posted
I went back to the "Top 23 Amtrak Stations" and tried to edit it with a new URL as folks apparently had trouble with the link. I then found that I somehow deleted the entire post.
I actually found this article looking for something else; the most picturesque train depots no longer in use. Among those I would have chosen: Cheyenne, WY, Point of Rocks, MD, Virginia, MN, Duluth, MN, Nashville Union Stn., Wallace, ID., Grand Junction old stn, and Dayton, WA, the state's oldest RR depot, and many more.
My apologies for those who posted a reply. If the moderator can bring it back, I will delete this post and try to amend my orignal post for a better link.
Richard
palmland Member # 4344
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I agree with all the stations although never seen Worcester. I like yukon's idea of classic stations no longer in use. My favorites, in addition to Nashville, are Louisville, Montgomery (the first two have in common their great train sheds are gone, but the stations are in good shape), Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Jacksonville. I believe all of them still have rail access nearby if not immediately in the station. All have been successfully adapted for other use although could certainly serve Amtrak again, all they need is a train!
yukon11 Member # 2997
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Here is a slide show of some of historic, old US train depots:
I think over 1,000 slides, so too many to go through, but a lot of really nice old structures.
I do wonder if any could serve Amtrak, again. Possibly Grand Junction and Cheyenne, if Amtrak ever gets back to Wyoming. I was hoping the Tacoma station would serve Amtrak, once renovated.
Richard
Union Station in Nashville:
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Here is the material I previously linked to this topic:
Other Amtrak stations [in addition to Chicago Union Station] considered the best in the nation include Los Angeles Union Station; Cincinnati Union Terminal; Union Station, Washington, D.C.; Union Station, Kansas City; Union Station, Utica, N.Y.; 30th Street Station, Philadelphia; Santa Fe Depot, San Diego; Union Station, Denver; Union Station, New Haven, Conn.; Union Station, Worcester, Mass.; Union Station, Portland, Ore.; Amtrak Station, Greensboro, N.C.; Main Street Station, Richmond, Va.; Baltimore Penn Station; Amtrak Train Station, Barstow, Calif.; Fort Worth, Texas, Intermodal Transportation Center; Hamlet Passenger Depot, Hamlet, N.C.; Alvarado Transportation Center, Albuquerque, N.M.; Texas and Pacific Railroad Depot, Marshall, Texas; and King Street Station, Seattle.
George Harris Member # 2077
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quote:Originally posted by yukon11: Union Station in Nashville:
The building is there and in better condition than it has been in my lifetime. It was last used by a passenger train when the Floridian was running.
The skeleton of the train shed is there (or was the last time I was through there, which has been a feew years) but the tracks and platforms are gone and replaced by A PARKING LOT!!!!!
Two very historic structures that are gone: The Memphis and Charleston Station in Memphis which dated back to sometime in the 1830's or 40's. It was out of use as a passenger station from the time Union Station went into serivce until the three railroads using it pulled out due to its cost of operation. At that time Southern moved their passenger trains back into it for a few years. At some point after that the building was torn down, eliminating one of the few buildings in the city that predated the War Between the States. The Chattanooga station surviving was Southern's. The NC&StL - L&N's station, originally the Western & Atlantic - Nashville & Chattanooga Union Station was built around 1850, but torn down sometime in the 1970's or 80's.
Jerome Nicholson Member # 3116
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I can't let this go by without putting a word in for Richmond, VA's Broad Street Station. Built in 1919, it resembles New York's Columbia University main building,both designed by John Russel Pope. The station is now a Science Museum. The tracks that once looped behind the station are long gone. But there is still a spur that a train can use to back into the station from Amtrak's Staples Mill Ambox. The last train to use Broad street Station was the Grand Luxe (formerly American Orient Express)just before that company folded.
RRRICH Member # 1418
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Yukon -- I STILL can't open your link without getting a "white screen" saying "we were unable to return you to skift.com"
yukon11 Member # 2997
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I can't figure out, Rich, why so many cannot open the link. See if this will work:
If it doesn't open, try to Google "23 Grandest Amtrak Statons-skift".
If it still doesn't work, try GBN's link in the post just above the one by George Harris.
Richard
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
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RRRich, IIRC you have a relatively old computer? I suspect skift.com is using some fancy, modern techniques (badly) in order to present the page. There is a ton of scripting both on the page and linked from the page, not to mention pop-ups galore.
