Tacoma Union Station is now a courthouse, but is there any reference to its former use at the site? Are there still tracks beside it? Umbrella sheds, etc.? Any plans to place rail equipment on display there, or has it been totally gentrified?

http://www.tribnet.com/news/local/story/2705107p-2745673c.html
ryarger@rypn.org

> Tacoma Union Station is now a courthouse,
> but is there any reference to its former use
> at the site? Are there still tracks beside
> it? Umbrella sheds, etc.? Any plans to place
> rail equipment on display there, or has it
> been totally gentrified?

According to Janet Greenstein Potter's "Great American Train Stations", the building was abandoned by BN/Amtrak in the early 1980s and drifted vacant from proposal to proposal until it was acquired by the city in 1987; it was a pretty badly blighted area until the courthouse project.


lner4472@bcpl.net

> Tacoma's union station has indeed been reborn as a federal court. An adjacent structure using the same general architectural shape is the Washington State History Museum. There are no longer coach yards, covered platforms, etc., but a pedestrian bridge connects the courthouse with Tacoma's new art museun, crossing over the BNSF/UP double-track mainline. Along with
restoration of the depot came new retail outlets and restaurants supporting the college atmosphere created when the University of Washington restored buildings for a satellite learning center. Currently under construction is a light rail trolley system connecting the county's new transportation hub (located close to the old Milwaukee freighthouse, now a very fine mall of interesting, upbeat retail shops) with this downtown revival (the trolleys are hi-tech, not historical).

The Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad often uses the Freighthouse Square area as a location for special charters and events. Amtrak has its station within a quarter mile of here.

steamrr@mashell.com

Will the TUS, Milwaukee Freighthouse area figure into the planned eventual excursion train to Mt. Ranier scheme?

> restoration of the depot came new retail
> outlets and restaurants supporting the
> college atmosphere created when the
> University of Washington restored buildings
> for a satellite learning center. Currently
> under construction is a light rail trolley
> system connecting the county's new
> transportation hub (located close to the old
> Milwaukee freighthouse, now a very fine mall
> of interesting, upbeat retail shops) with
> this downtown revival (the trolleys are
> hi-tech, not historical).

> The Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad often uses
> the Freighthouse Square area as a location
> for special charters and events. Amtrak has
> its station within a quarter mile of here.


ryarger@rypn.org