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I was in Salt Lake City last week for a Conference, and ate dinner in the Rio Grande Train Station. The Mexican restaurant is located to the right of the waiting room, which has displays from the Historical Society.
I walked to the Union Pacific Station from the Salt Palace Convention Center. That beautifully restored station serves as the entrance to Gateway, a shopping complex across the street from the Delta Center. The high ceiling of the waiting room sports stained glass windows, and a vaulted ceiling. People passed through the space, apparently unaware of the building's former purpose and stunning architecture.
Of course, all tracks to both stations are gone and Amtrak stops 3 blocks west in a warehouse area in a building that seems to be portable trailers put together.
I flew to Salt Lake City due to time restraints, but from the hotel shuttle on the way to the airport I could see the CZ sitting at the station at 8:45 am Saturday morning, but couldn't tell if it was the eastbound (that would be 5 hours late) or the westbound (that would be 9 hours late).
While in Salt Lake last week, the LDS Church announced plans to demolish nearly all of 2 city blocks south of the Temple where the Crossroads Mall and ZCMI Mall are located for a new shopping complex to be called City Creek Mall if I remember correctly.
And, for anyone complaining about food on a train, try Delta's "snack pack" while my 6' 3" frame is squeezed into a seat for 4 hours. I purchased a deli sandwich for the return trip while others 'stared' at my real food.
notelvis Member # 3071
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Interesting that you mention the plan to demolish all two city blocks south of Temple Square. This project is getting an awful lot of buzz on an email group I belong to....one comprised mostly of former Trailways bus drivers and other bus afficionados. Apparantly one of the structures to be demolished is now a hotel but was for many years the Continental Trailways bus terminal in Salt Lake City. The drivers are bemoaning the loss of what was once a very clean and attractive passenger facility. One of the guys even reports having met his wife who, at the time, was a waitress in the station restaurant there.
Personally, I would like to see more classic bus stations preserved as well. As for the rail station situation in Salt Lake City, I think it is a real shame that Amtrak is relegated to a doublewide trailer in the warehouse district when there are two perfectly good train stations just a few blocks away. In 2002 I flew to Salt Lake City and caught an on-time California Zephyr westbound shortly after midnight. I still remember being deposited from a warm cab at the door of the dark Amtrailer on a chilly April night about 9:00pm. The agent wasn't due for another 90 minutes and I can recall standing there with my teeth chattering while looking at the ediface of the former DRG&W station a few blocks away. Brrrrrr.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Is the UP herald still intact on "the station"?
zephyr Member # 1651
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UP herald was intact as of 12/05. The station was completely empty, but in good shape and well maintained. I suspect they use it for special events.
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