I grew up in Omaha and have fond memories of the two major railroad stations that faced each other on opposite sides of the track, connected by an overhead concourse. Union Station was on the north side and the Burlington station the southside. At their peak, these two stations combined to be the fourth busiest passenger center in the country. Union Station served as many as seven railroads while the Burlington Station had a single tenant in addition to the CB&Q trains.
I have never seen this complex modeled and wondered if anyone has attempted it. Walthers Union Station kit is actually a slightly compressed version of Omaha’s Burlington Station so that would be the easy part. The more ornate art deco Union Station would be a real scratchbuilding challenge. The overhead concourse would also be an interesting project since it had a bend to it. Unless one had lots of space, the number of platforms would probably need to be reduced as well. Since this complex sat just west of the Missouri River bridge, a lot of freight traffic would also pass between the two stations.
Does anyone know of any club, museum, or individual that has modeled these stations?
Hello “je,”
The North American Prototype Modelers club here in Milwaukee has an HO scale model of Omaha Union Station scratchbuilt by one of the members, Dan Christiansen. It’s used on the club as the head house of a stub station, but the building itself is pretty faithful to its prototype. If you write to me offline (at asperandeo@mrmag.com), I can forward your message to Dan.
So long,
Andy
I will be modeling the Walther’s station this year. Mine is downtown at street level with a commuter line along side. Below the station are 5 high speed tracks and platforms. The station will have a lighted interior with stairs going to the lower level platforms. I will post the pictures when complete. I have collected some photos of the prototype already but am still in the market for more detail ideas.
Doc
Sounds like an interesting arrangement. I’d love to see pictures when you finish. I too have the Walthers Union Station kit. Even though my layout is a fictional eastern railroad, I intend to build it very close to the way it is oriented on the prototype Burlington Station in Omaha. To do that. The front and the back sides have to be reversed. The side with the columns is on the trackside and the concourse extends out from under the columns over the platforms. I will kitbash Custom Model Railroads overhead concourse with the station. It is very similar to the one on the real Burlingon Station in Omaha.
The Walthers kit is a very good replica of the prototype being only slightly compressed. It also shows the station as it was following the 1930 remodeling. The original, built in 1899 I believe, was more ornate with columns at the ends as well and a pitched roof rather than a flat one. The renovation was done in conjunction with the construction of the last Omaha Union Station and it was at this time, the two stations were connected by the overhead concourse.
Omaha’s Union Station still stands as the home to the Durham Western Heritage Museum. The Burlington Station is still standing as well but sadly is vacant and plans to renovate it into luxury condos have apparently fallen through. Amtrak still uses her station side platform serving one train in each direction per day. I hope someone finds a use for it so it doesn’t meet the wrecking ball.