I have been researching the LA Union Station lately. I am having trouble finding info on whether any platforms were removed over the years aside from the ones for the metro service. Does anyone have info? Pics old and new?
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Originally Posted by Mike W.:
I have been researching the LA Union Station lately. I am having trouble finding info on whether any platforms were removed over the years aside from the ones for the metro service. Does anyone have info? Pics old and new?
I would start with "Historic Aerials" at:
http://www.historicaerials.com/aerials.php?op=home
They have aerial photographs of the LA area back to 1948 I believe. In addition, you can try Google Earth, and they have historic satellite imagery back about 10 years. Not sure of the time period you are interested.
Regards,
Jerry
Here are a couple aerials, one from the late 40's and the other from 2007.
Attachments
Images (2)
My favorite station........does not answer your question......but having just been there....I had to post....
Attachments
Images (1)
From what I can gather...its pretty much like it always was with the exception of maybe the loss of 5 platforms. However I understand they are wanting to replace them and make the tracks "through tracks."
Originally Posted by Mike W.:
However I understand they are wanting to replace them and make the tracks "through tracks."
That would be interesting.
Originally Posted by Mike W.:
However I understand they are wanting to replace them and make the tracks "through tracks."
"Through?" Through to where??
They would loop across the streets and tie back into the main line a few blocks a way. Pretty simple project. There is a bottleneck of trains backing in and out due to the retrictions of the approach tracks.
Simple project? Are you kidding? We're talking two railroad bridges over the very-busy "slot" of the 101 freeway, with the loop going through a very dense portion of downtown LA.
That ain't happening anytime soon.
The build freeway overpasses right and left...at least in the east. I think its a plan that is making progress in LA.
Having just used the LA transit system all day one day....I was impressed. We went from Buena Park station, feet from my buddy's home, to LAX Union on Metrolink and then used the Dash system to get around. Transportation all day, faster than you could ever drive, for $15 is a deal. And the equipment was all good.
The SP tracks ran North down the middle of Alameda (the main street on the west side of LAUPT. SP had wanted to run through tracks. Their original passenger station and freight warehouses were located near Olympic and Alameda (I believe the passenger station was actually on Central.) Santa Fe's station was on [appropriately] Santa Fe avenue south of LAUPT. I can't remember where UP's was. For some reason they decided to set up the odd terminal arrangement even though the 101 freeway wasn't established -- it was Aliso Street and the PE tracks ran down the middle of the viaduct. Speculating here, but it may be related to the impact it would have on Santa Fe's street trackage on Commercial street (on the south side of the 101) and all the buildings that were in that area at the time. Would have been an odd arrangement as some of the tracks would have to move east to the Santa Fe (west side of the LA River) and UP's tracks (east side of the LA River), and west to SP's tracks on Alameda.
At this point right now, the west terminal tracks are now station tracks for the Gold line which crosses the 101 on a twisting, low speed viaduct. If they wanted to run through, another viaduct could be constructed to run across the freeway and east toward the LA River for the Santa Fe tracks, but they'd need a bridge across the LA River for the UP tracks unless they decided to cross over to UP at Redondo Junction a couple of miles south.
