Random thought:

Is there any chance in the future the trainshed at St. louis Union Station could be reconverted back to its original use for purpose as a train museum? I know an attempt was made back in the 80's (?) using equipment from the Museum of Transportation, but it ultimately was nixed.

Would be nice if it happened someday, though.

I'ts time a major city had a political train museum.Explaining the catastrophic state of our railroads.We could balance or trade, with surplus .If we didn't import oil.

The Museum just had some exhibits on loan to Union Station back then. Anheuser Busch reefer and the Y6a. There was never a plan to move there. I think the present owners had the tracks removed from what I've heard. I avoid the city any more.

I was down there just last January. Only 2 tracks left on the west end. A baggage and coach on a panel as well (I think that's what they were). I believe both were frisco heritage. It was dark, and all marks are painted over, but FRISC was still visible under the fade paint. The rest of the shed has been paved, with part of the end closest to the house holding a lake you can take paddle boats on (there was a lake before a station, but that's another story). Also a few restaurants and a Marriot. Its been that why for at least 10 years, and I believe longer. There is a small museum in the head house, with a lot of stuff on loan from MOT. Some banners are labeled weird, and I tried in vain to get them to correct it. I doubt you see that converted to a museum any time soon. I'm not in the business, but I doubt its easy to rip out an entire parking lot like that. Also, Metrolink runs under part of the parking lot, so there would be some structural concerns.
The head house is still mostly intact, with the entrance restored into an upscale bar. It look really nice. I have some pictures somewhere. If you would like, I can post them tomorrow.

What looks like a train shed is just the skeleton of it as the roofing was removed when the shopping mall was created. Just the cost of roofing it again and installing track would consume every penny a museum could take in admission fees for years, let alone the cost of utilities, etc. The railroads left their monumental stations mostly because of the cost of maintaining them while passenger revenues were in a severe decline. How a museum could afford to do so is beyond me.

As someone who lives in STL City and drives by the place every day, I think money spent on that purpose would be better spent out at MOT helping cover the remainder of the collection and in restoration activities, like the magnificent cosmetic restoration done by Mr. Goldfeder and others on the Reading inspection locomotive Black Diamond.

It's obviously not something that could be undertaken by a museum entity. On the other hand, if some other agency or entity decided that the trainshed with some tracks should be restored simply because of their historic significance and invited a museum to make use of it that's another matter. A partnership with MoT would be the most obvious thing. As this is all fantasy and conjecture anyway, how about a train ride between the two locations?

Steve

Since none of these suggestions are grounded in reality, why not use MOT's 19th century locomotive collection to run the shuttle trains, pulling replica 19th century passenger cars with wood frames, link and pin couplets and no air brakes? Having that happen is just as realistic as the proposals.

Seriously, if you want to help railway preservation in the St. Louis region, donate to the Transportation Museum Association.

David, I agree, it's not gonna happen.

However, may I suggest that we enlighten him on why (we presume) it won't happen. Saying "That's a dumb idea kid, go away, you bother me!" isn't going to help much.

Just because you understand why it's not practical, don't presume everyone does.

Anyone have photos of the Y6 being moved or on display there? This is the first I've heard of that...