Mainline through passenger station?

[salt_water_cowboy]

The passenger station in Harrisburg, Pa, has freight trains running through it all the time. The trains are running from the Harrisburg yard West over the Susquahanna river then either north to Buffalo or Altoona or south to Hagerstown. Md.

The gentleman is quite correct…I drove past the station in Harrisburg today as a matter of fact and there was an Amtrak commuter being boarded while an intermodal freight was inching it’s way past… (small world isn’t it! I was shocked to see this post as I was JUST THERE!)

Matt

[Lillen]

This is how it looks with one shed and the station up against the wall. I tried it out having the station closer to me but it’s to big and eats up to much space that way.

Magnus

[MRTerry]

I don’t know how it was in Milwaukee back in the day, but freights run right through today’s Milwaukee Amtrak station. I believe there are 4 tracks under the shed. The dispatchers generally run the freights on the tracks away from the building.

Thanks for reading MR,

Terry

[hobo9941]

Many railroads run mainline freights through passenger facilities. Just be sure and run the freights slow, and ring the bell passing through the passenger platforms. You do have sound, right?

On my railroad, through passenger trains use the outside mainline side of the platform. Trains originating or terminating pull into the inside track.

[Lillen]

I don’t know how it was in Milwaukee back in the day, but freights run right through today’s Milwaukee Amtrak station. I believe there are 4 tracks under the shed. The dispatchers generally run the freights on the tracks away from the building.

Thanks for reading MR,

Terry

Thanks for the info. It’s comforting to know that so many prototype railroads seems to do it.

Magnus

[Lillen]

Many railroads run mainline freights through passenger facilities. Just be sure and run the freights slow, and ring the bell passing through the passenger platforms. You do have sound, right?

On my railroad, through passenger trains use the outside mainline side of the platform. Trains originating or terminating pull into the inside track.

Thanks for the inspiring pictures.

I do have sound on most of my fleet. I’m planning to use diesel lash ups where atleast one engine have sound. So sounding the bell will be fun.

Magnus

[Flashwave]

I just remembered a story about Indy Union, that the city wanted to pull out the massive platforms for use as a mall. Conrail (freight) truned around and said “NO!” since the rest of the building was part of their Bee Line, a “straight shot” to St Louis. The trackls were moved into the more modern structure you see now.

[Rotorranch]

The Atlanta, Georgia AMTRAK Station also known as “Peachtree Station” or “Brookwood Station” depending on who you ask has a double track NORFOLK SOUTHERN mainline beneath the station. The station itself is elevated above the tracks but the platform is accessed by stairs located between the tracks. It is served by the Amtrak Crescent.

I’m pretty sure the Lakewood/Fort McPherson MARTA station also has the NS running through as well.

Rotor

[coalminer3]

Good afternoon: Here are five more stations that handle(d) freight and passenger traffic. Springfield, Ma and worcester, MA - they still do. Charlottesville, VA has both NS and CSX - they hanldle Amtrak “Cardinal” and “Crescent.” Two others that come to mind are Nashville, TN and Montgomery, AL. The station in Nashville had freight trackage and a yard (Kayne Ave.) on the west side of the train shed. Alas, no more passenger trains through either of them. Almost forgot, one other one, Elizabeth, NJ - everything PRR and constant activity; probably more than any other place mentioned in this thread.

work safe

[Anonymous]

Worcester, MA Union station has it’s own track, which freights stay off of. The freights run on a track farther away from the platform.

I have several videos of the seperation HERE.

[ndbprr]

Cincinatti Union terminal had the freight tracks pass around the back side of the terminal. North Philadelphia on the corridor had six mains that branched to nine through the station. The two outside tracks were for freight and the center track was bidirectional for freight so they did not come through the station next to a platform.

[Flashwave]

I believe the more correct statement is that Cinncy had a freight yard pass along the back.

[trainlover38]

An idea to think about would be to have a switch off of the main line that goes behind the station. Then reconnect it with the main line on the other side of the station. That way, you can route freight trains around the station.

[HarryHotspur]

In the last 50 years or so, have there been many small through-track type stations where the passengers actually had to walk across one or more tracks to board the train?

[Flashwave]

In the last 50 years or so, have there been many small through-track type stations where the passengers actually had to walk across one or more tracks to board the train?

Yes. But walking on track has 2 issues. One, you step down off the train instead of to the platform, which is sometimes uncomfortable on the passengers. And 2, you have to make sure your out of the way in case of a train on the track your walking across. A walkway above or below is safer, as is a platform (flat walking=less risk of trip and sprain)

[HarryHotspur]

In the last 50 years or so, have there been many small through-track type stations where the passengers actually had to walk across one or more tracks to board the train?

Yes. But walking on track has 2 issues. One, you step down off the train instead of to the platform, which is sometimes uncomfortable on the passengers. And 2, you have to make sure your out of the way in case of a train on the track your walking across. A walkway above or below is safer, as is a platform (flat walking=less risk of trip and sprain)

Exactly. So I wonder why they were built that way?

[hobo9941]

Exactly. So I wonder why they were built that way?

Most likely, to save money. Ya think?[swg]

[Flashwave]

In the last 50 years or so, have there been many small through-track type stations where the passengers actually had to walk across one or more tracks to board the train?

Yes. But walking on track has 2 issues. One, you step down off the train instead of to the platform, which is sometimes uncomfortable on the passengers. And 2, you have to make sure your out of the way in case of a train on the track your walking across. A walkway above or below is safer, as is a platform (flat walking=less risk of trip and sprain)

Exactly. So I wonder why they were built that way?

In older days, it might have been easier to unload carogoes from the bagge cars and Head End. For a loop, the Old Sacramento Station has both. You walk under several tracks and have up ramps to get to where you need, or yuo can walk across a track to get to trains parked over yonder. And UP still rumbles through as well.

[Dallas_Model_Works]

Magnus -

Unless you are being true to a specific prototype at a specific time, do what you want.

It is YOUR layout.

Don’t let fretting about what’s “right” (whatever that is) get in the way of your enjoyment!

Model railroading is already full of compromises (e.g. space compression); do what works for you.

Besides, how many furnace filter trees can you fit in a passenger station? [;)]

c

[Dallas_Model_Works]

In the last 50 years or so, have there been many small through-track type stations where the passengers actually had to walk across one or more tracks to board the train?

Yes. But walking on track has 2 issues. One, you step down off the train instead of to the platform, which is sometimes uncomfortable on the passengers. And 2, you have to make sure your out of the way in case of a train on the track your walking across. A walkway above or below is safer, as is a platform (flat walking=less risk of trip and sprain)

My hometown still has walk-across tracks…