I was trying to find some "simpler" links on the page and found this: http://www.greatamericanstations.com/Stations/LAX (replace LAX with other station codes). It's not the actual article but interesting information about the particular station.
RRRICH Member # 1418
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Geoff and others -- I can't open the link on my Windows XP computer, but I can open it on my new laptop with Windows 8.1
Good list and great photos!!
--RR Rich
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
posted
I'm honestly getting concerned about having my brokerage accounts accessible on line with an XP computer (that's a 'little bit different' than having painters working inside my house when I was away). I've also learned that Win 8.1 is an improved product over both 7 and DEFINITELY over Vista. So far as opening stuff, I can no longer open The Times' archives pages - and that is a bummer especially considering I'm paying for them anyway.
I have already lined up a new Dell desktop system that I'm told will do anything I want; now it is just a case of order it and get someone to install it.
Finally, I just MIGHT get a SMARTphone. I understand there is an 'app' in which one can speak into it in English, and it will come out in German for Mr. Native, as well as vice versa. This could be well handy for Salzburg - after all, my 'terp' is 'not exactly' available (that's again my FA neighbor who is fluent with German and as such, got her vaulted over many Senior when United first got European routes during the '90's) for duty.
dns8560 Member # 15184
posted
I have used the Google Translate app on my phone with reasonable success. It isn't always spot on, but works well enough. You can always key in the text if voice recognition misses. Voice recognition sure has come a long way since I first tried it several years ago.
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
posted
Mr. Norman, I run Lotus 123 easily on a Windows 7 machine by downloading Virtual PC from Microsoft. You get a new window slightly smaller than full screen that looks just like an old XP machine, and you can toggle between 7 and XP just like it was another tab.
Very easy to do and never any problems (and I am not PC savvy). If you don't use the web from your XP mode window, Microsoft says there are NO security worries.
Computer geeks say you can make Virtual PC run in Windows 8 using something called VMware, but I tried to use VMware for something and it didn't work for me.
To wander back on topic, SPUD (now MSP) should definitely be on the list of Top 23 Amtrak stations. Having seen LAUS, PDX, Denver, Chicago and KC, the architecture and beauty of SPUD would be comparable to these. But Albuquerque? There are Spanish adobe style mobile homes in New Mexico that look better than the Alvarado Transportation Center and the Amtrak/Greyhound/Mexibus bus stop. And I love New Mexico and ABQ. Even the ABQ airport is beautiful compared to this.
And with SPUD, right outside the giant Amtrak waiting room windows you get a sprawling bend of the Mississippi, with picturesque bluffs and Indian Mounds in the background, a great view of the busy convergence major BNSF, UP, and CP routes from all 4 points of the compass (1/5 of the nations freight traffic passes through), and a "Railfan Picnic Area". Here is a drone view of just one room. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLf6lsMWFaQ
The St. Paul Lowertown neighborhood where SPUD resides has recently been named by USA Today as "#1 zip code for hipsters", whatever that means.
Some of the well preserved smaller stations that were jumping off points for the National Parks also deserve mention on a top depot list, such as Flagstaff, Whitefish and East Glacier.
zephyr Member # 1651
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quote:Originally posted by TwinStarRocket:
The St. Paul Lowertown neighborhood where SPUD resides has recently been named by USA Today as "#1 zip code for hipsters", whatever that means.
There's something about Zip Code 5 and hipsters that seems oxymoronic to me.
By the way, I used the Google Translator app the last time I was in Minnesota. It wasn't all that great. It helped, but for me immersing oneself in "Fargo" beats the app or Rosetta Stone.
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
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USA Today and hipsters may be oxymoronic as well. But as one who has lived through hep cats and hippies, hipster status could be fleeting.
zephyr Member # 1651
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USA Today and objective reporting is oxymoronic, in my humble opinion.
I hear Amtrak is dropping free fish wrap from their extensive passenger amenities portfolio.
Anyone care?
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
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quote:Originally posted by zephyr: By the way, I used the Google Translator app the last time I was in Minnesota. It wasn't all that great. It helped, but for me immersing oneself in "Fargo" beats the app or Rosetta Stone.
Oh for the day when I can use my smartphone to tap in an order at a drive-through instead of receiving the wrong or incomplete order due to questionable audio quality of speaker/microphone and accents (and for avoidance of doubt, by the latter I mean mine).
posted 