This is the kind of thread I like: no wrong answers.
My favorite station was the Cleveland Union Terminal, built by the Van Sweringens and opened on June 28, 1930. It was built with two Interurban concourses, with the “steam” concourse in between them. It had the best long wooden benches to sit on, rather like recliners when it came to comfort. It had an immense sky light, wonderful bronze train announcement boards, and was full of marble. In many ways in was as good, but likely no better, than other big city stations. But because I knew it as a Clevelander it seemed to me to be as good as GCT. I could go on & on about its features and appointments, but, well, you just had to be there. Its architects, Graham, Anderson, Probst, & White of Chicago gave Cleveland its greatest landmark. The older parts of Chicago’s Union Station, by the same firm, have doors and floors and such which make this traveller think he’s back in the Union Terminal.
Also, Cleveland’s finest restaurant The English Oak Room, paneled in oak from Sherwood Forest (you’re reading that right) was simply the finest restaurant I’ve ever eaten in. It was operated by Fred Harvey, the easternmost of all their restaurants.
CUT had a smaller suburban station sibling called East Cleveland, used by the NYC and the NKP. As a little boy I frequently rode my bike there to watch the trains but also just to enjoy the atmosphere of the place.
Whatever became of Union News? Whatever became of Fred Harvey?
So true, no wrong answers and I like your post and synopsis of Cleveland. Live near there and always enjoyed CUT and the E55th St. PRR station with their great atmosphere. Also mentioned was Johnstown PA, not far from my roots in nearby Portage, it still looks like it did years ago. Stations were railroad materpieces, beautiful and designed by well known and famous architecture firms or people. A piece of American art, each showing off the personality of the road it served. Its a shame so many are now gone, but those that remain for the most part under rehab and put back into some sort of use.
Its really hard to pick a favorite but if I had to, Penn Station in New York the one that started all the hoopla of preserving historic buildings. It was an architectual masterpiece and nothing like it anywhere in America. Imagine if it still stood today and restored. Words couldn’t describe it.
Some Texas observations: What does the ex-SP station in El Paso, TX look like today? Last time I was there (1977) it was a filthy pigeon (Rock dove) coop. No, it isn’t one of my favorites. The old San Antonio station was cool, but I heard that it has been abandoned. I did spend some time in the Ft. Worth station. Apparently I was not impressed. The old ATSF station in San Angelo was cool. Is it still extant? Nearby, the old CRI&P/SP station in Tucumcari, NM was impressive. A friend sent me some pix of it this summer. Still standing, but not occupied. He cleaned a window to get some neat interior views. Farther afield, what is the status of the ex-NYC station in Buffalo, NY? Any work going on at Seattle’s King St. Station? Are the stations in Wyoming in good repair, “just in case”? How 'bout Las Vegas, NV? Any info will be appreciated. All bring back memories.
The East Cleveland station was probably one of my least favorite stations. Back when I was a kid collecting timetables, we stopped there, just because it happened to be on our route. The agent was most unfriendly; he all but chased me back out to the car. Back in those days, a depot was just a depot–I had no idea I could have looked for electric locomotives or evidence thereof when we went there, for example.