's from the #1 steak place in KC that just happens to have its original restaurant just 3-5 blocks from Union Station! I drove 3 1/2 hours one day to eat there!
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New info on KC Union Station: Hereford House moved out of the Harvey House food court area months ago. But it took me only 7 minutes to walk to the restaurant just over the bridge and down another block from Union Station. I parked my car two stops away in Lee's Summit (free for 48 hours in the city lot) and took the train in so I could experience arrival and departure at Union Station. Parking at Union Station's new area is now $10/day, up from the $6 discount rate.
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I will be heading over to Kansas City from Kirkwood this Wendseday for a fun little train ride(Decided to take The CZ this summer to get more time in San Fran). I have a couple of questions though. Is the Union Station an actual train station like Chicago's or LA or is it just a museum? Will we have to go through the station that is under the street?
Posts: 547 | From: St. Louis, MO, USA | Registered: Nov 2002
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To Uncle Buck: The Amtrak ticket counter, baggage and waiting room now occupies a small area IN KC Union Station just off (north of) the giant main lobby on the same level. There is a short covered walk outdoors to elevators and stairs that go down to the tracks from directly overhead (all new). This is almost a block west of the old under the bridge Amtrak. A big improvement moving back into the depot, but a little longer walk to the train.
The rest of Union Station contains restaurants, shops, railroad memorabilia, and fun little tours through the secret back places. This is a megamall size place! Lots to see, especially for railfans and history buffs.
To everyone: As Ed Alexander said, be warned of the parking. You can park free right in front for an hour, but long term is $10 per day, outside, and far away. I just got stung taking a 9 day trip to New Mexico where the parking was more than my round trip train fare. (I paid $6/day to park in a ramp almost trainside last year). Wish I'd seen Ed's post a month ago before I left.
Posts: 1572 | From: St. Paul, MN | Registered: Dec 2002
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